Which is the Cheaper Store? Walmart or Traditional Grocery Store?

 

The topic of discount stores vs traditional grocers often spark a lot of debate. Which type of store offers the better value for the money on groceries? Discount stores like Walmart and Target, or traditional grocery stores like Publix, Kroger, Meijer, etc.?

Based on my experience, I believe that traditional grocery stores will provide you with the maximum amount of savings on grocery items. Here are three reasons why.

1. Traditional Store Sales Oftentimes Beats Everyday Low Prices

Stores like Walmart, Target, Aldi, etc. market themselves on having low everyday prices. Though they have sales themselves, they offer the convenience of you being able to buy things at low prices without having to chase sales at other stores. That is great if you do not want to deal with sale ads from traditional stores and coupons. However, I believe that sales at traditional grocers oftentimes beat those prices. And this site is all about maximizing your budget, right? For example, the everyday price of Gevalia Coffee may be $8.99 at Publix and $6.45 at Walmart, but when it goes on Buy One Get One Free at Publix, that coffee is now $4.50 each.

2. Combining Coupons with Store Sales Seals the Deal

The key to saving at traditional grocery stores is combining store sales with coupons and other incentive programs they offer. While Walmart does have a good coupon policy, the store does not offer store coupons like many of the traditional grocers. Target does offer store coupons, but you’re better off using those coupons under Publix’s competitor store coupon policy. Traditional grocery stores also may have other incentives that will help you maximize your budget such as doubling coupons (in certain areas), gas savings programs, and rewards programs that the discount stores do not offer. So, while the everyday low price stores provide more convenience, following the sales and learning some of the traditional store incentive programs will give you more bang for your buck. Let’s go back to that bag of Gevalia coffee. I estimated that it could be $8.99 at Publix and $6.49 at Walmart. If it is Buy One Get One Free at Publix, you will pay $4.50 per bag. Add the typical $1.00 coupon to both of those packages of coffee, and you end up paying $3.50 per bag at Publix. The Walmart price with a coupon would be $5.45 per bag.

3. Traditional Stores Offer a Better Shopping Experience

This reason doesn’t have a lot do to with saving money, but the shopping experience matters to me.

• Having items in stock matter.
• Having fresh produce matters.
• Having a variety of products matter.

Before I started using coupons, I used to go out of my way to shop regularly at Walmart. However, I always found myself swinging by Publix or Winn-Dixie on the way home to pick up all of the items either Walmart didn’t sell, didn’t have in stock, or wasn’t great in quality. Time spent in line is also an issue at the discounters. Since a large portion of the population believes they are the cheapest, the stores are oftentimes crowded. Though the stores have plenty of registers, they are oftentimes underutilized.

So, while stores like Walmart and Target may be truthful in offering everyday prices that are lower than what other stores typically provide, I believe that traditional stores’ sale prices can beat those prices, coupons maximize the store sales, and they offer a more pleasant and efficient shopping experience.

Question: What store do you prefer for groceries? Why?

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