Video: How To Shop & Save At Whole Foods Market
If you’re a Whole Foods Market shopper (or if you are wanting to learn how to become a very hip Whole Foods shopper!), check out my newest video – How to Shop & Save at Whole Foods! Enjoy…
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIfRRZ3uRyY]If you can’t see the video, go here.
Check out your local Whole Foods Facebook Page
You’ll find information about One Only Day Sales, Children’s Events, special coupons, giveaways and more!
Grab the Whole Deal Coupon Booklet
When you walk into Whole Foods, be sure to grab The Whole Deal Coupon Booklet located at the front of the store by the shopping carts. This booklet is full of store coupons (many have no size restrictions!) that can be stacked with manufacturer’s coupon and store sales for some big savings! Note that you can also view the booklet online here.
Bring the Kids
That’s right! This is one of my favorite places to shop with my kiddos! Most Whole Foods locations offer a complimentary Kid’s Club that provides FREE snacks to your kids – like popcorn, bananas, oranges, bottled water and more! And, ask your local store if they have a hidden stuffed animal in the store – if they do and your kiddos spot the animal, they will get a special treat! 🙂
Focus on the Center (And ask for Samples!)
Keep your eyes peeled on the items in the center aisles (especially in the Produce Section!) and Endcaps as they tend to offer the largest savings. And if you want to try before you buy, just ask and they will be happy to give you a sample.
Buy in Bulk
Check out the Bulk Section if you are planning to purchase dried goods like beans, rice, flour and more. Purchase 15 pounds or more and you’ll get a 10% off bulk discount.
The More Wine, The Better
Purchase 6 or more wines (including wines on sale!) and get an extra 10% off your wine purchase.
Make Friends with the Butcher
Did you know that the butcher at Whole Foods will cut up a whole chicken, make hamburger patties, cube a chicken breast, etc all for FREE! I love this!
Get to Know 365 Everyday Value
Whole Foods has their own store brand of products called 365 Everyday Value. They carry everything from juice to frozen pizza to mayonnaise. Even better, you’ll find store coupons in The Whole Deal Coupon Booklet to help you save even more!
Read the Whole Foods Coupon Policy
Yes, Whole Foods does have a Global Coupon Policy! I recommend that you print the policy and then keep it with you when you shop in case you run into any issues at checkout. Note that the policy clearly states that a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon can be combined on one item AND case discounts can be combined with coupons. Awesome! 🙂
Join the Vitamin Club
Join the Vitamin Club (may not be available at all stores) and get a FREE 365 Everyday Value Brand supplement for every ten 365 Everyday Value Brand supplements that you purchase.
Case Discount
Purchase a case of an item and get an automatic 10% off at checkout. Click here for more information.
Don’t Forget the Reusable Bags
Use a reusable bag at checkout and get 10¢ off your purchase or you can opt to donate 10¢ to your local school.
Be Organized at Checkout
To help the checkout process go smoothly, place each store coupon and manufacturer’s coupon next to each applicable item (instead of handing the cashier a huge stack of coupons at the very end).
Thank you for posting this. We absolutely love our local Whole Food stores. Their 365 line carries both organic and non organic products and are priced very reasonable.
You’re welcome and I agree, I love their 365 line of products.
You are off the charts adorable Collin!! Wish we had a Whole Foods here 🙁
Thanks, Heather!
Collin: you suggest putting the coupons next to each product rather than handing the cashier the coupons at the end. This seems more confusing because they will need to watch out for coupons on the belt. Don’t they scan them all at the end?
Thanks.
Hi Karen,
That’s a good point, but at my Whole Foods the cashiers actually want to see the coupons set by the products. When I first started shopping there, I would wait until the end to hand over the coupons (like I do at other stores) and then the cashier would literally go back through the bags to pull out the products for the coupons… so since then I have just done it this way and it seems to work better.
I have actually found this to be true, I almost died the first time when the cashier started taking out everything of the bags to match the coupons and had to rearrange all my items back in the bag again! I will keep that tip in mind for the future 🙂 As always thank you Collin and crew for the awesome tips 🙂
You are so welcome!! 🙂
Thank you so much for showing a Whole Foods video. I like shopping there, but feel overwhelmed at times.
You are so welcome! 🙂
Thank you for this video!! We just got a Whole Foods in our area and I haven’t wanted to go because I wasn’t familiar with the store or how to save.
You’re welcome! 🙂
My WFs cashier wasn’t even happy when I used 3 coupons! I didn’t like their customer service, how are others experiences?
Our WH’s have always been wonderful taking Q’s. We have 3 in the area.
Their last $3.99 a pound sirloin steak deal was AMAZING!!!
😀
totally not Whole Foods related but I love your bag! mind if I ask where you got it?
The hubby got it for me from a local store. He’s a keeper! 😉
Collin you never fail to crack me up! I love you. Thanks for all the great deals!
🙂
I have had problems with them stacking coupons…they normally will only except one or the other at my Whole Foods…
Sorry to hear that. The Whole Foods Corporate Coupon policy clearly states that you can stack a store coupon with a manufacturer’s coupon. You may want to print the policy and keep it with you next time you shop there…
https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/service/whole-foods-market-global-coupon-policy
random question : a while back i requested the Tuscn Natural Pet food and you’re able to request a sample for each of their recipe and i did. i just received a voucher from them to go to their retailer to redeem the food, i just googled their location and they don’t have any stores in my state =( sad i thought they would just send me the samples not a voucher to go redeem….
well u got a qpon…if you can’t use it send it to someone else or donate it to an animal shelter…btw sometimes the samples run out and they send qpons instead…would you rather them not send you anything…ijs…
I know that Sprouts is now a part of whole foods (I’ve heard, anyway). Does anyone know if their policies are similar?
Wish I had a Whole Foods! Colin I think you could make any store fun! Love your videos!
Thanks, Kathleen! 🙂
I have a whole foods central market haven’t even noticed if they have coupons bought chia seeds and omega vitamin 3 mixture and since I’m on a trend to eat better iam on a smoothie trend for all the greens / blood test showed high liver enzymes need to eat different and exercise any suggestions ?
What a great video! I wish I had a Whole Foods. I have a totally unrelated question, Collin. Where did you get your beautiful blue sweater?
Awww… thanks! I got it a while back when I was out thrift store shopping! I’ve scored some awesome clothing bargains at thrift stores. 🙂
Can you do a thrift store video about clothes? I love you videos!
Great idea! Stay tuned… 😉 Oh and I did do a previous thrift shopping video. You can view it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXjRxjlc0vI
Do you have to select the exact same variety for the case discount? Or can you mix and match if they are the same brand/size/price, but different flavors?
I am pretty sure you can mix and match flavors and still get the case discount as long as they are the same sizes/price etc
Hi Collin! I am wanting to clarify something about whole foods coupon policy. How many times in one transaction can you stack coupons (Manfacturer/Store)? Does this questions make sense? I know at target you can use up to 4 of each store and mfg coupon. Does Whole Foods have a limit on this? Thanks for any help or clarification;-)
Great question! I’m thinkin’ the limit may vary from store to store. At my local Whole Foods, they allow you to use a store coupon on multiple like items. For example, when Clif bars are on sale and there is a lets say a $0.75/1 coupon, I am able to buy as many bars as I want and then use the coupon to get $0.75 off each bar. I just show the cashier the store coupon at checkout and tell her how many bars I am purchasing so that she can deduct the correct amount. I hope that makes sense.
It does! Thank you. It is vague and I was wanting clarification. So when you do stack you only give them one store coupon with your items and they apply it multiple times?
Yes, that’s correct. Just make sure to let them know the quantity of “like” items you are purchasing.
At my store they make me print/use the same number of coupons as items (e.g, print 6 coupons for 6 cliff bars). It feels like such a waste of paper 🙁
Thank you!
Thanks for a great video Collin! We live in a small town and don’t have a Whole Foods, so I usually don’t pay attention. But after watching your video I searched and there are several in the Twin Cities. I do go there often and try and make a day of deals,so can’t wait to add this to the list. And I love that it is kid friendly!
I never knew they would cut apart a whole chicken or make ground beef patties for you. Thanks for sharing that information. If you shop smart, WF need not be “whole paycheck!”
I was notified by two Whole Foods stores in different cities that they have ended the Vitamin Club. They will still allow you to use any card(s) you have, but they are not giving out new cards.
For my fellow wine-os, regarding the wine discount, if you buy their Three Wishes (Whole Foods brand $3 bottles of wine), they do not get the 10% discount. What they don’t tell you, though, is that they count toward your 6-bottle qualifying amount, so if you buy 3 bottles of Three Wishes and 3 bottles of other (more expensive) wines, you will still get the 10% off of the 3 non-Three Wishes wines.
How is their wine? I’m new to Whole foods, so have no idea…. Do they have a large selection?
I just wanted to point out for those that don’t know, most grocery stores will cut meat for you to any size. I found this out late in life, lol. I just purchased a whole pork loin at Kroger for $8.20 and had this cut down into several pork chops to freeze for several low cost meals. I got 5 meals out of one pork loin. They will also cut a boston butt in half to make more than one meal out of it for those that don’t want to cook a huge amount at a time. They will basically cut it however you want it if it’s possible for free.
We call Whole Foods “Whole Paycheck.” I guess I should give it another try.
Anyone know if you can use a mf or store q for free items?? TIA!!
Yes, I have done that.
I have a question I have a Whole Foods CoOp and I have never seen any coupon books in the front but they said I could join the Coop for $99 and then I could get coupons. SO my question is does this video pertain to me could I get coupons at the front of my store? I love whole foods but it seems that mine is chinsy lol. Love you videos by the way 😉
Are you sure they are the same store? A co-op is very different from a purely retail store.
Thanks deb yeah they are a co op 😉 wish they were a regular whole foods:( but I love love love the cashew butter:)
I HATE asking the butcher to cut meat. I got a whole pork loin once and asked him to cut it into chops for me. He did it but said, “couldn’t you have done that at home?” And I wanted to die.
I would’ve let him know that it’s his job and he’s getting paid for it.
Thank you! I have to say out of all the places to coupon, Whole Foods ranks high on my list. They are always so amazing about it, I NEVER have to do a bizillion transactions. I wish you would do more Whole Foods videos!!!
I love Whole Foods, they also offer tons of free classes and events for adults and kids! We go several times a month and they are always awesome!
Prices are expensive, but I often get free Zevia and other deals when stacking coupons.
Know your prices though – bulk is better than boxed, but I did a price comparison between Whole Foods and organic products at Costco.
Here’s a quick breakdown of some items: (C) Costco (WF) Whole Foods
Dijon Mustard (C) .21/oz (WF) .45/oz
Earthly Choice quinoa (C) .17/oz (WF) .37/oz
Lundberg Brown rice (C) 1.16/lb (WF) 1.69/lb
Hemp Hearts (C) .53/oz (WF) 1.06/oz
Organic Peanut Butter (C) .19/oz (WF) .50/oz
Butter Lettuce (C) 1.75/head (WF) 3.99/head
French Green Beans (C) 2.5/lb (WF) 5.99/lb
Brussell Sprouts (C) 1.99/lb (WF) 2.99/lb
Snap Peas (C) 2.99/lb (WF) 5.99/lb
Red Potatoes (C) .75/lb (WF) 1.99/lb
Sweet Potatoes (C) .89/lb (WF) 1.19/lb
Organic Flour (C) .60/lb (WF) 1.12/lb
Bread Flour (C) .28/lb (WF) 1.20/lb
All Purpose Flour (C) .27/lb (WF) .60/lb
Baking Soda (C) .42/lb (WF) .99/lb
As you’d expect, Costco is cheaper but you have to buy in quantity (so if you don’t go through items before they spoil it’s not saving). Of course you can’t use coupons at Costco either, and there’s the membership costs… Anyway, gives you an idea of prices
WOW! I’m impressed. I’m not at all surprised by the price differences but impressed at the work you did. 🙂
Yay for this video!! We have a Whole Foods 10 minutes away but I’ve always been intimidated because I have heard how expensive it is. Will def give it a try now! We also have a Trader Joes in the area…happen to have a video on that one? 🙂
Publix does the exact same things that Whole Foods does- they will break open packages of meat and cut or separate whatever you want. I always have them half my chicken breasts to make them cook faster. They ground their beef in house and can make them into patties for you, or meatballs, or meatloaf. They also will let you sample any fruit or veggie in the produce section! I always have them cut my watermelons in quarters so it fits better in my fridge and I still pay the same price as a whole watermelon. And this way I know the watermelon is fresh before I get home! And they core my pineapples for no charge. They give out free cookies in the bakery and bananas in the produce department for kids. They have a buy 6 bottles of wine save 10% discount! The Deli department makes fresh peanut butter in store every couple of days! Seriously I’ll just stick to my Publix! 🙂
I loooove loooove loooove WF!!! (aka Whole Paycheck!) BUT certain things there are excellent values ie the low sodium chicken broth 1.99 for 32 oz and by far one of the best ones Ive found, canned pumpkin (which they carry all year round), generally the bulk foods whole grain mostly, also their breads (usually have a bread of the week for 2.99 a loaf), also their bakery ie cream puffs for 2.49 with real whipped cream (not many good bakeries in my area) and every weekend they have a fish special its a lil more expensive than the grocery BUT its almost always fresh and of top quality (Im a Bostonian transplanted to Michigan and crave my ocean fish and WF is def the best around). Also watch their sales as they do have some excellent ones!
Not to mention all the free samples they have ……. like getting a free lunch …… the pizza slices and sandwiches are very good and reasonable also.
Darn! I don’t live by a WFs anymore… bummer! Closest one is at the beach… hmm but then I can go to the beach and shop… LOL
Thanks for the great video, Collin! Sadly, I’ve been shopping at WF’s for nearly 10 years and did not know 1/2 of what you shared with me. As a matter of fact, yesterday I learned something new, that you did not mention in your video… If you are charged the wrong price for an item, (and you show the price error on your receipt), you get that item for free. This is the same policy that Publix has. While I would much rather pay what I am supposed to for an item, and not have to keep track, it is nice to know that WF’s honors such a customer friendly pricing policy.
I watched your whole foods video and I want you to know I am impressed. I have steered away from shopping there’s because of high pricing. But I am definitely going to go there. Especially now that I know they support local growers. Im glad I watched this informative video. And it was fun to watch tooooooo.
This is a great video! I shopped at WF all through grad school but I didn’t coupon then. I learned a lot of things I didn’t know, and a store is opening in my area in a couple of months – yay! I would love to see a trader joe’s video too, if couponing there is possible at all…
Went to WF in MN today. They have a kids club where the kids get a free apple or banana every visit. I asked for my ground beef to be made into patties but the butcher was not happy about that and charged me the wrong price.
Got it out of your system?!