7 Great Groceries To Buy From Walmart When You’re Broke

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Despite inflation creeping back up again, and tariffs set to light your grocery cart on financial fire, you still have to keep your fridge and pantry stocked with food so you can, you know, eat. To do so, many consumers are veering away from traditional supermarkets and heading to big-box giants like Walmart, which is famed for its mega discounts across various retail categories.

Perhaps surprisingly, though, Walmart doesn’t always offer the best deals on food items (take meat and maple syrup, for example). So, what groceries should you buy from Walmart when money is tight? Here’s a closer look at some great groceries that won’t put too big a dent in your monthly budget.

Peanut Butter

• Price: $6.47 for 64 ounces

If you like peanut butter for the protein, healthy fats or just all-around deliciousness, you can buy a huge 64-ounce jar of the Great Value brand for around $6.47. That boils down to just about $0.10 per ounce. You can eat things like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but you can also add it to other things smoothies for a delicious and nutritious boost.

Bread

• Price: $1.42 per loaf

If you want well-priced bread to go with those PB&Js, pick up some Great Value bread on your next trip and you’ll be set for a minute. A loaf of white bread is about $1.27, so you could stock up and freeze what you don’t need right away, extending its shelf life for future sandwiches. 

Milk

• Price: $2.83

It’s often said that you may be out of touch with the common man if you don’t know the price of a gallon of milk. However, savvy shoppers on a budget all know that a gallon of Great Value milk is, well, a great value. It’s a staple for your breakfast coffee or cereal, so it’s a good idea to take advantage of Walmart’s price point. For example, a gallon of 2% reduced-fat milk is $2.83.

Oatmeal

• Price: $4.18 for 10-ounce canister

Oatmeal is a versatile and healthy way to start your day. You can add everything from brown sugar with cinnamon to fresh fruit like blueberries or bananas. The Great Value Instant Whole Grain Quick Rolled Oats make sure your breakfast sticks well below your budget as the current price puts this food item at about $0.41 an ounce.

Dried Pasta

• Price: $0.98 for a 16-ounce box of Spaghetti

Great Value offers plenty of different options when it comes to dried pasta. Though prices may vary by size or type of pasta, for the most part all fall under $1 which is a great way to feed your family for very, very little money. 

Pasta Sauces

• Price: $1.67 for a 24-ounce jar

If you are already financially responsible enough to have found the great deal on dried pasta, then chances are your next stop will be the pasta sauce aisle. This is a good move as a 24-ounce jar of Great Value Traditional Pasta sauce is only $1.67, which is about $0.07 an ounce. If you also purchased a box of pasta, this would put your total at $2.65, which means you can feed your family of four for about $0.66 per person.

Maruchan Ramen 

• Price: $0.47 for one 3-ounce pack

Ramen and the word “broke” go so well together that Maruchan should probably weave it into its marketing copy. Dollar stores are great places to stock up on ramen, but if you are already at Walmart, you could do worse than buying the Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup, Chicken or Beef Flavor, for $0.47 a pack.

Editor’s note: Pricing is accurate as of Aug. 11, 2025. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

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