Once upon a time, Whole Foods Market was nicknamed “Whole Paycheck” because it was easy to blow your whole grocery budget in one trip. They earned this nickname for a reason: Whole Foods places an emphasis on organic and natural food products, which are more expensive.

The sad reality is it costs more to eat healthier [source]. But if you shop smart, there is a way to eat healthy without breaking the bank! Use the following 7 Whole Foods hacks to help you leave the store with healthy food and money left over.

1. Go with a List and Stick to It 

Whole Foods is a foodie paradise where everything looks and smells delicious, making you want to put it all in your cart. But if you do, you might pass out when the cashier rings up a costly receipt. Fortunately, this is an easy problem to avoid. 

With a grocery list, you spend less money. Pick up what you need, and leave. Yes, you will be tempted to get some artisanal cheese, but if it’s not on this week’s list, just say no.

2. Take Advantage of Weekly Deals 

While Whole Foods once had the nickname “Whole Paycheck,” they have shed this identity with the Amazon acquisition in 2017. They now offer significantly more discounts for shoppers, and they make it super easy for shoppers to find these deals. 

They offer a variety of weekly deals, which are available in the Whole Foods Market app. The app has every coupon available and it is easy to use! Simply have the cashier scan the app-generated barcode to get credit for all the coupons and deals currently offered. No more coupon clipping for you! 

3. BYOB: Bring Your Own Bag 

Unlike discount grocery stores (think Aldi), you are not required to buy or bring your own bags to Whole Foods. However, in an effort to encourage shoppers to “go green,” Whole Foods will give you 10 cents off your total for every bag you bring. 

Another way to save some cash while shopping at Whole Foods is to bring your own containers for weighed produce items. Just make sure to weigh your containers before you shop so you aren’t paying for the produce and the weight of your container, too.

4. Amazon Prime Member Perks 

When Amazon acquired Whole Foods, prices dropped immediately. However, to get the most bang for your buck, you need to be an Amazon Prime member. You don’t want to walk through Whole Foods and see those special blue Amazon Prime Member deals and be unable to take advantage of them. 

Here are just some of the reasons why it’s a win to shop at Whole Foods as an Amazon Prime Member.

  • Prime members get an extra 10% off items with a yellow sale sign.
  • Prime members get additional discounts on items with the blue Amazon Prime Member signs.
  • Prime members get additional discounts on the Whole Foods Amazon app.
  • Prime members get free delivery in select ZIP codes and free pickup on orders.
  • Prime members who purchase using their Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card get 5% back.
  • It’s easy! If you have a Prime membership, download the Whole Foods app, sign in with your Amazon account, and scan the Prime code in your app at checkout to save.

Take Advantage of ‘Prime’ Time Savings

As you can see, an Amazon Prime membership opens up so many savings possibilities at Whole Foods. But, the benefits of a Prime membership go beyond serious savings on your groceries: You get 2-day (or quicker) delivery on Amazon Prime products, access to Amazon’s video and music streaming services.

The money-saving opportunities with Prime are endless. And, if you do not have a Prime account, sign up for a free 30-day Prime Trial here. Or, if you’re a new mom sign up for a Prime Family account (free trial) and get 20% off diapers and other baby products (along with all the other Prime perks)!

5. Shop the 365 Brand 

It’s easy to buy the brands we know, but you can save a good bit of money when you shop for generic brands. Many people falsely believe these generic brands are not as good in quality and won’t taste as good. Whole Foods has solved this problem with its Shop 365 brand. Because it is a Whole Foods brand, it follows the same strict quality standards as the big brands.

Whole Foods has the following statement regarding food quality: “We ban 100+ ingredients from all food that we sell, including hydrogenated fats, high-fructose corn syrup, and sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin” [source]. You can rest easy knowing the food will be just as good at a fraction of the cost.

6. Try Before You Buy 

The atmosphere of Whole Foods makes it tempting to buy more than you need or even want (which is why you want a list). Their beautiful displays seem to call out to shoppers, saying, “Go ahead, try it.” Guess what? You can try it – even before you buy it! 

According to Pop Sugar, “There’s a company-wide Try Before You Buy policy. This includes but is not limited to anything fresh from the produce section or any packaged foods within the center aisles of the store” [source]. This means you can try out products before wasting money on food you won’t ever eat. 

As an added bonus, it helps you avoid overspending just because you made the mistake of shopping while hungry.

7. Shop Off-Peak Times 

No one wants to deal with grocery cart traffic jams. Avoid this situation by staying away during those busy times, like 5-6 p.m. after work or Sundays. Whenever possible shop in the mornings to avoid the crowds and to get the first fresh picks of the day. Even better – shop Wednesday mornings when store sales refresh.

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