9 Items To Splurge On, Settle For or Skip at Walmart
Written by
Emily Fowler
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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When it comes to shopping smart, how do you decide when to splurge on something expensive, settle for something less high-end or skip the purchase altogether?
Walmart is known for fair prices and convenience. Still, according to attorney and personal finance expert Erika Kullberg, this isn’t a guarantee that it’s always your best bet for saving money. “But because Walmart stocks a lot of essentials,” she said, “it can be a great place to go when you need to bang out a bunch of errands at once.”
Ready to maximize your shopping budget without sacrificing quality where it counts? Here are some tips for what to splurge on at Walmart, what to settle for and what to skip altogether.
Splurge: Garden Furniture
Splurging on outdoor furniture can be a smart move, depending on your local climate and how much time you spend in the garden. While the upfront cost might be higher, well-made pieces are designed to last longer and withstand the elements, increasing their long-term value.
Consumer savings expert Melissa Cid from MySavings.com is a fan of Walmart brand products, and thinks Better Homes & Gardens outdoor patio furniture sets are usually a worthy splurge of your money. “It has a higher price than some of Walmart’s other brands,” she said, “but what you’ll get is higher quality and trendier furniture pieces. Keep an eye out because these regularly go on sale.”
Splurge: Cell Phones
Founder of TouchdownMoney.com, Scott Lieberman, suggests spending more on cell phones and their accessories. “They tend to be a great buy at Walmart,” he said. “You can usually find things like chargers and cell phone cases for a discounted price compared to competitors.”
Splurge: Electronics
Electronics, in general, are often worth splurging on to make sure they last, and Lieberman said that televisions and other electronics tend to be a great buy at Walmart. Exercise caution with such a big purchase, suggested Kullberg, “Just because Walmart has a good deal on electronics, doesn’t mean another store isn’t offering a better price. Before making any big purchases, shop around online to see if you can find a better price.”
Settle: Groceries
Kullberg and Lieberman agreed that you’d typically find fair prices on groceries, toiletries and household supplies. “Pantry staples are often a great choice at Walmart,” said Lieberman. “You’ll sacrifice a little on quality, but unless you have a really discerning palate, you won’t notice much of a difference in your pretzels, peanuts or potato chips.”
Settle: Ozark Trail Insulated Stainless Steel Tumbler
If you’ve had your eye on a pricey Stanley Tumbler, Cid suggested you save your cash and settle for a Walmart Ozark Trail Insulated Stainless Steel Tumbler for a fraction of the price at only $14.97. “These cups are highly rated and just as nice looking as the expensive name brand tumblers,” she said.
Skip: Paper Plates
If you’re throwing a gathering with a ton of people coming to eat, you might be tempted to stock up on paper plates for ease. But aside from the environmental impact of using paper plates (most have a waxy coating which makes them tricky to recycle), they’re also not exactly cost-effective. “Paper plates are cheap,” said Lieberman, “but they’re cheap in terms of quality as well as cost.”
Skip: Gift Cards
Gift cards are a quick and easy option if you’re shopping for a celebration, but are they worth buying at Walmart? Lieberman said not. “Save gift card purchases for Costco, where you’ll get a discount, or the establishment itself, which might throw in a gift,” he explained.
Skip: Clothing
Clothing is often something you want to last for a long time, so buying the best quality your budget can stretch to is worth buying. “While the clothing Walmart sells may be very inexpensive,” said Kullberg, “it typically doesn’t last long. In the end, it may cost you more to keep replacing cheap items from Walmart than it would to buy some investment pieces.”
Skip: Parent’s Choice Baby Diapers
Speaking from personal experience, Cid said these diapers haven’t been worth the saving. “They haven’t kept my kids dry,” she said, “which leads to using more diapers more often, which really doesn’t save me money in the long haul.”
Splurge, Settle or Skip?
At the end of the day, the power to splurge, settle or skip is in your hands. These tips are here to guide you, but your personal taste and priorities make the final call.
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