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11 Items You Should Always Buy at Walmart 2021 (and What to Avoid)
You can buy a lot of things at Walmart, and when I say “a lot,” I mean a lot. However, not every low price means it’s worth your money. Some things may not last as long as its pricier counterpart, and other things aren’t always what they seem. We’ve compiled a list of the best things to buy at Walmart, plus what to avoid at the very end.
Storage containers
Affordable storage solutions aren’t always the easiest to come by. Thankfully, among the top things to get at Walmart are Sterilite brand storage containers. You’ll find a variety of sizes, shapes and more, with savings of about $5 to $7 compared to other retailers.
Sterilite 27 Quart Stadium Blue Latch Box
Liquid laundry detergent
If you have sensitive skin, Seventh Generation laundry detergent might fit the bill in terms of working well for your skin and cost. It’s a sustainable solution that is clinically tested hypoallergenic, free of brighteners, dyes and synthetic fragrances, plus scent-free. Many people say this brand works just as well as other popular brands.
Seventh Generation Professional Liquid Laundry Detergent, Free and Clear Scent, 150 oz Bottle
Athletic Works clothing
Walmart’s own brand of athleticwear, Athletic Works, is comparable to Nike. It’s highly rated – some products have over 2,500 reviews – and the cost can’t be beaten.
Athletic Works Men's Active Quick Dry Performance Long Sleeve Tee Shirt
Protein powders
If you take protein powder, you know how expensive it can be, especially when you have to regularly replenish your stock. Compared to other popular retailers for powders, supplements and the like, you can usually find them cheaper at Walmart.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder, Extremely Milk Chocolate
Secret Treasure’s women’s intimates line
For comfy, cozy sleepwear and intimates to wear at home, shop the Secret Treasure line for women. You can find a similar robe on Amazon for about $30 to $50.
Secret Treasures Women’s and Women’s Plus Superminky Robe
Equate products
Equate is Walmart’s healthcare and beauty brand, which has been given excellent ratings and won awards. When you compare ingredient lists to similar products under, for example, Burt’s Bees, Neutrogena and Eucerin brands, you’ll find that they are mostly the same.
80 Count, 2 Pack Equate Beauty Night-Time Soothing Makeup Remover Wipes
Paper goods
Usually, people head to Costco or other warehouse stores for their paper goods, but that’s only possible if you have a membership and the storage to house months’ worth of these items. Walmart is a great option if you don’t fall into either of those categories. You can find name-brand packages of 24 rolls for around $20 and 12 rolls for around $13. Walmart even makes it easy to see the value you’re getting as it shows the cost per unit.
Charmin Ultra Strong Toilet Paper, 24 Mega Roll, 264 Sheets Per Roll
Frozen produce
Fruits and vegetables are harvested at their peak ripeness, then frozen immediately. Buying frozen fruits and vegetables still have all the flavor and nutritional value, and the retailer’s competitive prices makes this category some of the best things you can buy at Walmart.
Name-brand cereals and snacks
Name-brand cereals and snacks like Quaker, General Mills, Kellogg’s and Yoplait at great things to get at Walmart. Here, they’re usually cheaper than at your local grocery store chain.
Some Great Value pantry staples
Walmart sells canned vegetables and fruit, pasta, cereal, spices and more under its Great Value brand. You can find herbs and spices for way cheaper than other brands, and they’re produced by the same manufacturer as McCormick. The best way to know if you’re getting a great deal is to just look at the ingredients list and nutrition facts to compare with a brand name.
Wine
While you can only buy wine at Walmart brick-and-mortar locations, you’ll be happy to know that each bottle only costs $10 to $16. Its Winemaker’s Selection debuted in the summer of 2018 with a collection of ten brands of wines from regions around the world.
Things to avoid
While Walmart is great for many things, you’re better off buying this list of items elsewhere.
- Pet food: Unless you’re just buying one bag of food, opt for a subscription service if buying regularly to save.
- Jewelry: You might be getting it for an exceptional price, but you won’t be getting a great quality piece of jewelry.
- Meat, fish and fresh produce: In a 2017 Consumer Reports survey of more than 50,000 people about their food shopping habits and preferences, Walmart was “by far the most complained-about purveyor of groceries.” About 74 percent of Walmart shoppers had at least one complaint, and the most common was about the quality of meat and poultry.
- Gift cards: You’re better off purchasing discounted gift cards at warehouse clubs like Sam’s Club or Costco, and now, online at Rakuten.
- Disposable utensils: While Walmart offers good prices on disposable utensils, you’ll still get the most bang for your buck at a dollar store.
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