Milk is a staple in almost every household, but the price has been creeping up steadily. Families go through gallons a week, making it a significant line item in the grocery budget. Fortunately, because milk is such a high-demand item, retailers and brands use it as a tool to drive sales. You can frequently get your milk for free if you know how to work the rewards systems and loyalty programs. Here are four proven methods to stop paying for milk.
1. Drugstore Rewards Programs
Drugstores like CVS and Walgreens are surprisingly the best places to get free milk. These stores offer “ExtraBucks” or “Register Rewards” when you buy items like toothpaste or shampoo. You can take those reward dollars and immediately turn around to buy a gallon of milk. Since you earned the rewards for things you needed anyway, the milk is effectively free. It is a simple rollover strategy that savvy shoppers use weekly.
2. Kellogg’s Family Rewards
Cereal and milk go hand in hand, and Kellogg’s knows this better than anyone. They frequently run promotions where buying a certain number of cereal boxes earns you a coupon for a free gallon of milk. You simply upload your receipt to their website to claim the reward coupon. If you wait for the cereal to go on sale, you get a cheap breakfast and free milk. It is a classic cross-promotion that saves you money.
3. Cashback Apps
Apps like Ibotta and Checkout 51 often feature “Any Brand” rebates specifically for milk. These offers usually give you fifty cents or a dollar back on any gallon you purchase. Occasionally, they will run a “Free After Rebate” offer where they cover the entire cost of the gallon to get you to use the app. Stacking these rebates with store sales is the fastest way to lower your cost to zero. You have to check the app before you shop.
4. Gas Station Loyalty Programs
Many gas station convenience stores, like Speedway or 7-Eleven, have “club” programs for frequent customers. They often offer a digital punch card where buying six gallons earns you the seventh one free. While their base price might be higher, if you only buy during sales, the free gallon averages your cost down significantly. It is worth checking the app of your local station to see if they participate. This works especially well for families who drive a lot.
The Dairy Hack
Paying full price for milk is a choice, not a necessity, in the modern retail environment. By leveraging rewards points and manufacturer promotions, you can keep your fridge stocked for free. It takes a bit of planning, but the savings add up over the course of a year. You should never leave the store without checking your apps for a milk deal first.
Got Milk Deals?
Have you ever used rewards points to pay for your groceries? Which drugstore loyalty program do you think offers the best value for food staples? Let us know your strategy in the comments.
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