Saving money at Walmart is easier than you think, and money-central.com is here to show you how. By implementing smart shopping strategies and taking advantage of various discounts and programs, you can maximize your savings and keep more cash in your wallet. Let’s explore the secrets to smart spending, budget-friendly shopping, and frugal living at Walmart to optimize your financial health.
1. How Can The Walmart App Help Me Save Money?
Yes, the Walmart app can significantly help you save money through its weekly ads, in-store specials, early access to sales, and time-saving features. The Walmart app is a powerful tool for savvy shoppers looking to maximize their savings, and it provides several convenient features that can enhance your shopping experience.
The Walmart app’s weekly ads section highlights local sales and in-store specials for nearby Walmarts. This is the easiest way to find deals before you shop, saving you time compared to traditional coupon books or flyers. You can quickly browse through available discounts and plan your shopping trip accordingly. During the holidays, the app provides early access to sales and exclusive product catalogs, giving you a head start on finding the best deals.
The app also saves you time by allowing you to check the availability of specific products before heading to the store. This feature ensures that you don’t waste time traveling to Walmart only to find that the item you need is out of stock. You can also use the app to check in for in-store pickups, streamlining the process and reducing wait times. Creating shopping lists within the Walmart app helps you stay organized and on budget, preventing impulse purchases and ensuring you only buy what you need.
Alt: Person using Walmart app to find deals on smartphone
2. What Are Priced-To-Go Clearance Items And How Do I Find Them?
Priced-to-go clearance items are products marked down significantly from their original prices to clear inventory, easily identified by bright yellow tags indicating the original versus clearance price. Buying clearance products is a straightforward way to save money, especially at Walmart, where these items are often marked down even further.
These items can be found in designated clearance aisles or sections within the store, making it easy to spot potential deals. For online shopping, Walmart.com features a dedicated clearance category with a wide selection of discounted products. By regularly checking these sections, you can discover great bargains on various items.
3. How Can I Leverage Walmart’s Free Shipping To Save More?
You can leverage Walmart’s free shipping by placing orders of $35 or more on Walmart.com to avoid shipping fees, and some products even qualify for free same-day shipping. Walmart.com offers a vast inventory that mirrors what you’d find in stores, making it a convenient option for online shopping.
Coupling savings on shipping costs with other saving strategies can significantly increase your overall savings. Avoiding shipping costs is crucial, and Walmart’s free shipping policy makes it easier to get the products you need without extra charges. By strategically planning your online purchases to meet the $35 minimum, you can maximize your savings.
4. What Is Walmart’s Free Pickup Service And How Does It Work?
Walmart’s free pickup service allows you to order online and pick up your items at a local Walmart store, and you can even receive discounts on eligible online-only merchandise when you choose this option. The process is simple: select products with a “pickup discount eligible” tag, choose “ship to local store” before checkout, and receive the discount on your order.
This service saves you time and money by combining the convenience of online shopping with the savings of in-store deals. Additionally, Walmart offers free grocery pickup, where you place your grocery order online, select a pickup time, and a Walmart employee loads your groceries into your car at no charge. This eliminates delivery fees, which can be $7.95 without a Walmart+ membership, and saves you time spent inside the store.
5. Is Walmart+ Worth It For Saving Money?
Yes, Walmart+ can be worth it if you frequently use Walmart grocery delivery or take advantage of its other benefits like free shipping, fuel discounts, and in-store smartphone checkout. As a Walmart+ member, you get free same-day grocery delivery, which saves you $7.95 per delivery. Although there’s a $35 order minimum, ordering weekly through Walmart+ can save you $816 in delivery fees annually, according to Walmart.
Beyond groceries, Walmart+ offers free next-day and two-day shipping from Walmart.com with no minimum order requirement. Members also save $0.05 per gallon on fuel at Walmart and Murphy gas stations, and they receive member pricing at Sam’s Club fuel centers, even without a Sam’s Club membership. The in-store smartphone checkout feature allows you to use your phone’s camera to scan product barcodes and check out at self-checkout, saving you time. Walmart Rewards, a cash-back rewards program, lets you earn rewards on specific items and redeem them for discounts on future purchases.
Walmart+ costs $12.95 per month or $98 per year. If you order groceries from Walmart at least 13 times a year, the annual membership pays for itself in saved delivery fees. Additionally, members who refuel with 140 gallons per month can save an average of $84 per year on fuel, further offsetting the membership cost.
Alt: Man uses Walmart+ app to scan items at self-checkout.
6. How Can I Save Money On Groceries At Walmart?
You can save money on low-cost groceries at Walmart by creating a shopping list, shopping seasonally, timing your trips, checking unit prices, double-checking receipts, and buying the Great Value brand on select items. Walmart Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets already offer competitive prices, but savvy shoppers can maximize their savings with these simple yet effective tips.
Creating a detailed shopping list using the Walmart app helps you avoid overspending on unnecessary items. Shopping seasonally ensures you purchase produce at its cheapest, as seasonal items are generally less expensive than those transported from far away. Timing your trips can align with specific days when bakery or deli products go on sale, and avoiding shopping on an empty stomach can prevent impulse purchases. Checking unit prices, rather than just the price tag, helps you determine the best value, and double-checking receipts can catch cashier errors.
Opting for Walmart’s Great Value brand on basic items like eggs, milk, cookware, cleaning supplies, and spices is another way to save. While the quality of Great Value products may vary, they are often the most economical choice for everyday essentials.
7. What Is Walmart’s $4 Prescription Program And How Can It Save Me Money?
Walmart’s $4 prescription program offers affordable generic prescriptions, with many 30-day supplies available for $4 and 90-day supplies for $10 or more, helping reduce monthly medical expenses. If you have a prescription for a generic medication, this program can significantly lower your costs.
The program includes a wide range of generic drugs, and you can check Walmart’s current list of generic drugs to see if your prescription is covered. Requesting generic drug prescriptions from your doctor can also help reduce medication costs, as approximately 40% of doctors may prescribe more costly brand-name medications instead of equally effective generics, according to a 2013 study in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Even if you have insurance, it’s worth comparing the cost of your medication under your insurance plan to the price offered by Walmart’s program. Insurance companies’ drug tiers may place your medication on a tier that costs more than Walmart’s program.
8. How Can I Take Advantage Of Walmart’s Coupon Policies?
You can take advantage of Walmart’s coupon policies by understanding and following the guidelines for manufacturer limitations, coupon limits, eligible coupon types, and cash overages. Coupons can still be a valuable tool for saving money at Walmart, and it’s important to be familiar with the store’s policies to maximize your savings.
Walmart accepts both dollars- and cents-off coupons, as well as buy-one-get-one-free (BOGO) coupons. They also accept valid Internet coupons or printed coupons from manufacturers. However, Walmart does not double BOGO coupons or allow combining them with dollar- or percent-off coupons.
If the shelf price of an item is less than the price discount on a coupon, Walmart provides cash overages. However, customers cannot receive cash after overages by applying coupons against Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) purchases. Coupons must be scannable, and Walmart has the right to refuse coupons that encounter errors or those suspected of being altered. You can find free printable Walmart coupons on websites like Coupons.com, CouponCabin, and RetailMeNot.
Alt: A collection of coupons for saving money at Walmart.
9. What Are Walmart-Appropriate Rewards Apps And How Do They Work?
Walmart-appropriate rewards apps like Ibotta offer cash back for purchasing specific products from partner retailers, allowing you to save money after completing a Walmart shopping trip. Even without a Walmart+ membership, you can use these apps to earn rewards on your purchases.
Ibotta is a popular choice, offering cash-back opportunities ranging from $0.25 to $5 on various Walmart products. To use Ibotta, download the free app, browse for Walmart offers, and add them to your shopping list. After shopping, upload your receipt to provide proof of purchase, and Ibotta will credit you with cash back. Once you reach $20 in cash back in your Ibotta account, you can cash out via PayPal, Venmo, or various gift card options. Other apps that regularly offer Walmart rebates include Shopkick, Fetch Rewards, and Checkout 51.
10. How Can Money-Saving Browser Extensions Help Me Save At Walmart?
Money-saving browser extensions can help you save money at Walmart by automatically finding and applying coupon codes, earning cash back, and comparing prices across different retailers. These extensions can be particularly useful for online shopping, making it easier to find the best deals without manual effort.
Popular browser extensions that work at Walmart.com include Honey, Capital One Shopping, and Rakuten. Honey and Capital One Shopping have built-in price-comparison tools, notifying you if they find the same product you’re shopping for on Amazon or another retailer at a lower price. Rakuten is best if you want to earn cash back in the form of real cash instead of gift cards.
No matter which extension you choose, they can help lower your bill by automatically applying available coupon codes and earning cash back on your purchases. While you won’t always find coupon codes or cash-back opportunities, these browser extensions can still provide significant savings over time.
11. What Is Walmart’s Price-Match Guarantee And How Can I Use It?
Walmart’s price-match guarantee ensures that you get the lowest price on identical items, both in-store and online, by matching prices from Walmart.com and other online retailers. For in-store purchases, Walmart will match the base price of identical items purchased in a Walmart store with the price listed on Walmart.com and Jet.com. Customers must inform Walmart associates they wish to price-match, and the product must be in stock on Walmart.com and identical to the in-store purchase.
For online purchases, Walmart will match the price if you find a cheaper price from another online retailer on an identical, in-stock product. However, Walmart does not offer price protection for online purchases, meaning they won’t refund money for products purchased on Walmart.com that later drop in price. The product in question must be identical, including sizing, model, brand, and color.
Offers advertised as sales (dollars or percentages off), items marketed as clearance, liquidation, or special event offers, Black Friday or Cyber Week sales, damaged or refurbished products, price errors, and discounts applied at checkout are exempt from price matching.
12. Is The Walmart Rewards Mastercard A Good Way To Save Money?
Yes, the Walmart Rewards Mastercard can be a great way to save money if you frequently shop at Walmart, offering cash-back rewards on purchases made in-store, online, and at fuel stations. The primary benefits of this zero-fee Mastercard include an incredible introductory offer, additional cash-back opportunities, and a 1% safety net.
For the first 12 months, you can earn unlimited 5% cash back in Walmart stores or at Walmart.com when you use your card with Walmart Pay. Additionally, you can earn unlimited 2% cash back on travel expenses and at restaurants, Walmart stores, and Walmart and Murphy USA fuel stations, and 1% cash back everywhere else.
To take full advantage of the 5% introductory offer, you need to use Walmart Pay, which involves linking your Capital One Walmart Rewards card and using the app’s tap-to-pay functionality at checkout. If this card isn’t the right fit for you, consider using another cash-back credit card to earn rewards on your purchases.
13. What Are Walmart-Certified Refurbished Electronics And Are They Worth Buying?
Walmart-certified refurbished electronics are devices that have been returned to the manufacturer, reconditioned, and certified to work like new, offering a cost-effective alternative to buying new electronics. Purchasing refurbished electronics can be a good way to save money, but it’s important to understand the potential risks and benefits.
Refurbished devices are typically those returned to manufacturers by consumers, and they undergo reconditioning before being resold. Walmart’s refurbished electronics program is reputable, with products meeting strict grading requirements, including inspection, cleaning, and repairing to ensure they work like new. These electronics must also be free from dents, screen scratches or cracks, and significant cosmetic imperfections.
Walmart fulfills some refurbished electronics orders and also relies on a network of third-party electronics sellers. All refurbished products come with a 90-day minimum warranty, providing ample time to test the device. Categories in Walmart’s refurbished electronics program include smartphones, desktop computers, laptops and tablets, wearable technology, and headphones.
Alt: Refurbished Walmart certified smartphone.
14. What Is Walmart’s Gadgets To Gift Cards Program And How Does It Work?
Walmart’s Gadgets to Gift Cards program allows you to trade in your old electronics for Walmart gift cards, providing a convenient way to get rid of unwanted devices and save money on future purchases. To use the program, select your device from a list of eligible products, ship it for free to Walmart’s partner CExchange, and earn an electronic Walmart gift card after they approve your device.
You can only redeem the gift card at Walmart.com. CExchange provides an instant appraisal after you choose your device and enter information about its condition. If there’s a discrepancy between the initial appraisal and the condition of your device, they will send an updated appraisal, which you can either accept or have the device returned to you for free.
Eligible categories for the Gadgets to Gift Cards program include e-readers, laptops, MP3 players, smartphones, tablets, video game consoles, and voice speakers. This program offers a relatively quick way to get rid of old gadgets and earn money at the same time, which can then be used to save even more on your next Walmart.com shopping trip.
FAQ: Saving Money At Walmart
1. What is the best day of the week to shop at Walmart for clearance items?
While there’s no guaranteed “best” day, many shoppers report finding the best clearance deals at Walmart on Mondays or Tuesdays, as these are often when markdowns are processed after the weekend.
2. Can I use manufacturer coupons with Walmart’s rollback prices?
Yes, you can typically use manufacturer coupons with Walmart’s rollback prices, as long as the coupon terms and conditions are met.
3. Does Walmart offer a senior citizen discount?
No, Walmart does not offer a specific senior citizen discount. However, seniors can still save money by using coupons, taking advantage of rollback prices, and utilizing other savings strategies.
4. How can I find hidden clearance deals at Walmart?
To find hidden clearance deals, look for items with yellow clearance stickers, check endcaps and out-of-the-way areas, and use the Walmart app to scan items, as sometimes the price shown in the app is lower than the shelf price.
5. Can I stack coupons at Walmart?
No, Walmart does not allow coupon stacking, meaning you cannot combine multiple manufacturer coupons on a single item.
6. What is Walmart’s policy on rain checks?
Walmart’s policy on rain checks can vary by store, but generally, they do not offer rain checks for out-of-stock items. It’s best to check with your local store for their specific policy.
7. How can I get free samples at Walmart?
You can sometimes get free samples at Walmart through in-store promotions or by signing up for Walmart’s email list, which may occasionally include offers for free samples.
8. Does Walmart offer discounts for students?
No, Walmart does not offer a specific student discount. However, students can still save money by using coupons, taking advantage of rollback prices, and utilizing other savings strategies.
9. How can I stay updated on Walmart’s latest deals and promotions?
To stay updated on Walmart’s latest deals and promotions, sign up for their email list, download the Walmart app, and follow Walmart on social media.
10. Can I use EBT or SNAP benefits for online orders at Walmart?
Yes, you can use EBT or SNAP benefits for online grocery orders at Walmart in select states. Check the Walmart website for more information and eligibility requirements.
Final Word
Walmart provides numerous opportunities to save money through its everyday low prices and various programs. By implementing smart shopping strategies like using the Walmart app, leveraging free shipping and pickup services, and taking advantage of rewards programs, you can maximize your savings and keep more cash in your wallet. Stay informed about the latest deals and promotions, and don’t hesitate to explore all available options to make the most of your shopping experience.
For more tips and tools on managing your finances and saving money, visit money-central.com. We offer comprehensive guides, expert advice, and resources to help you achieve your financial goals. Take control of your financial future today with money-central.com. Contact us at Address: 44 West Fourth Street, New York, NY 10012, United States. Phone: +1 (212) 998-0000. Website: money-central.com.
