How to save money on grocery staples, meals using these apps
As the government shutdown drags on, SNAP benefits could lapse for 42 million Americans who rely on the federally funded food assistance program, sending people searching for ways to save on groceries.
Nov. 1 would mark the first time in 60 years that the federal funding has lapsed for the critical food assistance program due to a shutdown, prompting more than two dozen states and the District of Columbia suing the Trump administration.
In the meantime, many have taken to social media to share tips and apps that offer reduced prices on groceries and even full meals, with some prices as low as $10 for $45 worth of pantry staples.
Apps to save on food, meals and groceries
Too Good To Go, a food rescue service and app, connects thousands of users to discounted surplus food from bakeries, restaurants, ready-to-eat grocery counters and more.
Users can order the so-called surprise bags -- which contain surplus goods for a lower cost -- from the app through a selection of partner eateries, including Whole Foods.
Too Good To Go is available in hundreds of major U.S. cities and has 175,000 business partners listed, offering everything from groceries and smoothies to sushi and pizza.
"It is so important for shoppers to look for creative ways to save," smart shopping expert Trae Bodge told ABC News. "I do also recommend, if you are going to the grocery store, to have a little bit more of an open mind. You can shop around sales, and plan your menu accordingly, rather than going to the store [with] very specific ideas in mind and then paying full price."
Flashfood is a similar app that offers fresh, affordable produce and protein from grocery stores.
The app partners with major banner retailers including Kroger, Meijer, Tops, and more, and users who download the app can browse what's available and on sale at nearby supermarkets.
Flashfood shared a video on Instagram that highlights how to find some of the savings available, for those curious. (See the video below.)
The company told ABC News its bestselling item on the app is a 10-pound box of mixed fresh fruits and vegetables that Flashfood sells just for $5.
Another app -- OH, a potato! -- aims to help home cooks minimize food waste in their own kitchens with AI-backed recipes that use items currently in their refrigerator or pantry.
