Save Money On Groceries!
Save money on your grocery bill, so you can spend the money on other priorities! Each week I’m sharing one simple tip that you can implement to start saving on your grocery bill right away.
Many of the tips will be familiar, but if you take the Save Money on Groceries Challenge with us, you will actually take the steps each week instead of just filing them in the “I should do that” file. 🙂 [To join in, just leave a comment saying that you already use the tip of the week, or that you will start this week.]
[Click here to see all the tips in this series.]
Today’s Tip:
Price Match
I mentioned in my last Grocery Saving Tip that I shop multiple stores to purchase the loss leaders, or super sale items, but sometimes I have a limited amount of time and need to shop at one store. That’s when the Walmart Ad Match Guarantee comes in handy.
Simply take the sales flier from any local store into Walmart and they will match any local competitor’s advertised price for the identical item in the ad (size, quantity, brand, flavor, color, etc.) including:
- Buy one, get one free ads with a specified price (ex: Buy 1 at $2.49, Get one Free)
- Competitors’ ads that feature a specific item for a specified price
- Preferred shopping card prices for specific items that are in a printed ad
- Prices on fresh produce and meat items when the price is offered in the same unit type (lb. for lb.; each for each)
Why It Works
Just like shopping at multiple stores, using the Walmart Ad Match Policy allows you to take advantage of the best sale prices (loss leaders) at various stores, only you save time and gas money because you aren’t driving to several different locations.
There are times,however, when the using the Walmart Ad Match Policy is not the best way to get the lowest price. For example, the local produce stand where I like to shop has phenomenal prices on produce, but no printed ad. Another issue is that discount stores like Save-A-Lot have lower prices than Walmart on lots of staple items, but these items are not listed in the weekly sales flier, so I have to stop by the store to get those items at the lower prices.
Unfortunately, there is no one perfect strategy to always pay the lowest price for your groceries. You will need to track the prices in your area and determine where you can find the lowest price on the items you buy most often, then plan your shopping accordingly. If you do not want to take the time to use multiple strategies, using the Walmart Ad Match Policy is one of the best overall way to save money.
Resources
Click here to see the complete Walmart Ad Match Guarantee. The policy states that customers are not required to have the ad with them, but I usually take the ads with the items I want to price match circled so there are no questions. There are some limitations, so be sure to read all the details.
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For more ideas to save money on groceries (and a more in-depth explanation of how to make a price book), check out my ebook Save More–Clip Less: Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half Without Extreme Couponing.
Click here to see what others are saying.
I think competitors are getting wise to us. WM quite often doesn’t carry (and of course, won’t substitute) the size specified on the mom & pop ad. I still always check though!
I have noticed that too Molly. I primarily shop at Aldi now and buy the sale items at Publix. I am not a fan of Walmart.
Hi,
Is there a list of ALL sale ads in an area? If not, someone should make one.
Thank you,
Karen
CouponMom.com has a list of ads in specific areas.
I was told by a cashier of these changes. I just checked the Walmart website and it doesn’t show the change in that policy…I would just say to be looking out for the future change…the cashier said that it was said a week ago at my Walmart store meeting.
Walmart just recently changed their policy on not matching produce items that do not have barcodes, so produce will have to have a barcode in order for them to match a competitors ad
I was not aware of that change Mallory. Did you see it on the Walmart website?
This has been my main form of saving money lately at the grocery store. I look through the ads each wednesday and circle the ones I’m going to match at Walmart. Then I go online and see if there are any coupons available for the items on sale and any other items I need to get at the store. I print those off and then put my list into my phone app “out of milk” which makes grocery lists. I make sure to add info like “ad match” or “coupon” under the description for each item so I don’t forget while at the store. I’m still fine tuning it but it’s starting to save me some real money. I REALLY wish Target would price match because I have their Red Card (debit) and they give you 5cents off per reusable bag you bring in and they have coupons online to print off. Sometimes it’s still just not enough to make the extra drive though when they have items that are well over the price at Walmart.
Like you said, there is no ONE perfect way to save on grocery shopping. I may start splitting my trips between Walmart, Target and Aldi. They all have good deals on stuff I get but I never want to go to all three. Maybe one per week?? Thanks for this series. As usual, you always have practical and useable information!
I think going to a different store each week is a great strategy if you are short on time. 🙂
When you do price matching on buy one get ones does Walmart give you their price on the buy one get one or do they ask for the price in the flyer? It seems like it would be hard not to give it to you at their price if they don’t require the sales ad.
For BOGO items they will only offer ads with a price listed. I have not tried to get a BOGO item without an ad. I imagine they would try to look it up in the ads they keep at the customer service desk.
I price match. We have an Aldi that is close enough for us to price-match, but far enough away that I don’t drive there to shop. I mostly price-match Aldi produce.
I just saved over $10 today by price matching Aldi produce and I did not even have the ad. 🙂
I have been doing Walmarts price match for a while now (mostly for produce from Aldi over the winter) but I havent come up with a good way to keep track of prices at different stores. Usually I go to one store and buy the item with a coupon and then when I go to the next store I try to remember to look at the item I just bought and compare regular prices. Then hope I remember next time I go to buy the item which store has the best price. This system is NOT working (as you can imagine)! I can remember a few items but not my whole pantry! Any suggestions or printables you already have done that can help track prices at stores?
Hi Ashley! I do not have a printable that you can download, but I do have the format for one that you could easily copy in my Save More, Clip Less ebook. You can find it here: https://thepeacefulmom.com/2011/08/19/free-e-book-save-more-clip-less/. You could make a spreadsheet or make a write the prices in a small notebook that you carry with you. Another resource that I love is CouponMom.com because she lists the percentage off for each sale item at stores in your area. I try to only buy the items that are 50% off or more. Hopefully that helps!
Thanks. I will bookmark that site. Also appreciate the idea of tackling a store a week. The next item I must get a handle on is tax rates from town to town in my new city. Fortunately, each town is really close so it shouldn’t be a problem- 10 minutes one direction and 15 min to another, not to mention the stores close to home. As you know, sometimes its worth a little effort for a cleaner store, better selection, etc… Thanks again.
Yes! Aldi’s in our area has lower prices but I rarely go there because I can price match at Wal-Mart.
Kimberlee-
I’ve been following you for months now and we’re finally moving. House finally sold and will close soon. Any tips on quickly figuring out which stores in a new area actually have the lower prices other than going to every one and comparing. I know Aldi’s is cheap as well as Shop and Save and Save a lot. But I’ve vowed not to go to Walmart- having it and Aldi for your only local shopping options for 8 years can do that to a gal. Also, I know many ads are now online. How do I gage if an item is truly a good buy for the area? I imagine I’ll make a few mistakes in the next few months as I adjust and get a feel for the new area. Thanks again for your money saving tips and ideas.
Hi Jennifer! Congratulations on your move. A great resource is the CouponMom.com website because she lists the percentage that eachsale price is off the regular price.
When we first moved to our new area I checked the online ads for stores that I recognized and purchased the sale items. After a few weeks I started checking the prices at other stores one week at a time. It took me a couple of months before I had an idea of the prices at most stores, but I didn’t stress myself out about getting the absolute lowest prices while We were adjusting to our new home. I hope that helps, and that you enjoy your new location. 🙂
I have done this a few times and I love not having to stop and get out at another store for two or three items. If I have a lot of tiems, I do stop by the other stores as they are on my way to Walmart so gas is not an issue and it keeps the other customers and cashiers happy!
You can get Great Value brand to pricematch a store brand as well.