Whole Foods is commonly joked as the “Whole Paycheck Store,” and if you’ve ever shopped there, it’s easy to see why. The cost is so high that some people don’t even bother stepping into the store since Whole Foods seems to have higher prices than regular grocery stores.
Still, there are many different ways to stack coupons at Whole Foods to get popular and organic food items inexpensively, or even for free. Here are my tricks to save the most at Whole Foods.
Download the Whole Food’s Coupon App
Two months in a row I have gotten a $5 off of $20 produce coupon. I’ve used that coupon to stock up on whatever produce was the cheapest at the time. One time I only bought the two cheapest deals I could find – corn and mandarin oranges. My kids were a little sick of both after two weeks though!
Along with the Whole Food’s app, don’t forget to print coupons from their site and to grab their coupon books near the register.
Combine Coupons, Sales, and Rebates for the Best Deal
The best way to get products for as cheap as possible is to combine Whole Food store coupons with manufacturer coupons and cash back rebates from apps like Ibotta and Checkout51.
Of course, you don’t have to waste time hunting down the deals yourself, as many sites do all the work for you. My favorite is The Krazy Coupon Lady. This week, the site shows you how to make $1.51 off of organic cookies and roasted kale snacks for $0.07.
Build a Cheaper Salad
The build your own salad bar can either be a money-saver or a money-waster. It all depends on how you load your salad. Choose less expensive leafy greens, such as spinach and kale, rather than romaine lettuce. For protein, the bacon and salmon is a better price per pound than grilled chicken and hard-boiled eggs. Avoid heavier items, such as tomatoes, pre-made items, and bone-in meats. Instead, stick with lighter items that usually cost more packaged, such as special nuts, sun dried tomatoes, or olives. And don’t forget to keep your dressing on the side!
Put the Butcher to Work
The butcher at Whole Foods is there to help customers prep the meat. I’m not good with meat prep, so I’m more than happy to have an expert break down a whole chicken for me for free. Thanks for saving me precious time in the kitchen!
Don’t be afraid of Whole Foods. You really can score amazing deals there, but only if you have a store close by.
Have you ever scored a great deal at Whole Foods? Share your finds in the comment section.
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Some items are loss leaders. I find that Regular Whole milk is often cheaper at Whole Foods than at Shoppers or Giant. Some organic store brands at Whole Foods are cheaper than Name brand at other stores. You get a %10 discount off a case. Some things like gallon water by the case is actually a small usable number (6). You have to know your deals and stick to them. Still I confess I get most of my organics now at Costco in bulk.
The best saving hack for Whole Foods is not to shop there at all! You can get identical quality good organic options at Kroger or Harris Teeter at lower cost. Most of my friends (at least 25 of them) agree that Kroger produce quality is superior and great value.