In this article, I'm going to show you how to save money at Walmart. I've also tapped the knowledge of money expert Clark Howard's Facebook fans to get savings tips from them as well.
How To Save Money at Walmart
The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer prides itself on beating the prices of its competitors. So shopping at Walmart is definitely a way to keep more money in your pocket.
But it’s time to talk strategies. Let’s get into some ways you can save even more while shopping at Walmart.
1. Shop the Great Value Brand
Walmart’s store brand is Great Value — and it’s not just a name. Great Value items are traditionally priced lower than many name-brand items so the savings are built into the price.
For example, this 40 oz jar of Jiffy Creamy Peanut Butter is $5.64 at Walmart.com and around that same price at similar retailers. The Great Value version of the same product is $2.77 as of this writing.
2. Use Cashback Apps
One of the best ways to save money at Walmart is to use cashback apps. One of Team Clark's favorites is Ibotta, which helps you turn grocery receipts into cash.
Other cash back/rewards apps that partner with Walmart include:
3. Download the Walmart App
I downloaded the Walmart App (available for Android and iOS) several months ago and have used it to find items on sale.
Fast Family Meals
One feature I love is the Fast Family Meals category in the Walmart app. Here it shows you how much money you'll spend on a meal to feed multiple people.
Savings Spotlight
The Savings Spotlight section in the Walmart app highlights high-profile items for sale and products that are labeled as Rollbacks, which are selected goods that have been reduced in price.
4. Use the Weekly Ad
Walmart'sonline Weekly Ad is just what it sounds like: It highlights items on special in the next seven days, but you can customize it to see what's on sale at the Walmart closest to you.
5. Free 2-Day Shipping
Walmart offers free two-day shipping on orders of more than $35. The strategy here is to order several items at a time to meet the $35 threshold. (Note that not all items are eligible.)
6. Use Walmart Pickup
With Walmart Pickup, you can order groceries and other items online and pull up in front of the store to pick them up. That certainly can save time, but it might save you money as well: If you stay in your car, it’s a lot harder to fall prey to impulse buying.
If you don't have a Walmart nearby, you can have your goods delivered to your local FedEx Office.
7. Price Match Guarantee
Savvy shoppers can also get the lowest price by comparison shopping Walmart's in-store prices against Walmart.com. For items in-store, Walmart says it will match cheaper prices found on its website.
And if you find a price at another online retailer that's cheaper than Walmart.com, the store says it will match that price if it has identical, in-stock products.
8. $4 Prescriptions
Walmart offers $4 prescriptions on a select group of generic drugs. While the program doesn't cover a wide variety of medications, if you need one of the drugs included, it's hard to beat $4!
9. Buy Refurbished Electronics
You can save big money on laptops, TVs and other electronics by buying from Walmart’s refurbished collection.
The good thing is that these products come with a 90-day limited warranty. Check Walmart's Certified Refurbished Electronics.
10. Subscribe to Walmart+
Walmart+ is the retailer's Amazon Prime-like subscription service. Subscribers can save on fuel discounts, unlimited delivery and more. Learn more about Walmart+.
11. Visit ClarkDeals.com
Walmart might be known for low prices, but not everything there is the best deal you can find. Our team at Clark Deals searches the web for the very best discounts and sales at Walmart so you know when you’re getting a deal.
Go here to see the best Walmart deals from Team Clark and sign up for the Clark Deals newsletter to get great bargains in your inbox every day.
12. Select Markdown Items
Christopher, one of Clark's fans on Facebook, says: "Shopping for fresh food markdown items (Meat, Produce, Bakery, Deli), be there early. Company policy is all yellow tag, going out of date, markdowns are to be completed by 8:00 am. Their CVP Customer Value Program markdowns are usually about 30% lower than the original price. If it is already a Rollback item you get a super good deal."
13. Check In-Store vs. Online Prices
Pamela from Facebook says: “Check Walmart’s online price before an in-store purchase. While WM no longer offers other store price matching it will match its own online price. Saved $7 on a toaster doing that.”
Team Clark member Chelsea says an easy way to check Walmart in-store vs. online prices is to use the bar code scanner in the Walmart app.
14. Comparison Shop
Susan from Facebook says: “When you’re ordering a non-food item online take the time to look at several pages. They often have the same item being sold through different sellers at very different prices.”
15. Scan the Clearance Items
Craig from Facebook says: “Scan all the clearance items in the Walmart app, they are usually drastically lower than the already clearance price.”
Final Thoughts
From all the ways to save that we’ve listed, it’s clear that shopping at Walmart can help you keep a little more of your dollars in your pocket. If you practice these savings tips for an extended period, you could save quite a bit of cash.
More Shopping Resources at Clark.com:
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