Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Prices are rising faster than they have in years — and that means your trips to the grocery store are getting more expensive. Luckily, we have some tips to help offset that premium.
The Consumer Price Index rose 0.5% month-over-month on a seasonally adjusted basis in May 2026, pushing the annual inflation rate to 4.2%, the first time it has been above the 4% mark in three years. This surge is mostly due to rising energy costs prompted by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East (energy prices rose 23.5% year-over-year).
To help you minimize rising costs as much as possible,CNBC Select has eight tips to save money on your next supermarket run.
Open a grocery rewards credit card
You can actually offset your grocery bill at checkout with a grocery rewards credit card — as long as you pay the full statement balance on time, each month (otherwise you’ll accumulate interest, which will cut into whatever you may save).
If you’re looking for a card without an annual fee, start with the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (see rates and fees). With this card, you can earn 3% cash back in the form of Reward Dollars, which can be redeemed as statement credits at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1%. Terms apply.
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has no annual fee and you may be eligible for bonus rewards on a wide range of common expenditures.
- Up to $264 in streaming service and meal kit credits every year (subject to auto renewal)
- High cash-back rates in popular spending categories
- No annual fee
- The best bonus cash-back categories are capped
- Has a foreign transaction fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $200 cash back* after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $2,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- No Annual Fee.
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.49%-28.49%.
- Plan It®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don’t have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express® App to see your plan options. Plus, you’ll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.
- Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on eligible purchases for each category on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $7 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
Either$5or3%of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars
But, if you want the most bang for your buck, you should consider choosing a card with an annual fee. These cards tend to have better rewards, so you’ll be able to save more, even though there’s an upfront cost.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of CNBC Select’s top picks for grocery shopping. You can get 6% cash back in the form of statement credits at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1%. Terms apply.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a low-fee card with generous cash-back rewards and useful ongoing benefits, such as a monthly Disney Bundle credit. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High cash-back earnings for U.S. supermarkets and streaming services
- Intro-APR offer for purchases and balance transfers
- No annual fee for the first year
- It’s less rewarding after the first year because of the annual fee
- Bonus rewards for U.S. supermarkets are capped
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $300 cash back* after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $3,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.49%-28.49%.
- Plan It®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don’t have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express® App to see your plan options. Plus, you’ll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.
- Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars
With an average annual grocery spend of $5,703, you can earn about $342 per year in cash back. If you factor in the $95 annual fee after the $0 intro the first year (see rates and fees), that’s $247 in annual value, compared to the $171 value you’d get with the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. Terms apply.
We also like Bilt Obsidian (seerates and fees), which has a $95 annual fee. With this card, you can earn 3X Bilt Points on groceries up to $25,000 per year (then 1X after). These points can be used for rent, student loan payments, travel and more.
The Bilt Obsidian Card offers 3X Bilt Points on key everyday categories, like groceries (up to $25,000 per year) or dining (your 3X category choice remains in effect for the entire calendar year), plus comes with a $100 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit (split semi-annually each calendar year).
- Earns ultra-valuable flexible rewards
- Can earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee
- High return on dining or grocery purchases
- Additional steps for no-fee rent payments
- Cap on earning bonus Bilt points for groceries
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee.
- 3X points on your choice of grocery (up to $25K/year) or dining. Your 3X category choice remains in effect for the entire calendar year.
- 2X points on travel
- 1X points on everyday spend
- Welcome offer: $200 of Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved. At the end of each calendar year, anyBiltCash balance over $100 will expire.
- $100 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $50 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.
- Earn additional points through Bilt Neighborhood Benefits™ when you use your card at Bilt’s network of 50,000+ merchant partners.
Balance transfer fee
Sign up for loyalty programs and store memberships
Most grocery stores offer free loyalty programs. By signing up, you can benefit from member-only discounts that automatically deduct at checkout, without the need to clip coupons.
There are also premium memberships available that may help you save at certain stores if you’re a frequent shopper.
For example, Walmart — one of the biggest grocery stores in the U.S. — offers Walmart+ for $98 per year (or $12.95 per month). This paid membership will earn you rewards on eligible purchase, which you can use toward a discount on your grocery bill.
You’ll also get early access to deals, along with free pharmacy delivery, shipping, online pet care, flat tire repair and Paramount+ and Peacock subscriptions.
If you prefer to get your groceries delivered or shop at Whole Foods, Amazon offers Amazon Prime for $14.99 per month or $139 per year, which could help you save with exclusive deals and discounted same-day shipping on grocery purchases. You’ll also get similar perks in-person and online at Whole Foods with this membership.
Stack coupons and buy items on sale
There’s nothing like old-fashioned couponing and bargain hunting. These low-tech options are still a great way to save:
- Collect coupons: Look out for your favorite store’s weekly circular in the mail, cut out any coupons that matter to you and save them for your next grocery run. If you prefer a more modern couponing experience, download your favorite grocery store’s mobile app, browse available discounts and click to load coupons onto your digitalloyalty card. Most of the time, the discounts will be applied automatically when you check out.
- Seek out sales: Keep an eye out for promotions that can help you save on everything from staples like milk and eggs to sweets like ice cream and cookies.
Join a wholesale club
Wholesale clubs like Costco can help you rack up savings for buying in bulk. If you have a large family, joining a wholesale club can be a good idea. But remember that buying in bulk isn’t for everyone since you’ll have to spend more money upfront, even though you’re saving overall. This may not be an option depending on your cash flow.
Also, note that clubs come with membership fees. Currently, the cost of a Costco membership starts at $65 for Gold Star and doubles to $130 for Gold Star Executive. The cost can be worthwhile if you frequently stock up on items. Plus, you can optimize savings by using the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi (which has no annual fee, but requires an active Costco membership). (Read our review of the Costco Anywhere Visa Card.)
The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is a valuable card to pair with a Costco membership, but the rewards program is more restrictive than what you get with a typical cash-back card.
- High rewards rates for gas/EV charging and travel
- No foreign transaction fees
- Restrictive rewards that you can only cash out once per year
- Requires a paid Costco membership
- No welcome bonus
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Discover one of Citi’s best cash back rewards cards designed exclusively for Costco members
- Earn 5% cash back rewards on gas at Costco and earn 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging purchases for the first $7,000 combined spend per year, and then 1% thereafter.
- 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases and eligible travel, including Costco Travel.
- 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- No annual fee with your paid Costco membership and enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases
- Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico
Balance transfer fee
5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum
Foreign transaction fee
Compare prices
If you live near several grocery stores, compare prices and consider shopping at different stores for different products. Shopping around may not always be more affordable if you have to travel farther to other grocery stores, but it’s worth considering.
If you currently shop at a high-end grocery store, consider switching to a store known for lower prices, like Walmart, Aldi or Trader Joe’s.
While you’re shopping at a particular grocery store, you can also shop by comparing unit prices. A unit price is the cost of an item per ounce, pound, quart or other unit of measure the item goes by. This lets you compare products to make sure you’re getting the best value. You can calculate the unit price by dividing the total price of the item by the quantity (how much of the item there is). So, if a bag of 10 oranges costs $4.00, the unit price is $0.40 per orange.
Buy generic brands
Supermarkets are known to place costly, name-brand items at eye level, which can tempt you to spend more. But if you look at the top or bottom of the shelves, you’ll often find the best deals.
The generic brand version of a product at Walmart, Kroger, and Target could save shoppers up to 75% on some products, according to an April 2026 NetCredit study, which compared prices of brand-name versus store-name products across 171 grocery store items.
A gallon of generic milk, for example, could save shoppers 61% on average at these three stores compared to brand-name milk.
Use cash-back apps
Ibotta
-
Cost
-
How to save
Activate cash-back offers and clip digital coupons to get cash back on purchases.
-
How to use it
Download the Ibotta app or the browser extension.
-
How to receive your savings
Redeem cash back once you reach $20 as a deposit into your bank account, PayPal account or for gift cards.
You can register for free with one of these services to save more on top of loyalty benefits and credit card rewards. Depending on the app, you may need to link a loyalty card or submit receipts to receive a rebate.
Go in with a list and stick to it (and don’t shop hungry)
If you go to the supermarket without a list, it’s easy to grab things you don’t need.
That’s because your mind tends to switch between a deliberative state (where you’re trying to make a decision) and an implementation state (where you’re trying to take an action based on that decision), Annie Wilson, a senior lecturer of marketing at The Wharton School, told CNBC Select for a previous version of this article.
“So if you don’t have a list, you’re in that deliberative mindset and reacting to everything in the aisle you’re in,” she said. “That’s why you end up purchasing things that are unplanned.”
The next time you go to the grocery store, make sure you have a list and stick to it so you don’t end up overspending. You may also want to consider eating first to avoid a spur-of-the-moment item.
FAQs
Why are groceries so expensive?
Grocery prices have risen significantly since 2020 due to supply shortages and overall inflation. The consumer price index for May 2026 showed that inflation — including grocery inflation — was outpacing expectations.
What is the cheapest grocery store?
Aldi is the most budget-friendly grocery store in America, according to a February 2023 study by Marketforce.
Does Medicare provide a grocery allowance?
Traditional Medicare does not offer a grocery allowance. However, some Medicare Advantage plans, like some Special Needs Plans (SNPs), do. Reach out to your provider to understand your benefits.
Subscribe to the CNBC Select Newsletter!
Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.Sign up here.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every personal finance guide is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal finance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
Meet our experts
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, click here.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
About The Author
