Walmart is one of the most popular and affordable retailers, offering a wide range of products for everyday needs. But did you know there are smart ways to save even more money and time when shopping at Walmart? From price matching to hidden clearance deals, Walmart has several hacks that can help you stretch your dollar further. Whether you’re a frequent shopper or just looking for ways to make your next trip more efficient, these tips will make your Walmart experience even better.
Here are nine Walmart hacks you’ll wish you had known sooner!
1. Use the Walmart App for Price Comparisons
Walmart’s app is more than just a convenient shopping tool—it’s also your key to discovering lower prices. Before making a purchase, use the Walmart app to scan the barcode of an item. The app will show you if the item is available at a lower price at another Walmart location or online.
Bonus Tip: You can even check for price drops and see if certain items have hidden discounts or clearance pricing that may not be displayed in-store.
2. Take Advantage of Walmart’s Free Pickup and Delivery
Skip the in-store crowds by using Walmart’s free pickup or low-cost delivery options. When you place an order online, you can choose to pick it up at your local Walmart for free. It’s a great time-saver, and you avoid impulse buys that happen when you browse the aisles.
For busy weeks, opt for delivery. Walmart often offers low or free delivery fees, especially if you subscribe to Walmart+.
3. Look for Hidden Clearance Items
Walmart often discounts items without marking them clearly on the shelf. To find these hidden clearance deals, use the barcode scanner in the Walmart app to scan the price of an item. You might discover that some items are discounted more than they appear! Hidden clearance prices are usually unadvertised, so this hack can lead to significant savings.
4. Shop Early in the Morning for Fresh Deals
If you want to score the freshest products or take advantage of clearance items, shop early in the morning. Walmart employees restock overnight, and many clearance items and discounted produce or bakery goods are available as soon as the store opens.
Bonus Tip: Early morning is also the best time to get newly discounted markdowns on meats and bakery items that are nearing their sell-by date.
5. Use Walmart+ for Free Shipping and Fuel Discounts
Walmart+ is a membership service that offers numerous perks, including free shipping on many items with no minimum purchase and discounts on fuel at participating gas stations. If you shop at Walmart regularly, this subscription can easily pay for itself by saving you money on delivery fees and fuel.
Other Perks of Walmart+:
- Early access to special deals and product launches.
- Scan & Go feature to check out quickly in-store.
6. Price Match with Walmart.com
While Walmart discontinued its in-store price-matching policy for local retailers, it still honors price matches with Walmart.com. If you find a lower price for an identical item on the Walmart website while shopping in-store, you can ask for a price match at the checkout.
How to Price Match:
- Show the cashier the online price of the item on Walmart.com.
- The item must be in stock on the website, and the price match will be applied at checkout.
7. Check the Endcaps for Clearance Deals
Many Walmart stores place clearance items at the end of the aisles (known as endcaps). These items often have markdowns that are not advertised or featured elsewhere in the store. The next time you shop, take a few moments to walk around the store and check out the endcaps for hidden clearance gems.
8. Use Walmart’s Savings Catcher (or Alternatives)
While Walmart’s official Savings Catcher program has been discontinued, you can still save using similar cashback apps like Ibotta, Rakuten, or Fetch Rewards. These apps allow you to scan your Walmart receipt and earn cashback or rewards on your purchases. You can redeem points for gift cards or even transfer your cashback earnings to your PayPal account.
9. Buy Generic Brands to Save More
Walmart’s Great Value and Equate brands often offer the same quality as name-brand items but at a much lower price. From pantry staples to personal care products, opting for Walmart’s in-house brands can save you a lot over time. These generic items are typically placed next to their name-brand counterparts, so you can easily compare prices.
Conclusion
Walmart is already known for its low prices, but using these nine hacks can help you save even more money and time. Whether you’re looking to avoid crowds, uncover hidden clearance deals, or maximize cashback rewards, these tips will enhance your shopping experience and keep more cash in your pocket. So, next time you plan your trip to Walmart, keep these hacks in mind for the best deals and smoothest shopping experience!
