Easy ways to lower some of your monthly bills

If it feels like everything costs more these days, that’s because it does. The average cost of living right now is 20% higher than it was five years ago, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Major surges in food, insurance and services have consumers looking for the best ways to cut costs.

Accredited financial counselor Sarah Li-Cain, who is also a financial writer, suggests that significant savings are often accessible through digital tools and routine financial maintenance.

One app Li-Cain recommends for immediate food savings is the Too Good to Go app. After downloading the app and turning on location services, users can find deals at restaurants, grocery stores and convenience stores. Li-Cain explained that these businesses use the app to sell surplus inventory before closing.

“They offer products at really heavily discounted prices, and it could be as high as 70% or 90% off,” Li-Cain said. “It’s restaurants that are nearing the end of their business hours, and there’s food that they haven’t sold yet, but it’s still equally delicious.”

Li-Cain also suggests using the Flashfood app, which partners with grocery chains like Giant Eagle and Kuhns. This service offers items such as dairy, meat and produce at approximately 50% off as the products approach their expiration dates. To use the service, shoppers create an account, pay through the app and pick up their items in a designated section of the store.

Beyond food expenses, Li-Cain advises consumers to conduct an annual review of their insurance policies. This includes checking rates for car, homeowners and renters’ insurance once a year as policies come due. When comparing different companies online, she noted it is important to ensure that deductibles and liability limits remain the same so that property stays protected.

“Compare similar policies just to see what you may be getting and you may be surprised you could save a few hundred dollars that way,” Li-Cain said.

Credit cards can also be used as a tool for savings rather than just spending. Li-Cain recommends looking for cash back or travel rewards cards, as these are the most likely to offer discounts on various services and purchases. These rewards can often apply to daily necessities.

“It can come as a nice surprise when you’re paying for gas and you realize, oh, actually, I got a few dollars back from filling up my tank,” Li-Cain said.

For consumers currently carrying a credit card balance, Li-Cain suggests exploring cards with an introductory 0% APR. Transferring a balance to a new card can allow a person to pay off the debt before interest charges begin. However, she cautioned that shoppers must ensure any transfer fees do not exceed the amount they would save in interest.

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