Imagine somebody just handed you $100 to spend on anything you want. With the crisp C-note in your pocket, you put the key in the ignition and back out of the driveway. Where will you go?
Target? The mall? Your favorite restaurant?
For me, the answer is most likely the grocery store! I don’t like to go shopping for clothes, but I’ve been a foodie since I was a kid. Food makes up the bulk of my spending. And the biggest culprit is — you guesed it — Whole Foods.
I know I’m not alone. Even if you’re not a devotee of the organic-only diet, Whole Foods sells fresh, diverse, high-quality groceries. It’s a foodie paradise. But, as anybody who has shopped there knows, the quality doesn’t come cheap. Shopping at Whole Foods is expensive. Especially on a student’s budget.
But because it brings me joy, I’m not willing to completely give up shopping at Whole Foods. (It also happens to be my closest grocery store; not a good combo!)
That’s why I’ve devised a few simple guidelines to save money when I shop at Whole Foods. (I’m also curious to hear if you have any Whole Foods shopping tricks. There are probably many I’ve missed!) Here are my top five:
What’s Ahead:
1. If it doesn’t need to be special, don’t buy it at Whole Foods.
There’s a huge difference between selecting cheese for a dinner party appetizer and, say, a graham cracker. Set up your Whole Foods budget so that the bulk of your spending will be on “special” items where the increased quality really counts. Always ask yourself if shopping at Whole Foods for a particular item is really necessary, or if you could get a product of equal quality for a better price at a different grocery store.
It probably requires a little thinking ahead. But plan to make your Whole Foods trip merely a supplement to your usual grocery shopping if possible.
Here are a few items I’m willing to shell out for at Whole Foods:
- Cheese
- Meats from the butcher
- Produce (sometimes … see below)
- Salad dressing (awesome variety you can’t really find other places)
- Seafood
- Juice (so many exotic options)
- Jam/jelly (same reason here … great variety and more natural options)
And a sample of items I wouldn’t:
- Cereal
- Sliced bread for sandwiches
- Dry goods (rice, pasta, sugar)
- Cookies and crackers
- Basics (butter, milk, eggs)
2. If it doesn’t need to be organic, don’t buy it at Whole Foods.
Experts say there are a few food items that really should be grown organically. Every year the Environmental Working Group publishes a list called the “dirty dozen” that contains the most pesticide-ridden fruits and vegetables. Stick to that list for your organic choices.
A good rule of thumb is usually: If it has a thick skin (like a banana, avocado or citrus fruit), it’s not as important to buy organic (although you still can and should if that’s what you like!).
3. Say “yes” to the wine section.
There is a huge wine section at Whole Foods in a variety of price ranges. I’ve even had some good luck in the $10-$15 range. And they have some organic wine varieties, too.
Since wine fits in the “needs-to-be-special” category (quality matters more), I say: Keep it on the Whole Foods shopping list.
4. Don’t be afraid to buy generic.
Whole Foods’ “generic” brands are top notch in my opinion, and usually cheaper. Whole Foods Market and 365 Everyday Value brands (both Whole Foods’ generic labels) should be your go-to choices when possible.
5. Connect with Whole Foods on social media.
Check to see if your local Whole Foods store has a Facebook page and/or Twitter account. Mine does, and it frequently alerts me of sales and deals that are coming up. It’s not enough to follow or “like” Whole Foods’ national accounts; they can’t be as specific for your store as you would want. So make the extra effort to see if your store has an account.
It probably does … Whole Foods is the most active grocery store on social media that I’ve come across.
What about you? Do you have any tips on how to make shopping at Whole Foods more affordable? Let me (and other Money Under 30 readers) know! My wallet will thank you.