Everybody’s staring at the shiny new stuff lined up all pretty on the shelves — you know, the “fresh! trendy! look at me!” products. But if you’re smart, you know the real magic’s hiding in the markdown section. That’s where the almost-expired, slightly dented, kinda forgotten stuff lives — and it’s basically a goldmine if you know what to look for. Savvy shoppers aren’t scared — we’re hunting for those deals like it’s a sport.

Grab your (fake) treasure map and get moving — that markdown stuff isn’t gonna sit there forever. This is honestly one of the easiest ways to hack your grocery bill without doing anything crazy.

The “Best-Before” Mirage: What Do Those Dates Even Mean?

Before we go digging for deals, let’s get real about best-by dates for a second.

Spoiler: they’re basically just a suggestion.

“Best-by” doesn’t mean the food turns into toxic sludge the next day — it just means it might not taste perfectly amazing anymore.

Especially with stuff like crackers, cereal, canned goods — they’re usually fine way past the date stamped on the box.

Might be a little less crispy, might be a little sad, but honestly? You’ve definitely eaten a slightly stale cookie before and thought, “Eh, still good enough.” Let’s not pretend we haven’t.

PRO TIP: USE BY vs. BEST BY DATES

When it comes to “Use By” versus “Best By” dates, keep in mind that Use By has to do with safety and Best By is quality related.

Do NOT ignore Use By dates when it has to do with things like infant formula and meats. Best By is much more open-ended and has to do with freshness, quality, and flavor.

The Stores You Should Be Stalking for Markdowns

Now that we’ve cracked the best-by code, let’s get to the fun part—shopping.

Some grocery stores like ALDI simply sell meats, breads, and produce to quickly to have markdowns.

Other stores like Safeway made it a policy to STOP doing markdowns because shoppers were moving clearance stickers to full-priced items.

With that said, below are the stores that are the Meccas of markdowns when it comes to nearly-expired food.

See Also: The Best Fast Food Dupes That’ll Save You Big

1. Target: Bullseye for Deals

Yes, that Target. It’s not just the place you go for cute throw pillows, a new lamp you didn’t need, and five dollar coffees from the Starbucks at the entrance.

Target also has an impressive collection of markdowns in its grocery section.

As the days tick closer to those best-by dates, Target employees start slapping those sweet, sweet yellow and red clearance stickers on everything from refrigerated items to dry goods.

You’ll find markdowns on dairy, bread, and meat.

PRO TIP: MEATS AT TARGET

I had a Target employee tell me that they start marking down meats by 25% 2-3 days before the “Use/Freeze By”.

Then on the day before this date, they mark meats down by 50%. Use this information to time your purchases and stock up your freezer on the cheap.

And if you’re lucky, you might even stumble upon some fancy deli items or snacks that are still perfectly fine but “too close” to their best-by date for full price.

A word of warning: Prepare yourself mentally. Those clearance stickers are going to be your new obsession.

You’ll start scanning every aisle like an undercover detective, hunting for the next discount.

See Also: How To Find a Target Salvage Store and Save Huge

2. Walmart: Low Prices—and Even Lower Markdowns

Walmart is known for its everyday low prices, but they also have a not-so-secret markdown section for items nearing their expiration.

This is especially true in the meat, bakery, and dairy sections, where they want to move inventory fast before it technically “expires” (though, again, it’s still safe for you to buy!).

PRO TIP: WALMART EMPLOYEE GIVES ME A TIP

I had a Walmart employee tell me that they are done with their daily markdowns by 8 a.m., so shopping between 8 – 9 a.m. will give you first dibs on meats and bakery item deals.

Look for marked down bakery items in a separate “markdown section” while meats that have been marked down are mixed in with the full priced stuff.

Walmart’s not where you go for fancy, foodie stuff — but if you need basics like milk, eggs, bread, all that everyday stuff, it’s solid.

And if you time it right, you can snag big discounts on the family-size meat packs — toss ’em in your freezer and you’re set for a while.

Also, don’t sleep on the sad little bakery clearance corner. You can straight-up walk out with a mountain of discounted donuts and muffins for like five bucks.

3. Trader Joe’s: Yes, They Discount Too

Trader Joe’s might seem like they’re too hipster for clearance deals, but yeah — they mark stuff down too.

They don’t have a big obvious clearance section or anything, but if you pay attention, you’ll catch stuff with little price drops when it’s getting close to the best-by date.

And the best part? It’s still the good stuff — like organic almond butter, fancy hummus, vegan cheeses — just way cheaper. You’re not grabbing janky leftovers; you’re basically winning at life.

PRO TIP: DON’T IGNORE THE FLOWERS

The flowers at Trader Joe’s sometimes get marked down too.

So not only can you grab dinner for cheap, but you can also pick up a bouquet for yourself because you, my friend, deserve it. I’m actually being serious, I’ve seen flowers marked down by as much as 75% making them basically free.

See Also: Trader Joe’s Employees Tell Me Their Best Buys

4. Whole Foods: For the Fancy Frugal Shopper

Okay, hear me out. Whole Foods isn’t exactly known for its low prices.

In fact, most of us associate it with spending way too much on kombucha and artisanal cheeses.

But for the deal hunters, there’s a secret realm here, too.

Whole Foods tends to discount its fresh items—like meats, seafood, and bakery products—when they get close to their best-by dates.

Yes, it’s true, you can eat like a health-conscious billionaire without spending like one.

And with Amazon Prime members getting an extra 10% off sales items, it feels like they’re practically giving this stuff away. (Okay, maybe not giving it away, but at least you won’t need to sell a kidney to afford groceries this week.)

PRO TIP: ALL ABOUT WEDNESDAYS

I had a friendly Whole Foods employee tell me Wednesday is consistently the very best day to shop.

Not only is the store less crowded than weekends, but it’s when they start their new weekly sales cycle.

So you’ll be able to take advantage of new items and new sales before anyone else and BEFORE they sell out of the really good deals.

5. Winco Foods: Savings in 10 U.S. States

Unfortunately, Winco Foods is only located in 10 western states, but I HAD to add them to my list as I shop their regularly.

Make the Green Tags at Winco your best friend as those are the products that have begun their markdown schedule.

You’ll find them mainly on breads, meats, and some produce items.

If they don’t sell out, the tags will go to RED which means “Extreme Savings” and is the best deals you’re going to find in the store.

Great time to stock up and put meats and bread in the freezer for later use.

PRO TIP: SHOP EARLY AT WINCO

Winco stores are open 24 hours, so SHOP EARLY in the morning.

The earlier the better as you’ll have a quiet store, and more importantly, first dibs on new markdowns as those tend to get added very early in the morning and are often all snatched up by mid-afternoon.

See Also: Shop on the Right Day…12 Insider Tips on Store Markdown Days

6. Grocery Outlet: The Disneyland of Discounts

Grocery Outlet is basically where all the bargains go to party.

The whole store’s packed with stuff that’s either close to or just past its best-by date — still totally good, still totally delicious.

It’s kinda like the Robin Hood of grocery stores — stealing from overpriced chains and handing it off to the rest of us trying to not spend $300 on groceries.

You’ll find everything — fancy cheeses, organic meats, weird bougie snacks — all marked down so much you’ll feel like you’re straight-up stealing.

One shopper even said it’s like “Black Friday, but without getting elbowed in the face,” and honestly, that’s dead-on.

PRO TIP: GROCERY OUTLET IS LIKE A “GAME OF THRONES” EPISODE

In other words, don’t get too attached to anything you buy here as it will be gone quickly. Grocery Outlet’s stock changes faster than a toddler’s mood.

What’s there one week may be gone the next, so if you see a deal, snag it.

7. Local Grocery Chains: The Untapped Goldmine

Don’t sleep on your regular local grocery stores either.

Every store’s got its own little markdown habits — usually stuff like meats, dairy, and bakery goods once they’re getting close to the best-by date.

Some regional stores, like Kroger or Publix, even have special “Manager’s Specials” where you can get everything from fresh produce to bakery treats at deep discounts.

The trick is, local stores don’t always have a set schedule for marking stuff down — sometimes it’s random. Best move? Ask one of the employees when they usually do markdowns… then burn that info into your brain.

See Also: Ultimate Buying Guide: Best Day of the Week to Make Purchases

Timing Is Everything: How to Maximize Your Saving

To really win big in the markdown game, you need to understand one thing: Timing is Everything.

Most stores mark down items early in the morning, but others may discount products later in the day or just before closing.

The key is to find out when your store typically does its markdowns.

Ask an employee or, better yet, become such a regular that they start calling you by name and tipping you off about upcoming deals.

For perishable items like meat and dairy, markdowns usually happen as the products are within a few days of their best-by date.

Be sure to check the markdown section first when you shop.

It’s like going straight for dessert—totally acceptable in this context.

Also, don’t forget about holidays. The day after Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any major holiday, stores often mark down leftover items that are still perfectly good but just didn’t sell in time for the big day.

See Also: All The Popular Store Brands Made By Name Brands

Play It Safe: How to Shop Smart with Markdowns

Look, shopping markdowns is awesome for saving cash, but let’s not be dumb about it — nobody’s trying to end up hugging their toilet because they ate sketchy chicken.

There’s a few easy rules to keep you outta trouble:

Check the packaging: First, check the packaging. If it’s leaking, bulging, or just looks sad and questionable, hard pass.

Smell it: Give it a sniff — not necessarily while you’re still standing in the aisle like a weirdo — but definitely once you get home. If it smells funky? Trash it. Trust your nose.

Freeze it: Freeze whatever you’re not using right away. Meat, bread, cheese — most of it holds up fine in the freezer and buys you extra time.

Use it quickly: And last, use the stuff quick. You scored a deal because it’s on the clock — so swap around your meal plan and get it eaten before it bites back.

Happy bargain hunting, fellow inflation busters.

Ask the Reader: What national grocery stores am I missing that also do markdowns prior to sell-by or use-by dates? Let me know in the comments.

By Kyle James

Kyle James( Owner/Founder )

I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)