8 Secret Walmart Shopping Hacks to Save Yourself Time & Money

Headed to your local Walmart to pick up a few things? You’re probably looking to score a great deal and keep your budget in check. This retail giant is famous for helping people save money on groceries, pet toys, household items, and more.

But did you know you can use secret Walmart shopping hacks to pay even less than the price tags say? That’s right! You’ll get better prices on everything from everyday items to clearance purchases.

The Walmart discount hacks you’re about to learn will leave you wondering why you didn’t shop this way before. Here are five Walmart tips to help you keep more money in your pockets. You’re welcome!

Source: Walmart’s Official Website

Related: The Ins and Outs of Walmart’s Price Match Policy

1. Use Carrot’s Deal Hop Feature for Deals Up to 90% Off

Unfortunately, Walmart doesn’t offer price matches to local competitors anymore. However, you can still check Amazon and the Walmart app for lower prices. A Walmart store will price match similar items with lower prices on Amazon or the online store. But that’s quite a time-intensive task.

If you really want to compare prices without spending a lot of time, try Carrot. This online extension lets you compare prices of a particular product across multiple retailers— all thanks to its “Deal Hop” feature. The “Deal Hop” feature also allows users to look for similar products sold by different brands at relatively low prices. 

Those of you planning to visit Walmart must get the Carrot app or browser (it’s FREE). That’s because Carrot organizes all your finds in a neat collection. Having all the products you plan to buy organized in one place will help you compare prices quickly. 

Related: 10 Couponing Apps That Will Revolutionize Your Shopping Experience

2. Shop Online to Avail Free Delivery, Pick-Up & Deals on Clearance

Source: Wallmart

If you’d rather skip in-store shopping and the Walmart price scanner hack, take advantage of free home and site-to-store delivery. You can shop from the website for the lowest prices. Then, ship your purchases directly to your doorstep or local Walmart.

You can get free shipping on purchases of $35 and above. No more fighting crowds or waking up early to get the best deals. Use your curated lists to shop online when prices are at their lowest. And if you’re worried about porch pirates, ship to the nearest store for free.

Pick up your items after work, during your lunch hour, or whenever it’s most convenient. Plenty of shoppers have found secret clearance items and exclusive online prices this way. Simply search for the word “clearance” in the site’s search bar. You could also seal the deal on things that are hard to find or out of stock at your local store. It’s a win-win!

Related: Walmart Return Policy: Everything They Don’t Want You To Know (2023)

3. Beat the Markdown System

Nearly everyone knows that stores don’t mark down items once. Store and department managers tend to lower prices several times to get items off their shelves. Walmart is no exception.

But to beat Walmart’s markdown system at its game, you’ve got to know the rules. When you see prices that end with a “7,” those are the original price points. Tags that end with a “5” reflect the first markdown, while “1s” and “0s” are the final deductions.

Armed with this knowledge, you can leverage it with other Walmart shopping hacks. Wait a while longer to buy items with prices like $20.97. See if there’s a cheaper price on Amazon for things priced with a “5” at the end. Know with confidence that you’re getting the best deal on something with a price tag of $3.01.

Related: Top 2022 Black Friday Coupon Codes & Deals To Help You Save Big

4. Watch for Price Drops

Once you’ve shopped from your wish lists, don’t delete them. Keep your lists and receipts for at least seven days after buying something. If one or more of the prices drops, Walmart will refund the difference.

Admittedly, this is one of those Walmart discount hacks that requires some vigilance. Yet, it works for anything you buy and in any Walmart store.

But let’s be honest— In a world where we are always on the go, who’s got the time to keep tabs on products in your wishlists for price drops? No one! That’s where Carrot enters into the picture. With Carrot as your shopping companion, there’s no need to check if the prices of your favorite products have dropped. That’s because Carrot notifies its users automatically about price drops on all the items in your wishlists. 

Related: J.Crew Return Policy: How to Get Your Money Back Every Time (2023)

5. Ask Walmart Sales Associates

Many wise quotes say, “you get what you ask for.” There’s nothing wrong with asking Walmart employees where the clearance items are. They work the store nearly every day, so they’re pretty familiar with where all the markdowns are.

Some of those items might be on end caps or in other unexpected locations. Don’t be afraid to approach a sales associate and let them know what you’re looking for. They’re there to help you out!

They might tell you about upcoming sales and markdowns. Or be willing to give you the deal a little early and tell you about available coupons. Sales associates might also know an out-of-stock clearance item is still available at a nearby store. The best employees will arrange for a transfer so you can pick it up at a later date.

No one likes to find out they’ve paid more than they should have. Shopping at Walmart is one way to stay within your budget and spend less than your friends and neighbors. With the above list of Walmart shopping hacks, you’ll be on your way to reaping even more fantastic rewards.

Related: 8 Crazy Ikea Deals & Hacks You Probably Don’t Know

6. Buy on the First Day of Sales

Keep yourself updated about sales to get the best deals while shopping from Walmart. Regularly checking the app or website will keep you updated on when the sale starts and what will be on sale. 

Always buy on the first day of the sale if you want to buy more without spending much. Because retailers seek to maximize their profit on the first day of a sale, they offer the best deals and discounts. You’ll be in for a treat if you shop at Walmart on the first day of sales. 

Related: 5 Best Thrift Apps To Help You Find Amazing Deals On Secondhand Treasures

7. Buy School Supplies, Cereals, and Dried Spices for Major Savings

Cereals, dried spices, and school supplies are the three items that you should always buy from Walmart instead of other retailers. That’s because Walmart offers organic and generic spice options at relatively lower prices than reputed brands like Great Value. 

Walmart also sells a vast array of cereals in huge bags, so you can buy them in bulk and save a few dollars more. In regard to school supplies, the back-to-school season is the right time to buy them. Walmart offers notebooks at unbeatable prices. In fact, you can grab them for as little as 25 cents. 

Related: 7 Pro Tips on Finding The Best Deals Online

Maximize Savings by Shopping From Walmart With Carrot

Now that you have all these fantastic Walmart hacks up your sleeves, you need a tool to tie it all together. Drum rolls, please

That tool is Carrot, folks! With this free Chrome browser extension, you can view all your favorite Walmart items in one place, organize them, create collections, make gift registries, share your shopping list with your fam, track prices, and get notified when there’s a price drop.

And if you think Walmart is selling a particular item at a steep price, turn on the “Deal Hop” feature. Once you turn it on, Carrot will browse through zillions of web pages online to bring to you the retailer that sells it at lower prices.