Aug. 28, 2017 will forever live in infamy as the day common folk could finally afford to shop at Whole Foods. Amazon — the grocery chain's new owner — quite literally just slashed prices with menacing red lines at stores across the country, and they're expected to continue making cuts. But until the coast is completely clear of gimmicks like $6 peeled oranges, you can count on these trusty ways to make your money stretch there.
Conduct a case study.
If you obsess over anything Whole Foods carries — gum, crackers, cake mix — consider buying it by the case. Most items qualify for a 10 percent discount when purchased that way.
Keep your kid happy.
You're bound to shop better without a tiny rugrat screaming in your ear — and Whole Foods lets you occupy your kids for free. Stop by Customer Service when you arrive and get a Kids' Club coupon. It's good for a complimentary apple, fruit leather, or pack of animal crackers.
Try before you buy.
When you're trying to save, there's nothing worse than wasting money on a product you didn't like. Whole Foods is shockingly sympathetic to this ... so much so that they'll let you sample anything in the store, from a box of chocolates to a hunk of cheese. It's like a choose-your-own-adventure Costco sample experience — just limit yourself to avoid side-eye.
Stock your bar all at once.
There are those who believe in self-control, and then there are those who Whole Foods rewards: the hoarders. The market basically pays you for purchasing lots of wine in one shopping trip. You get a 10 percent discount for buying 6 or more bottles at a time. Keep an eye open for when managers occasionally bump it to 20 percent.
Know how to hack the salad bar.
It's not just for making a salad. The ingredients there are already pre-chopped, meaning you can load up on small amounts. Are you catching the drift? Swing by here when your recipe calls for just a sprinkle of celery or a teaspoon of pine nuts. You might pay more per piece, but you'll save by not buying more than you need.
Go halfsies.
File this under: ways Whole Foods is more accommodating than you thought. If you only need half of something, they'll hack it for you and allow you to just buy the one part. We're talking the obvious things — fish or a sandwich — and the not-so-obvious, like a head of cabbage or a loaf of fresh bread.
Channel your inner coupon clipper.
Whole Foods allows you to do what's called coupon combining, when you use both a store's and manufacturer's coupon. You can find packs of Whole Foods' vouchers at the Customer Service desks, and you should scour the internet for ones from brands on big-cost items you know you'll be buying.
Cyber-stalk Whole Foods.
The chain promotes a weekly price slash on its site. It's often on more expensive products like fish or meat. Try to plan your meals accordingly.
PIN IT FOR LATER:
Follow Delish on Instagram.
Download the Delish app.
