How to save big on your grocery bill using these smart hacks

1.3K

Grocery prices feel higher every week, but you can fight back with smart savings tools from Amazon Prime and Walmart+. Both memberships unlock grocery discounts, delivery perks, and extras that can take the sting out of your food budget. By combining simple shopping strategies with the right subscription, you can stock your pantry, save on gas, and even score free streaming. Let’s dive into the best ways to cut your grocery costs and decide whether Prime or Walmart+ works better for you.

 

 

 

Tip #1 – Find current deals from Whole Foods or Amazon Fresh via the Amazon App

Browsing local deals at Fresh Locations or Whole Foods can be done with the Amazon and Whole Foods apps. This can help you keep track of how much you’re spending, including savings, before you even get to the register. Here’s how to browse through grocery deals using the Amazon website or app:

• Log in to your Amazon account.
• Below the search bar, select the “Groceries” tab.
• You will be asked to choose if you want to shop via Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods
• Amazon should generate the nearest store to you, but to change to a different store or to double-check, click the “Find a Store” option to select another location.
• Amazon’s page will display all deals of the day for your store’s Prime members.

Get a 30-day free Amazon trial

 

 

Tip #2 – Scan the in-store bar code at Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods stores

When shopping at Whole Foods or Amazon Fresh, scan your Prime member QR code at checkout to instantly apply any available Prime discounts. You’ll find your In-Store Code in the Amazon app (beneath the search bar) or in the Whole Foods Market app when signed in with your Prime account.

Scanning it will automatically subtract eligible Prime savings from your total. You can also link a payment card or mobile number to your Prime account, or use Amazon One palm scan, to have discounts applied without scanning your code.

Get a 30-day free Amazon trial

 

 

GET MY FREE CYBERGUY REPORT
Subscribe to receive my latest Tech news, security alerts, tips and deals newsletter.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Tips to avoid our newsletters going to your junk folder

Leave this field empty if you're human:

 

Tip #3 – Shop for grocery deals online for Whole Foods or Amazon Fresh delivery

Ordering groceries online from Whole Foods or Amazon Fresh can be really convenient. Here’s how to keep fees low:

• Amazon Fresh delivery isn’t always free. Prime members pay a tiered service fee unless the order exceeds $150. The cost is $9.95 for orders under $50, $6.95 for orders of $50-$100, and $3.95 for orders of $100-$150. Orders above $150 qualify for free delivery. Pickup is always free.
• Whole Foods delivery costs a flat $9.95 service fee, no matter your order total. But pickup is free on all orders.
• For ultra-fast grocery delivery, try Amazon’s Same-Day Delivery, now including perishables like produce and meat. For Prime members, orders over $25 are delivered free; under $25, there’s a $2.99 fee. Non-Prime customers pay $12.99 no matter what.

If you’d rather skip delivery fees, consider comparing all available options, including free pickup, bundling orders to meet free delivery thresholds, and checking for Prime exclusive deals before you buy.

• Log in to your Amazon account and go to the Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market section.
• Browse deals under headings like “Deals,” “Savings,” or “Weekly Sales” for curated discounts and Prime member savings.
• Shop in a familiar layout just like Amazon’s standard search results with product images, deal prices, customer review ratings, and “Add to Cart” buttons beneath each item.
• Review your cart when you’re done and choose pickup (often free) or delivery. Select your preferred date and time slot. Options may include two-hour windows for delivery or same-day pickup, depending on your location.

Get a 30-day free Amazon trial

 

Tip #4 – Virtual coupons

Amazon offers clippable digital coupons that can lower your total on groceries, household goods, and everyday essentials. Prime members can stack these savings with regular deals for even more value. Here’s how to use them:

• Open the Coupons page: On desktop, click “Today’s Deals” at the top of Amazon’s homepage and look for“Coupons”, or go directly to amazon.com/coupons.
• Filter by category: Narrow your search by selecting categories like Grocery, Beauty, or Home & Kitchen to find the deals you care about.
• Look for the coupon indicator:
  • Some items show a “Clip Coupon” checkbox under the price. Click it to apply the coupon before checkout.
  • Others display “Coupon Price,” which means the discount is already factored into the listed price; no extra step is needed.
• Enjoy automatic savings: Whether clipped or automatically applied, the coupon discount will show in your order summary at checkout.

Get a 30-day free Amazon trial

 

Tip #5 – Save with a subscription

If you regularly restock the same items, like paper towels, shampoo, or pet food, Subscribe & Save lets Amazon handle it automatically while cutting your costs. Here’s how it works:

• Set it and (mostly) forget it: Subscribe to eligible items, choose the delivery rhythm that works (from two weeks to six months), and your essentials come right to your door. No fees, and you can skip, modify, or cancel anytime.
• Earn bigger discounts:
  • 5% off each item when subscribing to up to four products.
  • Up to 15% off when subscribing to five or more in the same delivery.
• Stack savings: Clip Amazon digital coupons on top of your subscription discounts to maximize value.
• Prime perks apply: While Subscribe & Save is available to all shoppers, Prime members get free shipping and better alignment with other perks.

Get a 30-day free Amazon trial

 

 

Tip #6 – Buying in bulk from Amazon

Amazon sometimes runs limited‑time promotions on household essentials, like cleaning supplies, paper goods, or pantry items, where you earn an Amazon credit (e.g., $15 back) when you spend a minimum amount (e.g., $50) and enter a promo code (like STOCKUPSAVE) at checkout. Prime members get the same deals, and they frequently apply to everyday bulk essentials.

These are distinct from Subscribe & Save, which offers a recurring 5-15% discount when you subscribe to multiple items.

Get a 30-day free Amazon trial

 

Tip #7 – Save on pantry staples via Amazon’s Grocery Outlet section

Amazon features an online Grocery Outlet under its Grocery & Gourmet Food category. This isn’t exclusive to Prime members, but Prime perks like fast or free shipping often apply.

Here’s how to make the most of it:

• Find deeply discounted non-perishables including cereals, nuts, canned goods, snacks, beverages, and more by browsing or searching in the Grocery Outlet section.
• Use available filters to narrow results by brand, price, nutrition facts, and seller-just like elsewhere on Amazon.
• Combine with Subscribe & Save if applicable: Some bulk-size items in Grocery Outlet may be Subscribe & Save eligible, letting you stack recurring delivery discounts on top of marked prices.
• Enjoy convenience with Prime: Orders from Grocery Outlet qualify for Prime’s free or expedited shipping, making it easy to stock up without a trip to the store.

Get a 30-day free Amazon trial

 

How to get a cheap Amazon Prime membership

You can still participate in Prime Day even if you’ve never had a Prime membership before. See below for all the available discounts.

Get a 30-day free Amazon Prime trial

Simply use the free 30-day Amazon Prime trial and remember to cancel if you don’t plan to keep it. You can get the same deals with free shipping offers during the free trial. Sign up here.

Students: Get 6 months of Amazon Prime free

If you’re a student, you can click this link to get 6 months free of Amazon Prime for students.  Students will need to verify by providing their .edu email address. Sign up here.

Medicaid or EBT: Cheaper Amazon Prime

If you’ve got a Medicaid or EBT card, you can sign up for an Amazon Prime membership for $6.99 – almost half the cost of a typical membership. Sign up here.

 

 

How to share an Amazon Prime membership

You can share your Amazon Prime membership with another adult in your Amazon Household. You and your invitee must both be adults, agree to link your accounts through Amazon Household and agree to share payment methods. This means that you will have access to each other’s payment methods, so you should only share your Prime membership with someone you trust. The person you share your Prime membership with will get the same Amazon Prime benefits as you for no additional cost. Both adults will keep their own personal accounts while sharing Prime benefits. To do this, once you’re logged in, add that person to your Amazon Household by following these steps.

How to add a person to your Amazon Household

• Log into your Prime account by clicking here 
• Click Add Adult
• Give their name and email address, and follow the onscreen instructions from there

 

 

Save with Walmart+ Membership

Amazon Prime isn’t the only way to cut grocery costs. Walmart+ is a strong alternative if you often shop at Walmart stores or order groceries for delivery.

Here’s what you get with Walmart+:

• Cost: $12.95/month or $98/year (students pay as little as $49/year). That’s about $40 less than Amazon Prime annually.
• Grocery delivery: Unlimited free delivery on orders of $35 or more. No add-on fees.
• Fuel savings: 10¢ off per gallon at over 13,000 Exxon, Mobil, Murphy USA, and Sam’s Club fuel centers.
• Other perks: Mobile Scan & Go for faster checkout, free in-home returns, prescription discounts through the Walmart Rx for Less program, and even Paramount+ streaming included.

Pro tip: Try Walmart+ with a free 30-day trial before committing to a full membership.

Amazon Prime vs. Walmart+: Which one saves more?

Both memberships offer real savings, but in different ways. Here’s a quick breakdown:

 

So which one wins?

• Go with Walmart+ if grocery savings, fuel discounts, and in-store perks matter most.
• Choose Amazon Prime if you want a broader mix of entertainment, fast shipping on almost everything, and extra digital perks.

The best part? Both offer 30-day free trials, so you can test which one fits your lifestyle.

 

 

Related Links:

• How to get a cheap Amazon Prime Membership 
• 9 best features of Amazon Prime you may not know about  
• 5 easy ways to save money now

 

Kurt’s key takeaways

Now you have more than one way to save big on groceries. Amazon Prime gives you exclusive discounts at Fresh and Whole Foods along with tons of streaming perks, while Walmart+ shines with free grocery delivery, cheaper gas, and built-in Paramount+. Both memberships pay for themselves quickly if you use them often.

Would you choose Walmart+ or Amazon Prime to save more on your next grocery trip? Let us know below in the comments.

FOR MORE OF MY TECH TIPS & SECURITY ALERTS, SUBSCRIBE TO MY FREE CYBERGUY REPORT NEWSLETTER HERE