Suzi Owens doesn’t claim to be a “couponer,” but she’s all for finding a deal now that everything’s digital. Technology is now taking the work out of saving at the store.
“Whenever I don’t feel like cooking or we’re trying to cut our budget, which we are — everybody is these days because groceries are insanely expensive — we can buy one lunchbox and get two dinners out of it,” said Owens.
She turns to Too Good To Go when she’s looking for a deal. It’s an app that partners with local vendors to lower food waste by offering items at a discount. For example, the app recently flagged a $6 deal on a dozen bagels at New York Bagel House.
CartHappy is another option. It’s a new Chrome extension that compares prices at your local Walmart, Costco and Target. It helps you know for sure if a bag of chips is cheaper at one store versus another.
If you’re the kind of person who shops prices at different grocery stores, here are two ways Tulsans can lean on technology to make grocery shopping cheaper.
CartHappy
In just a single two-week period, prices at Tulsa’s Walmart, Target and Costco locations changed more than 100,000 times, according to data tracked by CartHappy. A Costco vegetable tray with ranch jumped 33% in one day and decreased by 55% another.
It’s no wonder Tulsans are struggling to find discounts. That’s why John Laramie created CartHappy.
“Let’s take all of these things off your plate and make it really simple for you to grocery shop and feel confident (you’re) getting the best price,” he said.
The Chrome extension, linked here, is easy to use. After you download it, enter your ZIP code so the tool can find the closest store to you. Then a CartHappy widget will appear on your screen the next time you grocery shop online. Laramie said Aldi stores will appear in the list in the next few weeks.
CartHappy compares prices for the items you’re trying to buy and can also automatically add any coupons and build your cheapest possible grocery cart.
“It’s these little things that you’re just like, technology can lift that,” Laramie said. “Technology can remove the repetitive thinking of rebuilding your grocery list now.”
CartHappy is catered to online shoppers, but people who still prefer to shop in stores can use it to find the cheapest options. One caveat: Owens said she’s used her discount apps to find deals before, but sometimes the stores are sold out by the time she gets there.
Too Good To Go
“Sounds like dinner, and we don’t have to cook,” said Tabitha DaMetz, a Tulsa teacher who shops frequently on the Too Good To Go app.
DeMetz has used the app for the past year. When you join, you get notifications from local participating businesses when they have extra food to offload. That’s how she bought a dozen bagels for $6 and four cups of soup for $7.
Your options may be limited depending on where you live. Both DeMetz and Owens say Tulsa’s options have grown since they started using the app. But they’d like to see more restaurants and stores join.
Items sell fast, sometimes in less than a minute of being notified, says Owens. Foods like baked goods are easier to get, but you have to act fast for deals from restaurants or Whole Foods.
Owens snagged around $80 worth of charcuterie for about $20 from Whole Foods.
“We saved a substantial amount of money, and everything was still good,” she said.
Both DeMetz and Owens value minimizing their food waste. So getting dinner when you’re in a pinch and hungry, as DeMetz says, is a pretty nice deal.
How are you saving at the store? If you have a strategy to share, my inbox is open at libby@tulsaflyer.org.
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