Shopping at Kroger? Never make these mistakes!

We have Walmart. Do you know what the next biggest retailer in the US is? Yes, it is Kroger! What we are trying to say is that there is a high chance you’ve been at Kroger before, especially if you are living in the Midwest.

They have a wide footprint, and you’ll probably shop at them again. So why not be prepared and learn how to take advantage of all the Kroger discounts and promos? This is a good idea because this is often the best alternative since this retailer has a large range of products and some of the best deals you can find.

Save money on your everyday groceries and essentials! These methods guarantee you will get the best of Kroger, and your wallet will thank you. Sometimes we are not careful or we simply don’t know how to maximize our savings, but now that you’ll find out about these common mistakes that every rookie makes, the game will change for you.

So, what are you waiting for? Keep reading, and next time you visit Kroger, you’ll be the wisest man out there! After you know these tricks, shopping will be more fun!

1. Never shopping at Mega sales

Yes, this is a thing, and many are not aware of how much you can save if you decide to shop then. In the same fashion as any traditional grocery store, Kroger has a lot of sales, but there are some special ones, such as the Mega sales, also known as “Cart Busters” or “Mix & Match” at some locations.

And we know that if you’re judging by the name, it sounds like something that happens once per year, but no, this actually happens every month, and one popular discount you can get is the “Buy 5, Save $5” sale. This means that if you pick five items that are a part of the promotion, you’ll manage to save $5 at the checkout.

2. Kroger Pickup? What is that?

Maybe you’ve heard it since the days it was called Click List, and this is a very good service this retailer has to offer. It saves you time, and even more importantly, it saves you money. But how does it work? Let’s see!

You’ll need the Kroger app, or you can do all of this from their website. The way it works is that you order all you need online, and based on the pickup spot you’ve selected, a Kroger employee will be in the parking lot ready to load your groceries into your car.

This is perfect if you feel like you don’t have the time to go inside and wander through the store. You’ll place the order a few hours before, and then you go there and boom! The groceries are ready to be taken home.

Now, you might be wondering how much it costs, right? The first three pickups are free. But don’t despair. Kroger has some specific deals you can use to get more free pickups. For example, if you buy certain items, you can get this advantage.

The way it works is that you are allowed to choose a pickup time three days in advance, and it is best to avoid Wensdsys if you plan to use coupons because this is the day Kroger changes all the ads.

3. Avoiding the clearance section

This might sound counterintuitive even more if you think that a person who is trying to save money does this. But this is the truth: many times we just pass by the corridor section at Kroger and we don’t even blink.

What you need to know is that this store has more clearance sections, not just one, and they are strategically scattered throughout the store. What is interesting about those three is this unique feature only they have, and that is a clearance section for produce. So, if this is something that interests you, maybe you should give it a try.

Most of the time these items are rapidly approaching their “best by” date, and this is the reason why you find them here. This means you should buy them and consume them right away. Keep in mind that if it has a yellow price tag, this means it has a reduced price.

You’ll find clearance items at the end of most aisles or near the stock room.

4. You are not a member of the Kroger Plus program

If there is one thing every shopper needs to be aware of when they go to Kroger is that “it pays to be a member,” which is something that perfectly applies to this store. And please don’t be worried because there is not much work to do if you want to become a member. First of all, it’s free, and it takes just a couple of minutes to sign up!

Why should you be a member of the Kroger Plus program? You get lots of advantages! Personalized deals, digital coupons, and fuel rewards. You can read more about the fuel rewards further in the article.

You can always go shopping without the Plus card, but believe us when we tell you that the coupons are incredibly convenient and will help you save some cash. The app is easy to use, and you have everything you need there.

Among all the supermarkets we have in this country, Kroger is an amazing operation when it comes to couponing. Also, if you are not a fan of couponing, simply open the app before checkout and see if there are any deals you can use. It is this simple!

5. Never using the fuel discounts

Gas is not cheap, and right now the average price is somewhere around $3, depending on the state you live in. A smart move would be to take advantage of any deal that can help you get gas for a better price.

Hopefully, this is totally possible with the fuel points program Kroger has for its Plus members. For every dollar spent, you’ll get a point. Besides this, you’ll also get 50 points for prescriptions you plan to buy from their pharmacy and 2 points on gift cards.

But let’s get back to the fuel points. Once you’ve accumulated 100 fuel points, you’ll earn a 10-cent discount per gallon if you plan to get your fuel at the participating Shell gas stations and the Kroger Fuel Centers.

Furthermore, Kroger REWARDS World Mastercard holders receive an extra 25 cents discount per gallon for the first year.

Now you might think that accumulating these points will take ages, but this is not true. If you constantly go to Krogers for your groceries, you’re already spending some money, and in one month you’ll see that you can take advantage of this discount.

Ready to save some money? If you know any other tricks, you can share them with us in the comments! Remember, always shop smart!

What do you think about Kroger? Is this one of your favorite stores?

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