How to Save Money on Your Weekly Shop

After working with Whole Foods Market for more than seven years, I’ve picked up tons of tips on how to save money in each aisle. Here are 9 of my favorites.

Heirloom Tomato and Bulgur Salad

Heirloom Tomato and Bulgur Salad opens in a new tabFall is often linked with a return to routine. This can mean adopting time-and money-saving strategies or embracing healthier eating habits. In both cases, the Whole Story blog is here to help. Through mid-September we’re sharing our favorite pointers for mealtimes (including snacks!) from how to shop to how to prep, so you can get back on track with ease.

Between work, school drop-offs and pick-ups and extracurriculars, there’s a temptation to go out for dinner or pick up a quick breakfast. However those are usually the most expensive options.

To control spending and chaos, my husband and I swear by weekly meal planning. Before we do our weekly shop, we search our store’s weekly sales online (check your store’s sales flyer opens in a new tab), see what’s already in our pantry and freezer and then create a weekly meal planner opens in a new tab.

The savings doesn’t stop there. After working with Whole Foods Market for more than seven years, I’ve picked up tons of tips on how to save money in each aisle. Here are 10 of my favorite money-saving tips for shopping at Whole Foods Market.

  1. Bang for your buck. Whole foods (ingredients in their purest, unprocessed forms) like grains opens in a new tab, beans and lentils opens in a new tab give you more nutrients for less cash. Try this Heirloom Tomato and Bulgur Salad opens in a new tab or Baked Coconut Lentils opens in a new tab.

  2. Cut waste. Use only what you need with bags of frozen fruits, veggies, chicken, shrimp and scallops. (That means smoothies or pasta mix-ins at the ready.)

  3. Maximum meat for the moolah. Look for budget-friendly pricing on lesser-known cuts such as boneless sirloin, flat iron steak or skirt steak. (Think Flat Iron Tortas opens in a new tab and Southwest Grilled Beef Salad opens in a new tab.)

  4. Essentials gone organic. Are there some items you always try to buy organic? From peanut butter and cereal to frozen veggies and shampoo, it’s easy to find hundreds of affordable organics with the 365 Everyday Value opens in a new tab® line.

  5. The scoop on bulk bins. Go wild with ingredients like nuts, seeds, grains, lentils, cereal and dried fruits. Because you’re not paying for packaging (or a full package), you can explore a new world of dried plant ingredients.

  6. Hit the bar. Shop our salad bar when you need small amounts of veggies. Ingredients are pre-washed, pre-chopped and often organic. This is a super fast short cut for stir-fries and pizza toppings.

  7. Cut costs in half. If you need only half a cabbage, sandwich, chunk of cheese, fish fillet, loaf of fresh bread, etc. we’re happy to provide just the half you need.

  8. Value packs. Shop for these and get fish and meat at a better price.

  9. Sign up and save. Subscribe to our email newsletters opens in a new tab to receive the latest specials and coupons, plus loads of tested recipes.

What is your favorite way to save money at Whole Foods Market?

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