Savings Cards in the US - Recommendations?

We'll be traveling to the US in four and a half months for our mega road-trip: 101 days in the American West Coast.

Traveling as a family, we'll be shopping for groceries, at least twice a week, occasionally eating out at very simple places (our kids have an extremely limited menu - so the place has to have fries ), and doing the regular touristy stuff. Lots of driving too - going from Arizona to Canada and back...

What I'm looking for is those nifty club savings cards. We already have the Triple A card (been saving lots on motels reservations already), we'll do the National Parks card on our first NP spot, and I have a membership card for science museums which covers many places we'll be going to.

How about groceries and other kinds of shopping - any ideas for good savings cards worth making? are there any I need to sign up for online in advance, or do I just get them at the first store?

Also, coupons - any good sites you visit? I know there are tons of coupon sites out there, but looking to weed out the hype and spam and focus on the ones that offer discounts on the basic stuff.

Any and all tips appreciated! Thanks!

The problem with grocery stores, and you'll notice this at some point, is going to be that some are regional. For example, in my area there's Homeland. There is only one single Homeland grocery store that is outside of Oklahoma, and that's one in Kansas. There are many other small chain groceries, too, and some that used to be larger but shrunk over the years - like Piggly Wiggly.

You'll probably find it easier just to shop at Wal-Mart for groceries. Anymore most of them are supercenters with a grocery section. Quality varies by area, with some people complaining and others that have never seen old/bad food (such as the case with any I've been in). Savings end up being comparable to any store savings cards that smaller chains offer for free. Those with bigger discounts require paid membership.

One grocery store you should keep an eye out for is Aldi, one of the world's original box stores. They don't have much of a selection, but are cheap, and the quality isn't bad at all (lots of "re-labeled" brand names).

Originally Posted by jcat

One grocery store you should keep an eye out for is Aldi, one of the world's original box stores. They don't have much of a selection, but are cheap, and the quality isn't bad at all (lots of "re-labeled" brand names).

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You will find great deals especially on milk, eggs, and butter there. Just remember to bring a quarter for the cart (which you get back) and your own bags.

When you're in San Francisco let me know, and I can use my membership card to get probably the entire family into the California Academy of Sciences, which is a REALLY cool place!

Acme/Alberston will use the house card if you don't have one.

I see what you're all saying about regional chains - I guess we won't bother with saving cards there. I recall seeing a lot of Vons and Albertsons during our last visit (California, and bits of Arizona and Nevada). Walmart is definitely a place we'll frequent, I think they have the Uncle Sam card? or am I getting it all mixed up? I guess they're cheap enough as it is, so maybe they don't have a discount card.

Originally Posted by sarahp

When you're in San Francisco let me know, and I can use my membership card to get probably the entire family into the California Academy of Sciences, which is a REALLY cool place!

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Thank you! We actually have free access there as well as in the Exploratorium and practically every kids and science museum in the Bay Area - thanks to our ASTC card (http://www.astc.org/). If you guys are up to it - would love to visit one of those together (or just hang out somewhere else in the area).

Wow, what a fabulous card! Both the Academy of Sciences and Exploratorium are great (but I think the Academy is better if you have to choose). We'll definitely catch up