For #9 in series about how to save money at the nation’s largest retailers, including CVS, Kroger, Walgreens, Target, Safeway, Rite Aid, Walmart and Albertsons, we’re looking at a grocery store that many of you will likely be surprised to hear offers several ways to save money: Whole Foods Market.
The Austin-based supermarket that emphasizes natural and organic foods placed third on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s list of Top 25 Green Power Partners – all the more reason to shop there! For those of you who are skeptical, take a look at how you can save money while shopping at this green market:
Sales Cycle: Whole Foods sales cycles run Wednesday through Tuesday, meaning that advertised sales prices change on Wednesday.
Whole Foods also offers a monthly ad, called “The Whole Deal,” which you can find on their website or at the store. The Whole Deal highlights “Sure Deals” – high-quality, popular pantry items with great prices - and contains coupons, budget-friendly recipes under $4 per serving, and money saving tips.
Bonus: Top 5 Places to Find Coupons
Money Saving Tips: While Whole Foods does not have a loyalty or rewards program, there are still many ways you can save money at the store. First, Whole Foods puts out store coupons on their website. They also advertise Sure Deals online. And if you sign up for their newsletter, you’ll receive recipe ideas, local store news, and more coupons. You can also find coupons in Mambo Sprouts, a FREE coupon booklet found at health stores.
Want even more savings? Get social! If you follow your local store’s Twitter and Facebook page, you’ll be alerted to local and national sales news, like one-day sales, weekend sales and bundle deals. Select stores also use location-based services, like Gowalla and Foursquare, to offer discounts and prizes to customers for checking in.
Bonus: Secrets of Extreme Couponers
Coupon Policy: While the Whole Foods coupon policy varies by location, here are some general guidelines for using coupons at the market:
- Whole Foods accepts the following types of coupons: Whole Foods store coupons, manufacturer’s coupons and Internet printable coupons.
- Whole Foods allows you to stack one manufacturer’s coupon and one store coupon per item… usually. Call your local store to confirm.
Extras: If you bring in your own reusable grocery bags, you’ll receive $0.10 off your bill for every bag you use. Another way to save: buy in bulk. When you buy any item by the case, you’ll receive 10 percent off! Look for the shelf tag under the UPC barcode for offset numbers (ranging from five to 20), which indicate how many you have to buy to equal a case. And make sure your cashier knows you’re buying by the case; they will enter it manually.
Bonus: The Coupon Dictionary: Your Guide to Coupon Lingo
Final Tip: Every year, Whole Foods puts out the Whole Planet Calendar, which is filled with store coupons that don’t expire until the end of the year. The calendar costs $2.00 and goes to help people in third-world countries start small businesses.
Whether you’re a money-saving expert or couponing newbie, you can learn new ways to save money at Quizzle.com, including how to lower your monthly mortgage payment and improve your credit for the best deals on life’s largest purchases.
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- What Not to Buy at a Garage Sale
- Personal Finance Lessons from the World Wealth Report
Photo credit: IMG_5596 by bionicteaching on Flickr
