With rampant inflation on the rise with no sign of stopping, this means high food prices are here to stay. Yet, that DOESN’T mean you have to break the bank every time you head to the grocery store. Cheap grocery stores provide an easy way to save 20-30% on each trip to the store. The savings can add up quickly, making “budget” grocery stores the perfect option for most families. Rather than spending a premium at places like Whole Foods or Wegmans, consider cheap grocery stores near you. Here’s a list of the top cheap grocery stores near you so you can save more on your next food run.

1. Aldi

Aldi is a family-owned discount grocery store that opened its first store back in 1961 in Germany.

Today, Aldi provides major savings primarily by providing shoppers with a high percentage of private-label products from Aldi.

By eliminating the excess of large, name-brand food items in the store that are typically more expensive, shoppers can save more.

What Makes Aldi So Cheap: Aldi has smaller stores which can be restocked faster and they leave products inside larger boxes for quick restocks. This leads to needing less employees and passing the savings along to the shopper.

2. Chef Store – US Foods

Chef Store – US Foods, formerly known as Cash & Carry before its name rebranding in 2018, is a Portland-based company that sells large quantities of products from its stores.

While both food-service businesses and individuals can shop here, it can be a great way to buy in bulk and save on your favorite food items.

What Makes Chef Store Cheap: They’re able to offer wholesale prices by carefully selecting the products they stock. They also have a great selection of affordable products for restaurant owners, caterers, and event planners.

See Also: Check Out All The Store Brands Made By Famous Name Brands

3. Costco

Costco is the popular American wholesale chain that requires shoppers to have a membership ($60 per year) to shop.

But don’t let the membership price fool you as you can easily get it back in annual savings.

Costco provides an opportunity for shoppers to buy in bulk and save on their favorite food items, and even save some bucks at Costco gas station locations.

What Makes Costco Cheap: The bulk aspect at Costco definitely offers shoppers opportunities to save. But be careful as it’s very easy to fill your cart with stuff you didn’t know you needed, but clearly can’t live without.

4. Dollar General

Dollar General sells an array of name-brand groceries as well as private-label products for less.

From Clorox, Coca-Cola, Kellogg’s, and more, customers can shop for brands they love at very affordable prices.

Plus, Dollar General’s store brand “DG” offers customers even cheaper alternatives to shop for less.

Here are the 22 absolute best buys at your local Dollar General.

What Makes Dollar General Unique: DG stores are not very big, but I’m not sure there are any other “small” stores where you can buy food, clothing, drug items, and even toys all in one spot. 

5. Food Max

Food Max is definitely one of, if not the cheapest grocery store in the city I live in.

Located mainly in California, they are a “no-frills grocery store” where customers can buy affordable groceries and bag their own groceries.

I don’t mind bagging my own groceries AT ALL if it means I can save about 20% compared to going to Safeway or Raley’s.

What Makes Food Max Cheap: You bag your own groceries, products remain in shipping boxes on the shelf, no fancy deli counter, very few frills.

See Also: We Finally Figure Out the Safeway Return Policy

6. Grocery Outlet – Bargain Market

Grocery Outlet is a supermarket known for its heavily discounted, overstocked, and closeout products.

Customers can choose from a variety of private-label and name-brand groceries and save up to 40-70% off the usual prices offered at other “traditional” grocery stores.

The selection is a bit “hit or miss” since they carry a lot of overstocks BUT the savings is incredible, especially on things like ice cream, snack foods, cereal, and spices.

What Makes Grocery Outlet Cheap: Store is loaded with name-brand overstocks that are CHEAP, inventory changes every time you visit, no fancy deli counter, you don’t have to bag your own groceries (which is nice).

TIP: Be sure to sign-up for their Daily Emails that highlight their daily specials so you know if it’s worth a stop because their daily specials are REALLY cheap.

7. H-E-B

H-E-B (short for Howard E. Butt, once the CEO of the store, and connected today with their slogan “Here Everything’s Better”) is an American privately held supermarket chain known for low-priced groceries.

This store has locations throughout Texas and Northeast Mexico.

What Makes H-E-B Cheap: While not as cheap as Walmart, H-E-B has a cult following in Texas. Even though their prices are very low, they still offer many unique products like Texas shaped tortilla chips and Texas starry night ice cream.

8. Kroger

Kroger is another American supermarket that owns and runs various cheap grocery stores.

Kroger offers both name-brand and private-label brands at discount pricing.

If you’re a loyal shopper at Kroger, check out these clever ways to save even more.

What Makes Kroger Cheap: Kroger has low prices but STILL offers a full-service grocery store with a pharmacy, deli, bakery, and fancy coffee bar. It allows shoppers to get everything in one place and still save money.

9. Lidl

Lidl is a German international discount food chain has nearly 11,000 store locations in Europe and the U.S.

Known for offering fresh, high-quality foods at cheap prices, this discount market is another cheap, “no frills” grocery store that minimizes costs by having lower staffing and displaying their products in their original cartons/packaging.

What Makes Lidl So Cheap: Lidl has very limited brands in every grocery category, and only sources brands that they can buy VERY cheap and pass the savings along to shoppers. Their in-house brand, which accounts for 80% of their products, is of very high quality, similar to the Kirkland brand at Costco.

10. Sam’s Club

Sam’s Club is a popular membership-only wholesale club that offers various discounted products from grocery items to office supplies, electronics, and more.

With a basic membership starting at $50 per year, you can enjoy many of your grocery store favorites, for less and in bulk at Sam’s Club.

If you DON’T want to drop the $50, here are 7 ways to shop at Sam’s without a membership.

What Makes Sam’s Club Cheap: Similar to Costco, Sam’s allows shoppers to save by purchasing items in bulk. But do not make the HUGE mistake at Sam’s of assuming everything is cheaper. Always price compare and opt for their in-store brand whenever possible.

11. Save-A-Lot

Save-A-Lot is an American discount supermarket that carries a wide variety of produce, meat products, household supplies, and more at affordable prices.

You can find Save-A-Lot stores in over 32 states across the U.S.

What Makes Save-A-Lot Cheap: They have small stores and specialize in only selling a limited number of name-brands at a BIG discount. Save-A-Lot also has their in-house brand which is very cheap but of good quality. By limiting the products they sell, they keep the stores small and their overhead low, passing the savings along to shoppers.

12. Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s is known for providing fresh, quality foods to customers at low prices.

The majority of Trader Joe’s products are privately labeled by Trader Joe’s and offer nutritious, quality foods, at a greater bang for your buck.

Also, their fresh cut flowers are some of best quality, for the price, that you’ll find anywhere.

Check out the best buys at Trader Joe’s according to employees.

What Makes Trader Joe’s So Cheap: Very few name-brands. Their in-house brand is 20-30% cheaper than name brands at other grocery stores. They also have a very liberal return policy that lets you essentially taste test new products and return them if you don’t like them.

13. Walmart

Walmart offers sweeping discounts on countless name-brand products.

This American corporation offers a chain of supercenters to stock up on all your essentials from produce, grocery items, toys, clothes, electronics, and more.

Perhaps the best way to save at Walmart is to look for some “hidden” clearance deals.

What Makes Walmart So Cheap: Put simply, Walmart pinches their suppliers and makes them produce products cheap in order to sell them cheap to shoppers.

14. WinCo

WinCo Foods is a privately held supermarket chain based out of Boise, Idaho.

WinCo is my families go-to spot to buy really cheap staples like canned foods, coffee, baking products, and cereal.

This chain is predominately employee-owned and has store locations in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington where customers can shop for low prices on their grocery favorites.

What Makes WinCo So Cheap: They are definitely no-frills and pass savings along to shoppers. You bag your own groceries and they DON’T take credit cards, only debit cards, personal check, or cash.

Ask the Reader: What cheap or budget grocery stores near you would you add to my list? Let me know in the comments.

By Kyle James

Chick-fil-A is one of the most popular American fast-food restaurants, and for good reason. Offering a series of delicious food options, from shakes to chicken sandwiches, and even salads. However, in terms of employee benefits, they aren’t like most fast-food restaurants when it comes to how well they treat their workers. With competitive salaries, health benefits, and other cool employee perks, being a member of the Chick-fil-A team does come with its own set of perks. Whether you’re interested in applying for a job, or maybe just curious, here are the Chick-fil-A employee benefits you can expect while working at this popular fast food chain.

Is There a Chick-fil-A Employee Discount?

Nothing official.

There doesn’t seem to be any official/concrete employee discount policy if you work at Chick-fil-A and order food when you’re not working.

BUT…with that being said, most locations offer a free meal during your shift and a bunch of other perks we’ll get to shortly.

The “free meal” is a dollar amount that you get to spend on your break on food. Drinks are always free.

The dollar amount varies by location, but ranges anywhere between $6 – $10 every time you work. More on this later.

What is Their Average Starting Salary?

According to Indeed, the average starting salary for a Chick-fil-A team member is about $13.50 per hour.

BUT…keep in mind it really depends on what part of the country you live in.

For example, here in California I saw a sign at our local Chick-fil-A advertising a starting wage of $16.50/hour.

Meanwhile, if you are a shift manager, the average starting salary (nationwide) is about $17 per hour.

Of note, this is significantly higher than many other fast food chains, such as McDonald’s, but on par with In-N-Out Burger.

See Also: 10 Creatively Delicious Ways to Save Money at Chick-fil-A

What Health Benefits does Chick-fil-A Offer?

Chick-fil-A offers full-time employees extensive healthcare benefits, including:

– Health Insurance: Coverage on prescription drugs, medical, behavioral health, etc.

– Vision Plan: Coverage for any eye-related medical concerns.

– Dental Plan: Dental coverage for both employees and their dependents.

If you are a part-time employee, you can receive EAP (Employee Assistance Program) which can help with health, financial, and social issues that may impact your work performance.

Is There Room to Move Up Within the Company?

Yes.

While it does depend on the location, and the need to fill certain positions, there will always be opportunities available.

For instance, you can move up to “Team Leader” and “Director” roles which are more higher-up/ management level roles.

Do You Get Sundays Off?

Yes.

Chick-fil-A is closed on Sundays, thus employees inevitably have off.

This can be seen as a perk for many to have a day each week that they know they won’t be scheduled to work.

Why is Chick-fil-A Closed on Sundays?

Chick-fil-A is closed on Sundays for religious reasons.

This is because the founder of Chick-fil-A is Christian and believes employees should use this day for rest and worship.

See Also: The Chick-fil-A Secret Menu: Clever Ways To Order From the Chick

Do You Get Free Food While Working?

Yes.

Most Chick-fil-A locations offer employees a free meal during each shift.

However, the value of the meal (i.e. $5 meal vs. $9.50 meal) seems to vary and the shift hours required to receive a free meal (i.e. work more than 5-hour shift) seem to vary from location to location.

Does Chick-fil-A Offer College Scholarships for Employees?

Yes.

Chick-fil-A offers a scholarship initiative called Remarkable Futures.

This initiative gives Chick-fil-A employees a chance to receive up to $25,000 in scholarships.

Chick-fil-A scholarships are awarded based on leadership, academic achievement, community involvement, and financial need.

And you have a chance to earn additional tuition discounts and other benefits at about 70 different schools in the United States.

Any Additional Employee Benefits to Expect?

Yes.

Here are some other employee benefits you can potentially receive depending on your job title at Chick-fil-A.

–  Flexible Hours: Chick-fil-A does its best to accommodate your schedule when making their weekly work schedule (again, this varies by location and need for workers).

– Paid Time Off, Vacation, & Sick Leave: For many upper-level management positions and full-time employees, PTO and other benefits are provided.

– 401k Plan: Chick-fil-A matches 50% of employees’ contributions with their 401k plan.

– Performance-Based Bonuses: Hardworking, dedicated employees can receive bonuses depending on their overall performance, role, and time employed.

Ask the Reader: Do you work at Chick-fil-A, or have in the past? If so, am I missing any employee benefits or perks of the job? Let me know in the comments.

By Kyle James

Home improvement projects can be a fun and rewarding experience as long as you have all the right tools. Thanks to Lowe’s tool rental services, you don’t need to worry about buying expensive equipment, you can just rent your tools and save money. In this article, I will walk you through everything you need to know about renting tools and equipment from Lowe’s.

Do All Lowe’s Locations Rent Tools?

No.

Not all Lowe’s have a Tool Rental Center available to their customers.

Lowe’s started rolling out Tool Rental Centers back in 2020 with their location in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Since 2020, they have opened hundreds of rental centers within stores across the country.

To check if your local Lowe’s offers tool and equipment rentals CLICK HERE and do a quick store search.

Also, keep in mind that the selection of tools available may vary from location to location.

What are Lowe’s Tool Rental Hours of Operation?

Lowe’s tool rental department operates during the same hours as the Lowe’s store.

Normal store hours are 6 am – 9 pm except Sundays which are typically 7 am – 8 pm.

This means that customers are free to pick up and drop off any rental equipment during these hours.

Make sure that you save your receipt when you drop off your equipment.

This will serve as proof that you returned the equipment on time and undamaged.

See Also: Lowe’s Military Discount: A Great Way for Vets to Save Money

How Long Do Equipment Rentals Last?

You have a few options.

Lowe’s offers 4-hour, 24-hour, weekly, and 4-week rental rates.

So, for example, if you wanted to rent something for 2 days you’d pay two 24-hour rates.

In most cases the 24-hour rate is the most economical choice.

This is especially true as the 4-hour rate is not that much less than the 24-hour rate (in most cases).

What Does It Cost to Rent Tools at Lowe’s?

The cost to rent tools and equipment at Lowe’s all depends on the tools that you are renting.

Prices for smaller tools start at about $25 per day.

However, larger tools and equipment will have a higher price tag.

To give you a better idea, here are the average “24-Hour” rental prices for some popular items:

• Log Splitter (30 ton) – $99 for 24 hours.
• Cement Mixer (6 cu. ft.) – $67 for 24 hours.
• Table Saw – $50 for 24 hours.
• Drum Sander – $63 for 24 hours.
• Carpet Cleaner – $69 for 24 hours.
• Concrete Saw (gas) – $75 for 24 hours.
• Plate Compactor – $89 for 24 hours.

With that said, if you are looking to rent tools for a longer period, you’re in luck.

The daily price for renting tools decreases the longer that you rent them.

You can rent tools from Lowes for as little as 4 hours or up to four weeks.

See Also: 9 Smart Ways to Save Cash at Lowe’s Home Improvement

So…What Tools Does Lowe’s Rent?

You will be surprised when you see the wide range of tools available to rent from Lowe’s.

They offer everything from power tools to lawn and tree equipment to small tools.

Keep in mind that the availability of certain tools depends on your location and reservation date.

Here is a full list of everything that you can potentially rent at Lowe’s.

Power Tools

• Chop saws
• Table saws
• Reciprocal saws
• Miter saws
• Fiber cement saws
• Circular saws
• Hammer drills
• Drill mixers
• Beam cutters
• Paddle grinders
• Belt sanders
• Orbit sanders and polishers
• Laser-level kits

See Also: How to Find a Lowe’s Outlet Store and the Savings Within

General Construction Tools

• Step ladders
• Aluminum ladders
• Extension ladders
• Scaffolding
• Bending brakes
• Metal detectors
• Magnetic sweeps
• Safety barricades

Floor Finishing Tools

• Vinyl strippers
• Floor scrapers
• Tile smashers
• Trolley and demo hammers
• Industrial vacuums
• Drum sanders
• Floor prep tools
• Drum sanders
• Carpet staplers
• Carpet stretchers
• Carpet seaming irons
• Carpet cleaners
• Floor buffers
• Carpet knee kickers
• Floor scrubbers
• Floor sanders
• Floor rollers

Concrete Tools

• Cement and mortar mixers
• Core drills and core drill bits
• Concrete saws
• Tampers
• Tamping rammers
• Lute rakes
• Concrete grinders
• Concrete bull float kits
• Concrete vacuums
• Concrete vibrators
• Rebar cutters
• Plate compactors
• Portable water tanks

Lawn Care Tools

• Industrial leaf blowers
• Brush cutters
• Hydraulic tillers
• Dethatchers
• Landscape rakes
• Lawn rollers
• Post hole diggers
• Post drivers
• Garden cultivators
• Lawn edgers
• Wheelbarrows
• Commercial tillers
• Over seeders
• Hedge trimmers
• Peat moss spreaders
• Lawnmowers
• String trimmers
• Aerators
• Sod cutters

Tree Equipment

• Chainsaws
• Telescoping pole saws
• Disc chippers
• Brush chippers
• Stump grinders
• Log splitters

Trench Digging Equipment

• Bed edgers
• Track trenchers
• Cable installers
• Ground saws
• Trencher carriers
• Micro & mini trenchers
• Augers

Transport Tools

• Scissor lifts
• Cabinet lifts
• Material lifts
• Hand trucks
• Bottle jacks
• Appliance and furniture dollies
• Ramps and ramp sets

Drywall and Paint Tools

• Drywall sanders
• Mud mixers
• Paint and texture sprayers
• Hopper guns
• Wallpaper streamers

You can also rent pressure washers, plumbing equipment, demolition tools, and more.

Head to your local Lowes website to see what rental tools they offer.

See Also: Lowe’s Return Policy: We Finally Make Some Sense Of It

Can You Rent Tools from Lowe’s Online?

Yes.

You can set up your tool reservation through Lowe’s website.

However, you will have to go to the store to pick up your tools.

You can shop through the selection of available tools and make a reservation online by heading to their website or clicking here.

This is very convenient for customers because it allows you to browse through tools and check out the prices to rent.

Lowe’s tool rental does not deliver, so you will need to be prepared to pick them up in-store.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Rent Tools from Lowe’s?

To rent most tools from Lowe’s, you will need to be over the age of 18 and present a valid photo ID.

However, there are some exceptions to this rule.

If you are renting towable equipment, you will need to be at least 21 years old.

This includes stump grinders, trailers, and other equipment that needs to be towed.

What Do I Need to Bring to Rent Tools from Lowe’s?

When you arrive at the store to pick up your tool rental, you will need to bring a valid photo ID along with a credit card.

They will use the credit card to authorize a prepayment on the rental equipment.

This ensures that any damages to the equipment will be covered.

If you notice that the equipment becomes damaged while you are using it, stop immediately and bring it back to the store to be replaced.

If you continue using the tool, it could cause more damage or personal injury.

When you bring the tool back, let them know about the damage.

From there the associates will determine whether or not you are responsible for any cost.

See Also: The Lowe’s Employee Discount: A Solid 10% Discount for Workers

Do They Offer Curbside Tool Rental Pickup?

Yes.

When you arrive, park in a designated Tool Rental parking space and call the phone number on the sign.

An associate will take care of you from there.

How Do I Extend My Rental Period (If Needed)?

Just call the Lowe’s Rental Center and let them know.

They’ll let you know your options and you can choose the extended period of time that fits your needs.

Ask the Reader: Have you ever rented equipment or tools from Lowe’s? Let us know about your experience in the comments.

By Kyle James