Smart and Easy Ways to Save at Whole Foods Market

Whenever I think about shopping for healthy foods or products for my home, one of the first places that comes to mind is Whole Foods Market. After all, the health store giant offers just about every product for organic-eating, eco-friendly loving, health-conscious shoppers. But is it possible to save at Whole Foods Market?

When I initially started shopping at Whole Foods, I had grown so accustomed to astonishing checkout totals that it just became the norm for me. But then I discovered ways to save money on my grocery bill at Whole Foods Market. This was a game changer. 

 But if you’re like most, you may still hold onto the idea that shopping at Whole Foods is expensive and way outside of your budget. You may think that the only way to buy healthy groceries at Whole Foods for your family is to take on a part-time job or mortgage your home. But the reality is that shopping at Whole Foods doesn’t have to leave your bank account dry.  

As with anything, knowing the ins and outs is what will get you the results you’re after. And in this case, that would be buying affordable but healthy groceries to make nutritious meals for your family. So, if you want to shop and save at Whole Foods, pay attention to these tips I’m going to share with you below. They will make a huge difference and help you save money on your next trip to Whole Foods.  

Some of the savings hacks for are very obvious but often overlooked. For example, some of these tips below are posted right on the company’s website. They’re actually instructing you on how to save money when you shop in their stores. Others I’ve learned through talking to Whole Foods associates when I shop and plain experience.   

Smart & Easy Ways to Save at Whole Foods Market  

1. Pick up a copy of Whole Deal  

 I never, ever enter a Whole Foods Market without first grabbing a copy of Whole Deal. This little booklet is Whole Foods’ version of a sales flyer and is jam-packed with all of their valuable deals and seasonal savings. They also include meal suggestions which really helps with ideas when you’re planning healthy meals for the family. The Whole Deal booklets are usually positioned in a little rack at the store’s entrance. If the rack is empty, just ask for a copy of Whole Deal at the Customer Service desk.  

2. Download the Whole Foods app  

 Download the Whole Foods app to your device, and never wonder about current deals. You’ll always be up to date and have your Whole Deal coupons ready to be scanned at checkout.  

3. Look for the Weekly Specials flyer 

Whole Foods releases their weekly specials every Wednesday. They’re printed on a one-page colorful flyer at the entrance in the same rack where you’ll find the Whole Deals flyer. Check the Weekly Specials as there’s usually a plethora of savings opportunities to be found, and you’ll be clued in about all the savings in each of the departments.  

4. Don’t Miss the Hot Weekend Deals  

 Whole Foods offers these deals every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I once saved over 50% on women’s organic multi-vitamins with this deal bringing the price down from over $30 to only $13. Let’s just say I was pleasantly surprised as I buy those vitamins anyway.  

5. Get Discounts When You Buy in Cases  

While Whole Foods doesn’t offer deals like wholesale clubs, you can still get a nice 10% discount on most items when you buy in bulk or cases. If your family eats almond yogurt like it’s going out of style, pick up a case instead of buying only a few at a time.  

 Tip: Be sure to check expiration dates to ensure the product is worth buying in cases. If it will spoil before you consume it, this defeats the purpose.  

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6. Opt for the Generic Brand  

 365 Everyday Value is Whole Foods’ private label, and they offer many competitively-priced products under this brand name.   

7. Buy Seasonal Produce 

Afraid that buying produce is too expensive at Whole Foods? Not when you buy seasonal! Produce purchased in-season is usually at its lowest price and in the best, freshest condition of the year. 

8. Order Online using Amazon PrimeNow 

You may want to shop at Whole Foods but not have time to make the trip. Although they have definitely expanded over the years, they are still far from being on every corner. So it may not be convenient for you to make the trip to a far-away Whole Foods Market. So what can you do in this case? Order online of course!

Since Whole Foods is now owned by Amazon, they have vastly expanded their delivery capabilities allowing many of their in-store items to be delivered via the PrimeNow program from Amazon. PrimeNow is a program available to Amazon Prime Members that provides free, that’s F-R-E-E, same-day (usually within two hours) delivery of many items that busy families need to stay afloat. The only drawback of PrimeNow is that you won’t find all of the fresh produce available for delivery. Butut I have been able to get organic bananas, organic strawberries, organic salad mix, among other fresh items delivered and all arrived in perfect condition. Availability may depend on your city. You do generally need to be home to accept the delivery if there are perishables in your package. See if PrimeNow is available in your city.

9. Order Online with Instacart 

InstaCart is another delivery option to bring Whole Foods’ fresh groceries and eco-friendly products straight to your doorstep. Unlike PrimeNow delivery, InstaCart will actually shop your local Whole Foods store and pick the items off the shelf or out of the freezer for you; then deliver the items within a specified time-frame of usually a couple of hours.

10. Use Manufacturer’s Coupons 

You may have thought you can’t use manufacturers coupons at Whole Foods but you absolutely can. In addition, you can stack the coupons with the Whole Deals coupons for extra savings. If you’re a couponer, please go ahead and breathe a sigh of relief now.

11. Use Savings Apps 

Nowadays there are so many apps out there to help shoppers spot deals and never miss a savings opportunity. Get familiar with apps like Ibotta, which says they’re “better than coupons.”  

Ibotta allows you to shop at many pharmacies and grocery stores – including Whole Foods – and earn rewards for completing simple tasks. The built-in scanner will track your purchases, savings, and rewards. 

There you have it. As you can see there are plenty of ways to save money when shopping at Whole Foods. Eating healthy and living a healthy lifestyle shouldn’t be complicated or expensive.  With a little planning ahead and preparation – and having the right tools on standby – you can affordably buy healthier products and foods to keep your family healthy. 

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