If you really want to save money on groceries and other items, you should check out Walmart. The store is probably close to where you live and has frequent sales.
I’ve purchased big-screen TVs, electronics accessories and countless groceries from Walmart.
In this article, I’ll show you how to shop at Walmart for less. I’ve also tapped the knowledge of money expert Clark Howard’s Facebook fans to get their personal savings tips.
How Can I Get Things Cheaper at Walmart?
One of the main ways I find cheap items at Walmart is through their app. Because I have a Walmart.com account, I also get email notifications on the latest sales and promotions.
The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer prides itself on beating the prices of its competitors. But it’s time to talk strategy. Let’s delve into some ways you can save even more while shopping at Walmart.
1. Scan the Weekly Ad
Walmart.com’s Weekly Ad is just what it sounds like: It highlights items that will be on sale in the next seven days, and you can customize it to the Walmart closest to you.
2. Download the Walmart App
I downloaded the Walmart App (available for Android and iOS) a while back and have used it to find items on sale. Here are some features of the app that can save you money:
Rollbacks
Rollbacks are items that have temporarily dropped in price. You can find them by searching Walmart.com or inside the app. As you can see from the screenshot below, you can find rollbacks in any category or department.
Savings Spotlight
The Savings Spotlight section in the app highlights high-profile items for sale and products that are labeled as Rollbacks, which are selected goods that have been reduced to a lower price.
3. Use Cash Back Apps
You can save money at Walmart by using cash back apps. One of Team Clark’s favorites is Ibotta, which helps you turn grocery receipts into cash.
Rakuten is an alternative to Ibotta to save more at Walmart.
4. Use Walmart Trade-In
Walmart’s Trade-In Exchange Page allows you to get an online offer on your merchandise with very little effort. All you have to do is tap on the appropriate gadget icon in the page header. It will take you through the steps to select the exact device you have, including how much Walmart will give you to trade it in.
If you accept the offer, you’ll have two more steps to take:
- Print a prepaid shipping label to ship your item for free with FedEx Ground.
- After your gadget is looked at, Walmart will issue you an instant eGift Card.
5. Shop the Great Value Brand
Walmart’s store brand is called “Great Value,” and it’s not just a name. Great Value items are traditionally priced lower than many name-brand items.
For example, this 40 oz jar of Jiffy Creamy Peanut Butter is $6.97 at Walmart.com and around that same price at similar retailers. The Great Value version of peanut butter is $3.98 as of November 2023 (same price it was in January).
6. Flash Picks
Flash Picks is an app and website category that the retailer says shows items on sale up to 65% off. A recent look at Flash Picks online found a Roku Ultra LT Streaming Device for $34 from a previous price of $80. I also found an Evercross electric scooter for $240, down from a price of about $460.
7. Use Walmart Pickup
With Walmart Pickup, you can order groceries and other items online and pick them up in front of the store. 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.
Read our guide on Walmart’s free pickup service.
8. Know the Price Match Policy
Walmart says on its website, “For items purchased in a Walmart U.S. store, we will match the price of the identical item advertised on Walmart.com.”
And even then, there are some stipulations with that.
Check out our guide on retailer price-matching policies.
9. Get $4 Prescriptions
Walmart is one of many retailers that offer $4 prescriptions. Walmart’s pharmacy doesn’t have a wide variety of medications for that low price, but if you need one of the drugs included, it’s hard to beat $4!
See Walmart’s $4 prescription list.
10. Buy Refurbished Electronics
You can save big money on laptops, TVs and other electronics by buying from Walmart’s refurbished collection. In the Walmart Restored program, the pre-owned items are all certified to work and operate like new.
The good thing is that these products come with a 90-day minimum warranty. Check out the Walmart Restored section online.
11. Subscribe to Walmart+
Walmart+ is the retailer’s Amazon Prime-like subscription service. Subscribers can get fuel discounts, unlimited free delivery and more.
Walmart+ membership costs $98 a year or $12.95 a month, and there is a 30-day free trial. Read our guide on Walmart+.
Inside the app, the store also offers you the chance to earn $20, by referring a friend to Walmart+.
12. Know When To Shop
Deciding when to shop is about more than just beating the crowds. To take advantage of huge sales at Walmart, time your shopping around the holidays or similar times of the year.
Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday are other big days for sales at Walmart.
13. Use the Walmart Rewards® Card
Reward credit cards continue to pay dividends long after you’ve left the store. The Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card offers 5% cash back on online purchases at the store.
The card also offers rewards like statement credits and gift cards on eligible purchases.
Read our guide on the Walmart Rewards Card.
14. 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 an item for less.
Check out ClarkDeals.com’s best Walmart deals. You can also sign up for the ClarkDeals newsletter to get great bargains in your inbox every day.
15. 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.”
16. Check In-Store vs. Online Prices
Pamela from Facebook says: “Check Walmart’s online price before an in-store purchase. … 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.
17. 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.”
18. 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
By familiarizing yourself with the store’s website and app, along with knowing Walmart’s return policy, you may be able to keep a little more of your dollars in your purse.
If you practice these savings tips for an extended period, you could save quite a bit of cash.
How do you save money at Walmart? Share your thoughts in our Clark.com Community!
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