This Aldi, Walmart, Costco Grocery List-Split Hack Can Save You Hundreds
Lately, grocery prices have left a sour taste in your mouth. You worry you won’t be able to make ends meet because the price of a box of cereal has climbed so much. To truly bring home the bacon — both financially and literally — you’ve got to get creative about how you shop.
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That may mean splitting your grocery haul across different shops, like Aldi, Walmart and Costco.
To learn how dividing and conquering between stores can help you save money, we consulted some of the savviest shoppers around — members of our MoneyLion Community. They put their smartest, most practical ideas about making this strategy work straight into our cart.
The Multi-Store Split Strategy
Our Community members were big fans of Aldi, Walmart and Costco — with warehouse clubs like Sam’s Club also in the mix — thanks to their competitive prices. But many found they could save even more by shopping selectively.
For example, several members said they hit Aldi first for generally lower prices on fruits and vegetables before heading to a warehouse club like Costco for less expensive meat bought in bulk.
That’s exactly what one Community member did to save money, and they were far from alone in this approach. Other shoppers shared similar approaches, opting for combinations like Aldi and Trader Joe’s or Aldi and Walmart to get the best value on different items.
One popular tactic involved treating certain stores as a kind of spoke on the wheel of grocery savings. In this setup, Aldi often served as the primary store, with shoppers branching out to other retailers based on weekly sales and price fluctuations.
“My favorite is Aldi for some things and Walmart for other things,” said one member. “Look at the ads.”
Use Apps To Compare Prices and Find Deals
Community members weren’t just tracking prices — they were actively using apps to compare coupons and deals before they ever set foot in a store. One member described their process like cost-savings detective work:
“[I] make a grocery list, then go on my grocery app and add my list. My app then automatically compares prices of my list items and tells me which store would save the most money.”
Others found ways to strategize within apps. They use store-brand apps to maximize regular discounts while also taking advantage of special promotions like 20% discounts on first deliveries or BOGO specials. Some members also pair store apps with discount platforms like Flashfood or Flipp.
“I use store apps for coupons and points toward cash off,” said one member. “I use the Flashfood app to buy whatever I can use from local stores.”
Between different stores, apps and offers, our Community members are finding a full smorgasbord of ways to cut their grocery bills.
“It’s time-consuming, but I price compare on my go-to store apps,” said another member. “Even if it’s a few cents’ difference, it’s worth it.”
Making a List Helps Structure Your Shopping Between Stores
So, how do you stay disciplined with your shopping instead of treating each stop at Aldi, Walmart, Costco or any other favorite store like you’re a kid in a candy store?
According to our Community members, the answer is simple: Make a list, stick to it, and have some fun with it.
“It’s a game for me and my wife — we love to shop off the circular, or the sale items that week,” one member said. “And most important is to make a list … Try not to stray from the list!”
That advice echoed another member’s sentiment: “Planning is the best budget.”
Planning can include mapping out meals for the week, checking coupons and comparing weekly ads to decide where specific items should land on your list. Fruits and veggies may be cheapest at Aldi, so get them there. But if you go through nuts like a squirrel, you might save more by buying them in bulk at Costco.
The Bottom Line
Hopping between different shops to get the best value may seem time-consuming, but MoneyLion Community members swear by the strategy. This approach not only helps them save extra money with every grocery trip; it also encourages them to think about ways to stay creative with their cost-saving strategies.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice.
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