Save more at the supermarket
These simple strategies guarantee you’ll get the lowest prices on groceries at your favorite stores
At Costco: Outsmart this inventory trap!
If you feel like your go-to items are always moving from one spot in the store to another, you’re right—and it’s on purpose! The retail giant relocates items in an attempt to get you to wander around and buy more. To dodge this budgetbreaking trap, when you enter the store, make a beeline for an employee and ask where you can find your must-haves. You’ll avoid pricey impulse buys and be in and out of the store faster.
At Trader Joe’s: Save big with coupons!
Trader Joe’s is known for low prices on its signature in-house offerings, from frozen foods to chips and dips, but they also carry an array of brand-name products. And while the store never offers coupons on its own goods, it does accept them on the name brands it stocks, like Applegate Farms and Bob’s Red Mill. To find coupons, search for “Trader Joe’s” at Allnaturalsavings.com, a site that offers tips for saving on healthy food.
At Walmart: Compare prices as you shop
Walmart not only offers price matching, it has an app that does the work for you! Download it at Savingscatcher.walmart.com, then scan your receipt. The app searches competitors’ prices, and if it finds that you paid more, you get the difference via a Walmart e-card! Another easy trick: Check the deals at Walmart.com and Jet. com (a site owned by Walmart) while you shop in-store. If you find a lower price online for an item, show it to the cashier to nab those savings.
At Aldi: Shop in the AM
This budget grocer offers incredibly low prices on fruit and vegetables. The only problem? Because Aldi stores are much smaller than traditional supermarkets, they have much less shelf space and less inventory— and that means they often sell out of items, especially those featured in the weekly circular. The good news: They do get shipments daily, and they set them out every morning, so if you shop early in the day, you’ll get first crack on these deals. Even better: Shop on Wednesday morning if you can! That’s the day Aldi releases its new sales on meat and other grocery items for the week, so you’ll be sure to score sweet savings before they sell out.