How an Amazon Prime membership can save you money on groceries

Any time you make an in-person grocery run at Whole Foods or Amazon Fresh, make sure you scan your Prime member QR code at checkout. 

You can find your Prime member code either in your Amazon or Whole Foods mobile app on your phone. Scanning it subtracts any applicable Prime discounts from your total price. 

If you want to know what your ballpark price on groceries, including savings, is before you get to the register, you can browse local deals at Fresh locations and Whole Foods markets via the Amazon or Whole Foods app. 

Here's how to do it via Amazon's interface. 

• First, make sure you're logged into your Amazon account. Below the search bar, select the "Groceries" option. 
• You'll now be prompted to choose if you want to shop via Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods. 
• If you have multiple accounts, make sure that the correct address is displayed in the top left-hand corner. 
• Amazon should generate the store nearest you, but to change the store or double-check, click the "Find a Store" option to select another location from the menu. 
• From here, Amazon's page will display deals of the day for Prime members that your chosen store has to offer.
• Note: in-store specific sales will be marked by a "In-Store" sale tag on the product's photo. 
• On both the Amazon and Whole Foods app, you can add sale items to your virtual grocery list or directly to your cart. 

Actually going to the grocery store can be a process in itself. Luckily, the online shopping world has expanded to groceries. Note, however, that as of 2021, Prime enacted a $9.95 delivery fee (even for Prime members). To skip the fee but reap the benefits of your groceries already packed and paid for, pick up is also a great option. To save on either option requires the same steps. 

Once you're logged into your Amazon account, navigate to the Whole Foods or Amazon Fresh landing page, sand Select "Shop deals online." 

• Your page will now look identical to Amazon's typical search results, organized by deals custom to you, and then by category -- i.e. pantry, dairy, etc.
• Below each item, you'll see the deal price, where the product ranks on a five-star rating scale, and the option to add the item to your cart. 
• Once you're ready to check out, go to your cart as you typically would. 
• Since someone else is in charge of doing your shopping, you may be prompted to choose substitution items if the first item you chose isn't available. Note that the substitute item may not be a deal. 
• From here, choose if you want to pick up your groceries or have them delivered, and select the date and appropriate time slot. 

Amazon's Prime Rewards Visa Card also has a great deal that allows for further spending while saving at Whole Foods. On top of Prime member deals, the Prime Rewards card offers 5% cash back on groceries when you shop at Whole Foods. You also receive 5% cash back on all Amazon purchases. If Whole Foods is your primary grocery store, I highly recommend investing so you can fully maximize the perks of the Amazon and Whole Foods partnership. 

The days of sitting and cutting out coupons may be on their way out, but Amazon's virtual coupons are still a convenient way to still save on some staples. Prime members get access to coupons on regular items as well as groceries. 

Here's how: 

• At the top of the search bar in the left corner on the Amazon app or website, make sure to select "Grocery Coupons." 
• The page now displays all applicable coupon items in categories ranging from snacks to beverages and produce.
• Under the item's image, select the "Clip Coupon" option. 
• Continue shopping and the coupons will be applied at checkout. 

If there are specific items you buy regularly, Amazon not only makes it easy to restock without thinking about it but also makes it cheaper. When you place an Amazon order, you can opt to "subscribe and save" so that your recurring groceries are sure to arrive as needed -- and for less money. 

You can cancel your subscription at any time and also customize how often your order comes. 

• When you're on the "Grocery tab," select an item or search "subscribe and save" in the search bar. 
• Once you've selected the item and are ready to add to your cart, make sure you've selected the "Subscribe and save" option on the right hand side. 
• Now, select the quantity of the item and how often you want to schedule delivery from the dropdown menu. 
• Once you've customized your order preferences, toggle the yellow "Set Up Now" button and you've saved ordering again and up to 15% on your item. 

Note that this is also a perk of Prime not just limited to grocery shopping. 

Another Prime member exclusive deal that you can utilize when ordering your groceries is by stocking up on items and saving more by up to 20% off on select $50 items. This is a great option for necessities like paper towels, Clorox wipes, and -- of course -- coffee. 

• To see items that qualify for saving when you stock up, visit Amazon's stock up and save page and make sure you're logged into your Amazon account. 
• Next, either scroll through the deals that Amazon accumulates for you based on your previous search history or use the search bar to look for qualifying items. 
• Select the quantity of the item you want to order, and add to your cart. 
• As you add items, a green bar at the top will signal how close you are to fulfilling the 20% off your items. 
• Once you're ready to check out, head to your cart and the 20% off will be applied to your total price. 

Note that this is also a great tool to pair with the Subscribe and Save feature, saving up to an additional 15%. 

Finally, Amazon's Prime Grocery Outlet is basically Amazon's own virtual pantry. Focusing on pantry and non-perishable items rather than produce, the grocery outlet lets you filter by featured brand, price and calorie preference, nutrition facts, by sellers that aren't Amazon, and by options that let you subscribe and save. 

The grocery outlet not only offers Prime discounts and applied coupon offers, but doesn't limit you to a specific grocer. This is a great option for if you don't want to be restricted to just one grocery brand and want to maximize the subscribe and save feature.