Kroger 101: How to Shop and Save Money at Kroger Stores

Kroger is one of my favorite grocery stores because they have great sales and they have a very nice selection of organic foods. If you simply walk into a Kroger and buy whatever you want, you aren’t going to save very much money.

If you shop wisely, pay attention to sales, and use coupons, then you can save a ton! I am going to show you how!

Kroger Plus/Shopper’s Card

The first thing you need is an account with Kroger in order to use digital coupons. You can sign up here. Make sure to add your Kroger Shopper’s Card (sometimes called your Plus Card) as you will need to use this card every single time you shop in order to get the sale prices.

In order to take full advantage of the program, you can click here to then add digital coupons to your account. Once you do this, scan your card at checkout and the savings will be applied. Click here for more detailed information and to make sure these policies are still active in your local store.

You also earn points that can be used to save money on fuel at Kroger or select Shell gas stations. If you spend $100 on groceries then you can earn up to 100 points which can translate to up to $1.00 off per gallon of gas! You can read more about the fuel program on the Kroger website.

Kroger’s brand Simple Truth is already a bit cheaper than name-brand items, but with the ability to add digital coupons to the mix, you’re going to start saving a whole lot more! Check out the site for more information.

Sales

Kroger has amazing sales. They usually have “Mega Events” about once a month as well as some great 10/$10 sales. By pairing your coupons with the sale prices, you can get some great bargains!

A common misconception is that you have to buy 10 items in a 10 for $10 sale. This is not true. You can buy just ONE item and still get the sale price of $1! The same applies to 2/$4 sales, 3/$5 sales, etc. The prices are listed this way because the stores want you to buy more items.

Mega Events are sales that require the purchase of a certain number of items to get savings. It’s usually something along the lines of “Buy 10 participating items and save $5 instantly.” There are typically a ton of items included in the sale at various prices, and you can mix & match the different products. In this example, you will need to buy 10 items exactly to get the advertised prices. You can buy more than 10, but you will have to buy in groups of 10. So, if you bought 20, you will receive (2) $5 savings on your receipt. If you buy 11, then you will pay $0.50 more for the 11th item. Let me give you an example.

Goldfish Crackers are on sale for $1, pay just $0.50 if you buy in groups of 10. Kraft Macaroni & Cheese is on sale for $1, pay just $0.50 if you buy in groups of 10. Let’s say you want to buy 5 of each product. Your receipt would look like this:

Goldfish Crackers $1
Goldfish Crackers $1
Goldfish Crackers $1
Goldfish Crackers $1
Goldfish Crackers $1
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese $1
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese $1
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese $1
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese $1
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese $1
Mega Event $5 Off – $5
Tax $0
****Balance $5

So, it’s like paying just $0.50 per item after the mega event savings. Had you bought an 11th product though, you would have paid $1 for that item instead of $0.50, since the $5 Mega Event discount only deducts after each 10 items you buy.

Markdowns

Another thing to look for at Kroger is manager’s specials! I frequently see produce, baked goods, dairy, and meat marked down in order to sell quickly. These items are usually nearing their expiration date, so plan to use them quickly if you buy them. Be sure to inspect the items carefully so you don’t buy an item that has already spoiled. Find out which day your store marks down items and try to shop on those days to get the best selection.

Stack Your Savings

Kroger does have some great sales, but if you really want to maximize your savings then you need to use coupons on the sale items.

If you’ve shopped at Kroger before, but thought they were too expensive, I recommend giving them another try now that you are armed with this information!

*Kroger’s policies may be different in various areas of the country. Always double check at your local store.