The AARP organization (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons) published its guide "99 Smart Ways to Save Money" in Spanish, a practical tool designed to help families stretch their budget at a time when inflation continues to impact the finances of millions of people in the United States, especially within the Latino community.
The moment could not be more timely: according to the Debt.com Budget Survey 2026, 48% of adults in the country live paycheck to paycheck, a figure that reached 69% in 2025, its highest level in years.
Among Latinos, the pressure is even greater: 66% of Hispanic households live below the economic security threshold, according to the Hispanic Federation, and 53% believe that their financial situation has worsened compared to the previous year.
Food inflation reached 4.2% year-on-year in May 2026, and prices in supermarkets rose 3.6% in April, while spending on food for home consumption is 33% higher than it was seven years ago.
In light of this situation, Gilberto Cabrera, spokesperson for AARP, highlighted the use of artificial intelligence as one of the most accessible tools for planning household finances.
" When you're looking to plan your meals, you go to your favorite AI search engine and ask it to please fill out a complete week's menu with budget-friendly options for dinner or lunch for your whole family, and it will design it according to your budget," Cabrera explained in remarks collected by Telemundo 51.
Among the specific tips from the guide to reduce grocery spending, AARP recommends:
- Paying with cash at the supermarket and leaving credit cards at home as a way to stay within the budget without surprises.
- Look for manager discounts: fresh foods nearing their sell-by date can have discounts of up to 70%, perfect for freezing or using right away.
- Learn when an offer is truly worth it. Keep a reference price list on your phone to know if a deal is genuinely worthwhile or just a tactic to attract buyers.
- Take advantage of discounts for seniors. Plan your shopping to benefit from the additional discounts that some supermarkets offer to older adults during specific hours.
- Get great discounts with Flashfood. Stores often waste fresh food because they ordered more than they can sell. With the Flashfood app, you can purchase these fresh products, along with items that are nearing their sell-by date, at a discount.
- Set the challenge of spending less. Take stock of the pantry once or twice a year, prepare recipes with what you already have at home, and plan to spend no more than $20 weekly on what is needed.
The guide also covers transportation savings strategies, with tips such as looking beyond interstate exits to save on gas, changing the cabin and engine air filters oneself, removing roof racks from the car, and choosing low-rolling-resistance tires.
Regarding computer care, AARP recommends keeping the computer cool at all times by placing it on a hard, flat surface to ensure proper airflow. Additionally, it is advised to keep the software light by uninstalling unused programs and staying up-to-date with updates.
Regarding public services and energy, it is advisable to review the electricity bill, as nearly one in four people in the country has found an error on their bill.
It is also necessary to insulate the water heater pipes, pay the electricity bill in advance, lower the washing temperature, and replace the showerhead with a WaterSense model, which can save the average family 2,700 gallons of water per year and 11 days' worth of electricity.
In Florida, where a large part of the Cuban and Latino community in the country resides, the financial situation is particularly challenging.
The average rent in Miami was around $2,373 per month at the end of 2024, while the city's average income was only $57,157 per year, much lower than the $95,000 needed to comfortably afford that rent.
This is combined with housing insurance premiums that exceed $4,000 annually in numerous areas of the state, according to data from the AARP Florida Vital Voices survey.
This accumulated pressure is concerning for the seniors in Florida, where 93% of those over 45 years of age consider it a priority to have sufficient income for retirement, according to the same survey.
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