14 Hacks and Secrets for Shopping at Walmart

Walmart is known for "everyday low prices" and its famous "Rollback" discounts. But there are so many other ways to save real money at Walmart on a regular basis. These tips and tricks open up savings beyond the obvious sales and discounts.

Walmart's Savings Catcher can help shoppers make sure they're getting the best prices. The first step is to download the Walmart app and sign up for Walmart Pay, the retailer's mobile payment platform. After buying items with Walmart Pay, submit your e-receipt within seven days. If a competitor is advertising a lower price on any eligible items you bought, Walmart will deposit the difference on an e-gift card.

Murphy USA has partnered with Walmart to give steep discounts on gas to the store's most loyal shoppers. When Murphy USA stations run specials throughout the year, anyone paying with a Walmart gift card or credit card can save big. In mid-February, the savings were 3 cents a gallon.

Before you head to the register, do a quick search of Walmart.com and Jet.com for the item you plan to buy. If it's available online for less, let the cashier know. Walmart will match the price for an identical item (size, model, quantity, brand, color, etc.) that's currently in stock. For online orders, Walmart.com matches prices on identical, in-stock products from 30 competitors, from Amazon to Walgreens.com. Be sure to contact customer care before placing an order to verify that the item is eligible.

After buying something from Walmart.com, stay alert for price drops as long as the product is eligible for return. You can contact customer care and get an adjustment for the price difference. Price adjustment doesn't extend to clearance pricing, special events (such as Black Friday), or items bought from a Marketplace or third-party seller.

Equate is Walmart's store brand for drugstore items, including everything from cough medicine and cotton swabs to smoking-cessation products and vitamins. The ingredients, directions, and recommended dosages are the same ones you'll see on the name brands — essentially everything is the same but the price. For household goods and food, shop Walmart's Great Value line.

When you do buy name brands, don't forget to use manufacturer coupons. Walmart accepts coupons for money off (dollars and cents) and buy-one, get-one-free deals. The coupons must have a valid expiration date, barcode, and remit address. An added bonus: If the value of the coupon is greater than the selling price of the item (say, you have a $4 coupon for body wash that's on sale for $2.97), Walmart applies the "overage" to your total.

"Catalinas" are coupons that the clerk prints out at the register and hands you along with your receipt for use on a future shopping trip. Walmart will accept these even if they come from a competitor's store, as long as they have "manufacturer coupon" printed on them.

Before heading to Walmart, scour favorite shopping sites for print-at-home coupons from manufacturers. Walmart will honor them as long as they are legible, with a barcode that scans at the register, and have a valid expiration date.

When buying online, save money on eligible items by picking up the order at a local Walmart instead of having it shipped. Just look for the "Pickup Discount" emblem while shopping on Walmart.com.

Related:We Tried Walmart's Grocery Pickup and This Is What Happened

If it's not possible to pick up an online purchase at a local store, that's okay — Walmart offers free two-day shipping for most items on orders of $35 or more (no membership required).

Walmart bakeries mark down prices on bread and other baked goods made the day before, to move them fast and make room for fresh ones. Look first thing in the morning for the best selection and relative freshness. Inquire at the meat counter, as well, and pick up dinner at a discount just before it expires.

On Walmart.com, there's a good chance of finding factory-refurbished electronics that work and look like new but cost much less. Just type "refurbished" into the search bar to see a variety of steeply discounted devices, including video games, vacuum cleaners, phones, tablets, and computers.

Walmart offers a 30-day supply of many generic prescription drugs for just $4. The full list includes medications for 20 categories of health conditions. This is not a prescription savings club; the discount is available to anyone, with no membership required.

Cash-back shopping sites and apps such as Ebates and Checkout 51 reward registered users for Walmart purchases. Click through to Walmart.com from one of these sites, scan a receipt from an in-store shopping trip, or use a credit card linked to your account to claim cash back and other benefits, like free shipping.