5 Tips for Saving Money at Whole Foods

I never shop at Whole Foods. Okay, maybe never is too strong of a word. I rarely shop at Whole Foods. Don’t get me wrong, if I could live inside of a Whole Foods, I would. I’d settle in right next to the salad bar and feast on organic veggies, nuts, and plant proteins all day. If I was feeling bold I might even sneak over to the hot bar and snag a bowl full of Kung Pao Tofu. Yeah, I could get used to that.

But in reality, going to Whole Foods is an extra-special treat for me. I only go there when Trader Joe’s doesn’t have what I need. I’m sure many folks would agree with me when I say Whole Foods is just too stinkin’ expensive for buying day-to-day items. There’s a very real reason why Whole Foods earned the nickname “Whole Paycheck.” It’s impossible for me to leave the store without spending way, way more than I wanted to. Does anybody else feel my pain?

Anyway, since I can’t seem to quit the most expensive grocery store on the planet, I decided to do some research to see if there were any secrets to saving a few bucks on my special shopping trips. Luckily, there are. Shop on, veggie lovers! Here are 5 tips for saving money at Whole Foods.

Buy in bulk
As Americans, we throw away an unbelievable amount of uneaten food simply because it spoiled before we were able to eat it. When you buy in bulk, you can purchase as much or as little as you need. Items you can buy in bulk include rice, grains, flours, pasta, soup mixes, beans, cereals, trail mixes, nut butters, sweeteners, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, spices, salts and peppercorns.

Bring your own shopping bags
Here in California, Whole Foods charges a fee for shopping bags. Not only does bringing your own bags save money (and the environment) because you don’t have to buy them at the checkout, many Whole Foods stores knock 10 cents off your total for every reusable bag you bring and use (check your local store for participation). This many not seem like a big deal at the time, but the savings definitely add up – especially if you’re a regular shopper.

Buy groceries online
When it comes to food, I’m an impulse shopper. I go into Whole Foods for tofu and walk out with a giant salad, a bottle of organic wine, and some fancy crackers I don’t need. A great way to avoid this is by using a service like Instacart, which allows you to grocery shop online. Someone else goes to Whole Foods for you, buys everything you ordered, and delivers it to your front door. No more impulse purchases!

Shop the Friday-only sales
Every Friday Whole Foods has a different item from a different department on sale at an exceptionally low price. Even if you don’t make Fridays your full-blown grocery shopping day, you can still check the online sales flyer to see if you can score any goodies for your vegan meal plan at a bargain.

Follow Whole Foods on social media
Find your local Whole Foods on Facebook and Twitter and keep an eye out for sale announcements. For example, my local Whole Foods is having a one-day sale on pizza: $10 for an 18-inch, 3-topping pie today only. Not a bad deal!

Do you have any tips for saving money at Whole Foods?