AARP’s '99 great ways to save' returns amid rising costs

KTALnews.com (KTAL/KMSS) – As the cost of living continues to rise, AARP Bulletin’s “99 Great Ways to Save” has returned for its 17th year to help Americans save money on everyday expenses.

Grocery prices are a key focal point, as ordering items ahead could potentially save you hundreds in the long run.

“Grocery stores are great at getting you to spend more than you intended,” said AARP Bulletin and “AARP The Magazine” Executive Editor Stephen Perrine. “Take advantage of those apps that allow you to order in advance, and they’ll bag the groceries for you. It saves time, but more importantly, it can save you a lot of money as well.”

When it comes to online shopping, Stephen says that patience can be extremely rewarding. If you leave items in your cart for an hour or two, certain retailers will email you a discount code to help complete your checkout.

“The thing that most people don’t realize is those emails, in about a third of cases, will contain a discount code that you can use to knock dollars off of the cart that you were going to spend full price on anyway,” Perrine said.

Summer travel is another point of contention, as gas prices have surged amid the U.S. war with Iran. Stephen says it’s best to shed any heavy items that might be weighing your car down, such as a bike rack, and to research gas prices to avoid waiting until your tank is nearly empty.

“When you are driving down the highway, don’t do what I tend to do, which is to let yourself get down to ‘E’ and then panic and pull into the first gas station you see,” Perrine said. “Gas stations right off the highway can charge as much as $0.40 a gallon more than those just a mile or two away.”

To view all 99 ways, visit aarp.org/99waystosave.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.