Free money at the grocery store

Published 11:02 pm Friday, July 11, 2008

Stimulus response: The final government stimulus checks hit the mails on Friday. If you’ve still got yours or are expecting it soon, you can use it to get free money.

No, really: Some, no doubt, are using the $600, or more, to pay off credit cards. But that influx of cash could help you make a little more, to boot. Many grocery stores, specifically Safeway, Haggen and Fred Meyer, are offering their customers a 10 percent to 15 percent bonus if they bring their stimulus checks to use them for purchases in the stores. Haggen, for example, is adding $15 to each $100 purchased in gift cards when a stimulus check is cashed. Safeway is handing out 10 percent “savings awards” for stimulus checks cashed there.

Already cashed your check? Check out Fred Meyer. It’s awarding a 10 percent bonus on its gift cards, whether you’re cashing your check or not.

What you’ll save: If you spend $300 every other week in groceries, that’s an easy $30 bonus.

How do you save a buck? For more tips or to share your money-saving ideas and comments, go to Heraldnet.com/saveabuck, or e-mail features@heraldnet.com.

Jon Bauer, Herald staff