Whole Foods (or is it still “Whole Paycheck”?!?) is known for its high-quality, organic, and natural products, but it can also be a big budget-buster. If you’re looking to save money on your grocery bills, there are several strategies you can try to make your Whole Foods shopping trip more affordable. Here, we’ll share some tips to help you save money at Whole Foods.
Tips to Save Money at Whole Foods
Shop the sales and discounts
Whole Foods regularly marks down items that are about to expire or have been overstocked. Keep an eye out for yellow stickers, which indicate discounted prices. You can also check the store’s weekly ad for special deals.
Buy in bulk
The store has a wide selection of bulk items, including grains, nuts, and dried fruits. Buying in bulk can be a great way to save money on pantry staples. Just make sure to only buy as much as you’ll be able to use before the expiration date. Most stores will have a small wall of self-service containers for these bulk buys.
Buy store-brand items
Whole Foods’ store brand, 365 Everyday Value, offers high-quality products at lower prices than many national brands. Try substituting store-brand items for your usual purchases.
Use coupons
Sometimes, the grocer has coupons in its weekly ad or website. Keep an eye out for these to save on your purchases.
Shop the perimeter
Whole Foods’ perimeter, or the outer edges of the store, is where you’ll find fresh produce, meats, and dairy products. These items tend to be less processed and less expensive than the packaged items in the middle aisles. But this is not a universal rule, so use your judgment.
Buy in season
Fruits and vegetables that are in season tend to be cheaper because they’re more abundant. Check out the store’s produce section for the best deals.
Use the Amazon Prime discount
If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can save an additional 10% or so on select sale items at Whole Foods. Download and set up the Whole Foods app to make it easy to validate your Prime Membership.
Plan your meals in advance
Planning your meals in advance can help you avoid impulse purchases and stick to your budget. Make a list of the items you need before you go shopping and try to stick to it as closely as possible. This can help you save money and waste less food.
Get the Amazon Prime credit card
As of this writing, there are two credit cards, with discounts (well, post-purchase rewards) of 3 and 5%. Google it for the latest info.
Summing It Up
By following these tips and keeping an eye out for sales and discounts, you can save money on your grocery bills without sacrificing quality. While it’s true that Whole Foods can be a bit pricier than other grocery stores, it can be worth it for the high-quality products. With these strategies in mind, you can make your Whole Foods shopping trips more budget-friendly and still enjoy all of the great products the store has to offer.
At the end of the day and in my experience, it is at the top tier of grocers, in terms of quality and selection. It’s still expensive, though, no matter what you do. So if quality and selection are paramount, do go there. If not, Trader Joe’s is also high-quality but prices tend to be much lower. On the other end, Walmart and ALDI are probably the cheapest national chains, but you have to be discerning to buy quality products. Some stuff is very good or even excellent, while other stuff is junk food.
To get the best of both worlds, look for a Whole Foods location that has a Walmart or ALDI nearby. Then, shop both places.
Video
Let’s finish this off with someone’s YouTube video on saving at Whole Foods:
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