Here’s how to spend $20 at Walmart to last you all week

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Let’s face it: shopping of any kind, be it groceries, household goods or clothing, hasn’t gotten much easier in recent years. In fact, prices only seem to go up for whatever goods we need to make it to the end of each week.

This is where smart shopping is not only helpful, but necessary. It’s dangerously easy to walk into your favorite store and walk out with a tight budget and a shopping cart that’s still not full enough. In fact, given the recent national austerity day, it is a complete contradiction. A big part of budget planning is simply choosing a location (e.g. Walmart) that can guarantee you savings.

Here’s an example of items you can purchase at Walmart for a single $20 bill that will provide you with a week’s worth of groceries and household essentials for the week until your next paycheck. Remember to keep an eye out for discounts and special offers. Maybe you can add more to the examples in this list:

• Nature Valley Oat and Honey Crunchy Granola Bars, 12 Bars (Price: $2.97)
• Sam’s Diet Cola 2 Liter (Price: $1.00)
• Mussleman’s Original Applesauce Cups, 4 oz, 6 Count (Price: $2.17)
• Quaker Instant Oatmeal, Variety, 12.1 oz, 8 Count (Price: $2.87)
• Doritos Tortilla Chips Snacks Nacho Cheese Flavored Chips, 9.25 Ounce Bag (Price: $3.00)
• High Quality Milk 1% Low Fat Half Gallon Plastic Jug (Price: $1.51)
• Black and white toilet paper, 4 rolls (price: 94 cents)
• Black and white paper towels, 88 sheets (price: 68 cents)
• Clorox Travel Disinfectant Wipes, Bleach-Free Travel Wipes, Fresh Scent, Pack of 9 (Price: 97 cents)
• Affordable Cleaner with Bleach, 32 fl oz (Price: $1.48)

That’s just under $20, with some left over for taxes or a treat while you wait at the checkout.

Additional Ways to Save Money at Walmart

Another way to save money at Walmart is to always go straight to the clearance section. There you will find a remarkable amount of products with heavily discounted rollback prices. You can also check the clearance section of the Walmart website to see what to expect. It’s organized by price: items under $5, items under $10, etc. Speaking of the website, always be sure to check online for coupons, in-store sales events, and other discount promotions that you can take advantage of.

Finally you always know when you need to shop. As GOBankingRates reported earlier this year, shopping between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. early in the week—for example, on a Monday or Tuesday morning—gives you a better chance of getting discounts on perishable goods and items on sale that are just in stock before they are sold out.

_{Disclaimer: Current prices as of October 20, 2024, when this article was originally published.}