For those interested in U.S. immigration and learning about life in the U.S.: Living in the United States can be quite challenging, unlike in your home country where you know where to eat, drink, and shop. Arriving in a foreign land, unfamiliar with the surroundings, makes it genuinely difficult to find affordable items. I have compiled a list of several budget-friendly supermarkets in the U.S. that you can visit to help save on living costs.
Walmart
Walmart is a household name, known as the largest company in the world by revenue and a leader in supermarket retail. Many newcomers to the U.S. often visit Walmart as their first supermarket. Walmart offers a wide range of products at low prices, consistently maintaining a low-price strategy. You can find T-shirts for just a few dollars and shoes for around ten dollars, all of decent quality. Many low- to middle-income Americans frequently shop for clothing at Walmart. In addition to everyday goods, Walmart also sells various electronic devices, such as high-definition DVDs for $3, iPhones, and iPads. During the annual Black Friday sales, discounted Apple computers and phones at Walmart are highly sought after.
During the annual Black Friday sales, discounted Apple computers and phones at Walmart are highly sought after. Additionally, Walmart has something that other stores do not: you can buy a gun at Walmart... Firearms are typically locked in large cabinets, and as long as you meet the legal requirements, you can purchase a gun and take it home, which is quite impressive...
[Money-Saving Tip] Walmart does not require a membership card; everyone enjoys the same low prices.
Safeway
Safeway supermarkets (known as Tom Thumb in some areas, a subsidiary brand of Safeway) are similar to Walmart, but Safeway generally sells only food and everyday consumer goods. Although it does not guarantee the same low prices as Walmart, the prices are still quite favorable. Compared to Walmart, Safeway is often more conveniently located, with many stores near schools or residential areas, making it popular among students who can walk over after class to buy groceries.
[Money-Saving Tip] If you frequently shop at Safeway, remember to get a free membership card, which offers significant discounts. Check for coupons regularly and use them at checkout. Using a membership card at Safeway's gas stations also provides a discount of about 10 cents per gallon.
Costco
Known as Costco in English (many fans affectionately call it "Costco"), it is the largest chain membership warehouse in the U.S. and a giant among supermarkets. Products are sold in large quantities, primarily in family-sized packages, making it ideal for sharing among families. The prices are astonishingly low, but the quality is excellent. Costco offers a wide variety of products, including food and household items. The Costco website also features great deals on car rentals and travel; if you are a member, be sure to take full advantage. Costco's hot dogs are famously affordable, priced at $1.50 without ever increasing! Clothing, especially many inexpensive options, is also available. Paper products are a must-buy at Costco.
A charming aspect of Costco is the numerous samples available daily; you can essentially eat your way through the store. They also offer large quantities of chocolates, nuts (such as almonds and pistachios), health supplements, cosmetics, and athletic shoes, most of which are significantly cheaper than outside. Additionally, their selection of electronics is limited but competitively priced.
[Money-Saving Tip] Costco is a membership-based store. If you want to shop at Costco, you can apply for a Costco membership card or credit card. The annual fee for a membership card is $55, which can be shared between two people, averaging just $27.50 per person. You will easily recoup the membership fee with your purchases, and Costco's discounted gasoline is exclusive to members, sometimes saving you over $0.50 per gallon compared to other gas stations!
Target
Target, affectionately known as the "Red Bullseye Store," has a product structure similar to Walmart, but you can clearly feel that Target aims for a more upscale experience in terms of visual appeal, product quality, and pricing.
Target offers many high-quality baby and maternity products that mothers are sure to recognize. They also have a wide range of home goods, and students seeking to enhance their living quality can find many interesting items to decorate their new homes in North America. Although Target is a supermarket, it excels in fashion and beauty, collaborating with top designers to launch Target Fashion. Many clothing items, both in style and quality, can rival those found in department stores. Additionally, many over-the-counter beauty products are on par with high-end brands, such as Laneige, which is a must-try for fans of Korean skincare.
[Money-Saving Tip] Frequent shoppers at Target can apply for a Target REDcard, available in both debit and credit card forms. The debit card links directly to your existing checking account and functions like a bank ATM card, allowing direct transactions from your checking account. The benefit is that every time (yes, every time!) you shop at Target using the REDcard, you receive an additional 5% off, along with an extended 30-day return period. Furthermore, using the REDcard for online shopping at Target.com offers free shipping with no minimum purchase.
Trader Joe's
Affectionately nicknamed "Trader Joe's" by many, this supermarket chain prides itself on being natural, eco-friendly, and affordable, specializing in organic ingredients and a variety of unique snacks. This store can be described as a "mini food United Nations," with shelves stocked with specialty snacks from around the world, often featuring some astonishingly good items, such as Indian naan, curry puffs, exquisite Japanese ice cream, Thai taro rolls and coconut cakes, British lemon curd, French foie gras cheese, macarons, Italian tiramisu, pizza dough, and even Chinese shao mai and dumplings.
Many students particularly enjoy the dairy products from Trader Joe's, sometimes finding whole milk cheaper than at Costco, and the yogurt flavors are exceptional, often unavailable elsewhere. The items at Trader Joe's are fresher than those at regular supermarkets, and while the prices may be slightly higher, they are not as exorbitant as those at Whole Foods.
[Money-Saving Tip] Trader Joe's does not have membership cards, coupons, or promotional activities, maintaining an air of exclusivity. However, we still have a way! The American Express Blue Cash Preferred credit card offers 6% cash back on purchases at any supermarket in the U.S., so you won't want to miss out on that 6% cash back! PS: Their sushi salad is very reasonably priced, ranging from $3.99 to $8.99. If you're nearby, consider it for lunch.
Kroger
Kroger is a well-established supermarket in the U.S. with a history of over a century. According to Fortune magazine, it is the largest grocery retailer in the country. Kroger primarily focuses on food, offering a more detailed selection than Walmart, with relatively fresh fruits and vegetables, and prices are very affordable, although they also carry upscale organic fruits. Kroger frequently has discounts and promotions, and you can grab a coupon before entering to see what specials are available that day.
[Money-Saving Tip] Kroger also offers a free membership card that can provide discounts that are sometimes cheaper than Walmart after applying the discounts. Kroger has its own gas stations, and membership cards also offer additional savings!
Whole Foods
After discussing Trader Joe's, let's take a look at "Whole Foods," the upscale supermarket chain known for its organic products. All products at Whole Foods, from food to household goods and even clothing, are organic, making it popular among fashionistas, the middle class, and health enthusiasts. Many celebrities are said to enjoy shopping at Whole Foods, so the prices are not very friendly. However, many people feel that the quality of the environment and food justifies the cost. You can choose according to your preferences.
[Money-Saving Tip] The expensive Whole Foods is also quite exclusive, with no membership cards and occasional promotions like a $20 gift card for a $5 purchase. However, they collaborate with certain credit cards, such as the American Express Blue Cash Preferred credit card, which offers 6% cash back on regular supermarket purchases, and an additional 2% cash back for shopping at Whole Foods before February 15 of this year, totaling 8% cash back, which is not insignificant!