Tips for Shopping Whole Foods Market and Saving BIG!

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Love shopping Whole Foods? We're sharing 10 tips for shopping and saving big on groceries at your local Whole Foods Market. Check them out!

10 Secrets to Know Before Shopping Whole Foods

Do you love to shop at Whole Foods Market? There are tons of different foods and products to choose from there, and SO many are organic, non-GMO, or gluten free! However, Whole Foods can be pricey. To help you save money, check out these 10 secrets you need to know before shopping Whole Foods.

1. Visit the Bulk Bins.

One of the great things about Whole Foods is that it has bulk bins! Depending on what store you go to, you may find lentils, beans, dried fruit, yogurt covered pretzels, and much more, helping you save money by buying in bulk.

And you can get an amount of food that's just enough, not too much or too little, so you don't have to worry about having extra or not enough. Depending on the item, you may even find that you can save money by just buying a little from a bulk bin. Compare the bulk price to an already boxed/bagged version of the food and see which is the most inexpensive choice.

2. Sample ANYTHING before you buy.

An easy way to save money at Whole Foods is to try before you buy so you don't spend money on something you may not like. Whole Foods team members can open a bag of chips, slice a piece of fruit, or twist open bottled iced tea ~ that way you can bring home products you like!

3. Buy frozen (fresh isn't always cheaper).

Fresh isn't always better, both in terms of quality and price. A simple way to save money at Whole Foods is to buy frozen things instead of fresh ($4 for a pineapple is not the best price!). This doesn't mean buy a lot of frozen prepared meals. It means consider frozen fish, meat, fruit, and veggies.

You can find a lot of great organic, non-GMO, etc. frozen goods at Whole Foods that are much cheaper than their fresh equivalents. And since they're frozen, you won't have to worry about using them up right away, allowing you to possibly buy extra to take advantage of a good price.

TIP – Most store sales refresh on Wednesdays, so be sure to check your local ad.

4. Save more with Amazon Prime.

This is probably my favorite perk! Amazon Prime members get an extra 10% off storewide sales (except alcohol). Plus, look for Prime member deals & special discounts on seasonal favorites all year long.

If you have a Prime membership, download the Whole Foods app (see #7 below), sign in with your Amazon account, and scan the Prime code in your app at checkout to save.

TIP – In addition to Kohl's Amazon returns, you can also pick up or return your Amazon packages at Whole Foods whenever it’s convenient for you!

5. Buy local.

Whole Foods Market has a dedicated team of foragers working around the U.S., Canada, and the UK to find the best locally grown, raised, or produced items to feature at your local Whole Foods Market.

Just look for designated signs around the store and check out our list of makers local to your state. You can also browse by product to see what's local in your store.

TIP – A PPP reader noted that if you buy an entire flat of canned veggies, baby food, etc, you may be able to get a 10% “boxed” discount for buying the entire box. This is great for those baby food pouches, canned goods, etc. or other items that you may use a lot of.

6. Customize your seafood.

The fishmongers at Whole Foods can cut and debone your fish, peel your shrimp, and crack your crab – at NO charge ~ and they’ll place special orders for you too! As long as the fish meets their seafood standards and is available, they can get it for you. Just be sure to call the store and arrange a pickup.

The fishmongers can also tell you where the fish is from, how to best prepare the fish – and some stores can even cook your fillets for you right then and there for a small fee! WOW!

7. Download the App.

Nowadays most stores have an app, and Whole Foods isn't any different. While you may think the recipes and ability to make a shopping list are handy, what's best about the Whole Foods app is that it provides you with exclusive savings – especially for Prime members.

Combine these printable coupons, paper coupons, and other rebate apps like Ibotta or Fetch Rewards, and you can save a lot of money on your next Whole Foods trip.

NEW – Pay with your app is available in select stores, with more coming soon! Just scan the In-Store Code in your Whole Foods Market or Amazon Shopping app at a staffed checkout lane and the team member at checkout will ask you to confirm your preferred payment method.

Download the Whole Foods Market app HERE for Android or iOS.

8. Save on fresh flowers.

Whole Foods has a fantastic floral department! Around Valentine's Day and other holidays throughout the year, Amazon Prime members can score Two Dozen Whole Trade Roses for just $19.99 – just $9.99 per dozen! Simply redeem at your local Whole Foods by scanning your linked Whole Foods app.

9. Shop in season.

Like all stores, be sure to shop produce in season to get the best price at Whole Foods. Be sure to download my free stock up price guide so you always know what's the best price, and don't miss this list of “What's in Season” so you know when to buy certain items.

TIP: If you need only half a melon, fish fillet, wedge of cheese, or loaf of fresh bread, you can buy just the half you need (excluding alcohol). That way you won't waste what you might not use.

10. Shop SMART.

Perhaps the best way to save money at Whole Foods is to be a smart consumer. That means don't just think because something is at Whole Foods that it's better for you. If conventional non-organic salad is $4 more at Whole Foods than at Kroger, don't buy it at Whole Foods.

To make your budget go farthest and keep Whole Foods from becoming Whole Paycheck, 🙂 you need to really consider each item you put in your Whole Foods cart. If it's non-organic, you may be able to get it cheaper elsewhere. And even if it says it has no X and no Y, you still need to read the ingredients list. Whole Foods goods can be just as processed and contain just as many chemicals as foods from other grocery stores, so read those labels closely.

How do you keep your Whole Foods costs down? I'd love to hear from you!

10 Secrets You Need To Know Before Shopping at Whole Foods Market

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