Shopping for groceries is a necessary expense, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay full price like everyone else. With the right strategies, you can consistently score the best deals, take advantage of hidden discounts, and even outsmart the stores at their own game. Here’s your ultimate grocery store cheat sheet to ensure you always pay less than the average shopper.

1. The Best Days & Times to Shop for Markdowns

Timing is Everything

Most grocery stores follow a predictable markdown schedule. Knowing when to shop can mean the difference between paying full price and getting a 50% discount on the same items.

Meat & Poultry: Marked down early in the morning (between 6 AM and 10 AM) when the butcher updates inventory.

Bakery Items: Best markdowns happen late in the evening when stores try to clear out fresh-baked goods.

Dairy & Deli: Often discounted a few days before the expiration date—check midweek for the best finds.

Produce: Look for markdowns in the late afternoon, especially if a store restocks overnight.

PRO TIP: MASTER THE ART OF “REVERSE GROCERY SHOPPING”

Most people make a shopping list first, then go looking for deals.

Learn to flip the script. Instead of planning meals before shopping, base your entire menu on clearance and overstock markdowns.

Scan the “Manager’s Special” section first, you’ll often find this section in the back of the store for meat and produce.

Find the deepest discounted item (e.g., a 10lb bag of potatoes for $2) and build your meal plan around it.

Google “[ingredient] + recipe” if you need some inspiration. Stack this with shopping at multiple stores—hit grocery outlets and discount stores first before heading to traditional supermarkets.

The 3 Best Days to Shop

Wednesday: The first day of a new sales cycle at most grocery stores.

Friday: Stores stock up for the weekend rush, sometimes discounting older inventory.

Sunday evening: Leftover weekend inventory is often marked down.

2. Store-Specific Savings Tricks

Each major grocery store has its own savings quirks. Here’s how to maximize savings at the most popular chains:

Target

Stack Target Discounts: Combine store coupons, manufacturer coupons, and Target Circle app deals.

Buy Discounted Target Gift Cards for Groceries: Every December, Target offers 10% off Target gift cards (up to $500). Buy a year’s worth to get 10% off all your groceries for months. Bonus: You can also buy discounted Target gift cards from sites like CardCookie, CardCash, or through Kroger’s fuel points program.

Buy in Bulk & Return What You Don’t Need: Some multi-pack grocery items at Target are cheaper per unit. Buy the bulk pack, keep the cheaper per-unit price, and return extras if allowed, without your receipt if need-be.

Look for Target’s Secret Grocery Clearance Tags: In the grocery aisles, look for yellow clearance stickers (often on end caps or near freezer doors). Clearance food is usually marked down 30-50% off and goes even lower before being pulled.

Check for Expiring Perishables at Deep Discounts: Target discounts soon-to-expire meat, dairy, and bakery items early in the morning. Check the “Reduced for Quick Sale” section for half-price steaks, milk, yogurt, and more.

Target Circle Bonus Offers for Grocery Shoppers: Sometimes Target Circle offers extra bonus rewards when you spend a certain amount (e.g., Spend $50 on groceries, get $10 back). Keep an eye out for these to stock up strategically on pantry staples.

Subscribe & Save on Essentials (Then Cancel!): Some grocery items (like coffee, baby food, or snacks) qualify for Target’s subscription discount (often 5-15% off). Hack: Subscribe to get the discount, then cancel before the next shipment.

PRO TIP: “$5 OR $10 FILL RULE” AT FARMER’S MARKETS

Toward the end of a farmer’s market day, many vendors would rather sell cheaply than pack up everything. Offer a flat $5 or $10 for all the remaining produce in a particular bin or basket.

It takes a bit of negotiation and timing. But if the seller has surplus, you can walk away with bags full of fresh goods for next to nothing.

Arrive late (within the last 30-60 minutes) and be friendly and direct and say something like: “Can I take all the cucumbers of your hands for $10?”

Walmart

Use Walmart’s Price Match: Not officially advertised, but some stores will price match nearby competitors.

Check for “Rollback” Prices: These aren’t always permanent discounts, so buy while they last.

Hidden Clearance Trick: Scan items with the Walmart app as some items ring up cheaper than marked.

Price Tag Code Employees Don’t Want You to Know: When you find an item with a yellow clearance sticker, check the original barcode under it to see if there’s an even lower price hidden underneath. You’d be surprised how often this happens.

Shop on the Right Day: The best day for grocery markdowns at Walmart is Wednesday morning, this is when meat, bakery, and produce get discounted before new shipments arrive. Early morning (6-9 AM) or late at night (after 9 PM) is when markdowns happen.

PRO TIP: LEARN TO READ PRICE PER UNIT (PPU)

Price tags always include 2 numbers: the actual cost of the item and the price per unit (such as per ounce or per pound).

Many people assume that buying in bulk or purchasing larger packages always leads to savings, but that’s not always the case.

Checking the unit price helps confirm whether you’re truly getting a better deal—especially if doing math on the spot isn’t your strong suit.

For instance, let’s take a bag of shredded cheese. A 12-ounce bag costs $3.99, which breaks down to about $0.33 per ounce. Meanwhile, a 2-pound (32-ounce) bag is priced at $10.99, making it roughly $0.34 per ounce. At first glance, the bigger bag might seem like a better deal, but in reality, you’d be paying a little more per ounce compared to the smaller package.

This strategy is also helpful when comparing brands with different packaging sizes. Let’s say you’re buying coffee. Starbucks sells a 12-ounce bag for $7.99, while Peet’s bag is 16 ounces and costs $10.49. At first glance, the bigger bag might seem like a better deal, but checking the unit price makes things clear—Starbucks costs about $0.67 per ounce, while Peet’s comes out to $0.66 per ounce. Even though the price difference is small, Peet’s actually gives you more coffee for your money.

Aldi

Shop on Wednesdays for the Best Deals: New shipments arrive, and older items get discounted.

Bring Your Own Bags: Save by avoiding bag fees.

Look for the “Red Sticker”: These mark clearance items that are up to 50% off.

Kroger (and Kroger-owned stores)

Check for Yellow & Red Tags: These indicate clearance and final markdowns.

Buy on Mega Sale Weeks: Purchase a certain number of participating items for huge savings.

Use Digital Coupons: Clip deals on the Kroger app before shopping.

Costco

Know the Secret Pricing Codes at Costco:

Prices ending in .97 = Clearance

Prices ending in .00 or .88 = Store manager markdown

Asterisks (*) on price tags = Item won’t be restocked

The secret sauce is to find something ending in .97 and has an asterisk and it’s typically a great deal.

Also, Costco’s meat and seafood prices per pound are already low, but buying primal cuts (larger portions) and slicing them yourself can save you even more.

TIP: Ask the meat department to cut down bulk meat into smaller portions, they’ll typically do it for FREE.

Trader Joe’s

Shop on Tuesdays & Wednesdays: Fresh shipments arrive, meaning better selection and deals.

Love TJ’s Private Label: Also, almost everything at TJ’s is a private-label product, meaning it’s made by big-name brands but sold under the Trader Joe’s name for way cheaper. Example: TJ’s pita chips are actually made by Stacy’s, and their Greek yogurt? It’s FAGE.

Hoard Seasonal Products: Trader Joe’s seasonal favorites sell out FAST, and they usually don’t restock them until the next year. If you love a limited-time item (Pumpkin Kringle, Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s, etc.), grab multiple before they disappear.

Be Careful of Prepacked Produce: Trader Joe’s pre-packaged produce isn’t always the best deal—prices on things like apples and avocados can be higher than local grocery stores or Aldi. But bananas at 19¢ each? That’s always a win.

2-Buck Chuck: The infamous Two-Buck Chuck (Charles Shaw Wine) is still one of the cheapest wines around at ~$3-4 per bottle. But if you want better quality, Trader Joe’s exclusive-label wines ($6-$10) often match the quality of $20+ bottles from other stores.

PRO TIP: SCORE WITH BARTER & TRADE NETWORKS

Trade your surplus or your skills (e.g., homemade baked goods, yard work, tutoring) for someone else’s garden produce, eggs, or bulk items.

This is some very old-school resourcefulness—skipping currency altogether for direct exchange.

Check local Facebook groups, Buy Nothing groups, or neighborhood apps (like NextDoor) to see who might be open to trades.

3. Cashier Secrets & Price Hacks

Many stores allow cashiers to manually adjust prices in certain situations.

Know When Cashiers Can Override Prices

Here’s when to ask:

If an item rings up higher than the shelf price: Stores will often honor the lower price.

If an item has a minor defect: Stores like Target, Walmart, and Kroger often offer 10-20% off for damaged packaging.

If an expired sale tag is still displayed: Some stores will extend the sale price if you mention it.

PRO TIP: INSIDER TIPS ON STORE BRANDS

One of my favorite insider ways to save at the grocery store is to sleuth out which store brands are actually made by the more expensive name-brand.

I’ve done this at many big name stores, resulting in some great ways to save and not sacrifice quality.

Here are the articles that I’ve written that you should check out:

– Who Makes Member’s Mark Products at Sam’s Club – We figure out who makes Member’s Mark batteries, water, jeans, dog food, and peanut butter to name a few.

– All The Store Brands Made By Name Brands – We breakdown Costco’s Kirkland brand, Walmart’s Great Value, Trader Joe’s products, and several more.

– Name Brands Vs. Store Brands: Which Items Provide the Best Value – Insider tips on what grocery product categories where you should be buying the store-brand every time you shop.

Coupon Stacking Secrets

If you’re not using stacking, you’re leaving money on the table.

Manufacturer Coupons + Store Coupons = Big Discounts. Target, Walgreens, and CVS allow stacking store coupons with manufacturer coupons.

Digital Coupons + Paper Coupons: Some stores (like Kroger) allow one of each per item.

Catalina Coupons: These are printed at the register and can be used like cash on your next purchase.

Self-Checkout Hacks

Scan clearance items last: Some stores require cashier approval for big markdowns—scanning them last speeds up the process.

Watch for automatic discounts: Sometimes discounts don’t apply automatically, so double-check your total before paying.

PRO TIP: BECOME A STORE VIP W/O SPENDING A DIME

Grocery store managers give special discounts to regulars who know how to ask.

Talk to the butcher, bakery, and produce manager and politely ask about markdown schedules.

Say something like, “Do you ever mark down items at certain times? I’d love to shop during those windows.”

Many managers will markdown items for you on the spot if you ask nicely (especially meats and baked goods).

If you shop consistently, you’ll get tipped off about upcoming discounts before they’re posted.

4. Hidden Ways to Save Even More

Use Rebate Apps for Extra Cash Back

Ibotta: Offers cashback on grocery purchases when you scan your receipt. (full review)

Fetch: Earn points by scanning any receipt and redeem them for gift cards. (full review)

Rakuten: Use it for online grocery orders. (full review)

Sign Up for Store Emails & Texts: Stores like Albertsons, Safeway, and Publix send out exclusive discounts to email and text subscribers.

Ask for a Rain Check

If a sale item is out of stock, ask for a rain check—this lets you buy the item at the sale price when it’s back in stock.

Watch for Clearance in Weird Places

End caps & bottom shelves: Some markdowns aren’t placed in the normal clearance section.

Near registers: Some stores discount seasonal items near checkout lines.

5. Checklist for Out-Saving Everyone Else

✅ Always scan your receipts for cashback (Ibotta, Fetch, etc.)
✅ Shop with a list to avoid impulse purchases.
✅ Check unit prices—sometimes bigger packages are NOT the better deal.
✅ Buy store brands—they’re often made by the same manufacturers as name brands.
✅ Use loyalty cards to access exclusive store discounts.
✅ Check the store’s website before shopping—some deals are only available online or in-app.

With these cheat sheet secrets, you’ll never overpay for groceries again. Bookmark this guide, apply these tricks, and start saving more than everyone else at checkout.

Ask the Reader: What’s your favorite grocery store hack? Share it 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)