• Home
  • Money Basics
  • Debt Payoff
  • Faith
  • Shop
  • Merch
  • About

Savvy Budget Girl

Financial Literacy + Independence

Is Walmart Plus Worth It?

You’ve seen the signs at the store and gas station about Walmart Plus. It’s tempting to want to join in order to save money on gas and other purchases, but is it worth it? Today we are discussing all things Walmart plus.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our full disclosure here.

But first, my sponsor:

Today’s episode is sponsored by my Etsy shop, Savvy Budget Girl TV. In my shop, you will find all kinds of goodies to get you started with cash budgeting and savings challenges. From trackers to physical envelopes, and my latest ebook of savings challenges, you can find what you need to help you save and make it fun! You can find the shop at the link above or by searching Savvy Budget Girl TV on Etsy.

Now, let’s get into the discussion!

Here in Florida, gas prices went up suddenly (I’m talking about 40 cents/gallon in a matter of days), and it got me thinking about different ways to save money on gas. At a nearby Mobil station, there are flags outside saying that I could save money on gas if I signed up for Walmart plus. I was intrigued.

If you’ve never heard of Walmart plus, it’s their membership with tons of benefits. On the website to sign up, they claim you can save over $1300 per year. Not a bad claim considering the membership costs $98/year or $12.95/month. However, you’ll get the biggest savings by paying annually, saving you a whopping $57.40 over the monthly price. Be careful with those monthly payments, guys!

So how are they getting to that magic number? According to the website, savings are based on 2 deliveries/week vs. non-member $7.95 fee & 2 Walmart.com orders under $35/week vs. non-member $6.99 fee.

Let’s unpack that a little:

In order to assume these savings, you’ll need to be a pretty serious Walmart shopper and take advantage of all of the benefits of the plus membership.

Other membership perks include:

  • Paramount plus membership ($59 if paid monthly)
  • Free delivery from your store
  • Free delivery online with no order minimum
  • Up to 10 cents/gallon off gas (could be worth around $75)
  • Rewards
  • Exclusive access to sales and product releases
  • And, for a limited time, 6 months free of Spotify premium ($59 value)

Of course, if you’re like me and already have Paramount+ on the premium level (I pay $9.99/month) and already pay for Spotify (which I don’t), then those savings are a moot point.

However, if you live and die by online grocery shopping and delivery and don’t use Instacart, then this could be worth your while in terms of saving money and time. Again, the savings only really stack up if you’re doing the majority of your shopping at Walmart. If it’s way down on your list of stores, then this membership probably isn’t for you.

Also, if you’re thinking of joining to save on gas, then you need to know you aren’t guaranteed to save all 10 cents/gallon. Your savings might be lower. And even at the projected $75/year savings on gas, you’re still paying more for the privilege of membership.

There are other ways to save money on gas:

  1. Keep your tires properly inflated
  2. Keep up with the regular maintenance on your vehicles
  3. Group your errands together and make fewer trips

You don’t need to buy fuel additives or anything like that. Just do regular maintenance on your vehicles and be smart about your driving habits. In my case, I know one of the local gas station chains here in Florida offers a discount gas card that you can refill only with cash. It gets me 3 cents/gallon off, but I also keep cash in my gas envelope for when I’m not at that particular gas station.

Again, you have to actually do the math on the so-called savings. I put, at most, 10 gallons of gas in my car. If gas is $3.29/gallon, then I’m spending about $33 on gas. If gas goes back down to $2.89/gallon, then I’m spending about $29. A difference of $4. Only you can decide if that $4 will make or break your budget.

Just like only you can decide if free online delivery and shopping from home are worth it for you from Walmart specifically as opposed to using a service like Instacart.

As a quick cost comparison, Instacart has the following fees:

  • $3.99+ for delivery for same-day orders over $35 (remember Walmart has no online minimum for members) and varies based on your delivery window, the amount of your total order, and whether or not you’re ordering from a wholesale club.
  • Service fees might apply
  • Pickup fees might also apply

However, if you join Instacart+ (formerly Instacart Express), they say you’ll make your money back in 1-2 orders per month. This is because of lower service fees, no order minimums, 5% credit back (similar to DoorDash) on pickup orders, and exclusive offers. Plus, you’re not tied into one specific store. All of this is for $99/year. So only $1/year more than Walmart’s membership.

In the end, you’ll have to decide what you really want to spend money on: saving from one specific store or the ability to choose your store. Do you need everything Walmart offers or are you looking for savings on groceries? Are you even a Walmart shopper or prefer Target, as I do? Do what’s best for you and your family and what makes sense for your budget. 

If you’re not sure how much you’ll use it, Walmart offers a 30-day trial for their membership and Instacart offers a 14-day trial for theirs. Try it first and see how you would actually use it in a typical month.

I don’t typically order grocery delivery or pickup, but it’s just me and my husband, and I only need to leave him at home to keep the budget under control, lol. Let me know in the comments if you know what I mean!

I know fluctuating gas and grocery prices can be nerve-wracking, but remember to stay calm, do the math, and figure out what you’re actually spending without being swayed by potential savings at a store you don’t even like.

Shop smarter!

Let me know: what’s your savings goal for 2023? Leave a comment below or tag me on IG @ savvybudgetgirl.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

Posted In: Money Basics

Grab Your FREE Money Tracker!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hello! I’m Wendy.

I help couples ditch the paycheck to paycheck lifestyle and achieve financial freedom + independence. I am a veteran, military spouse, and certified financial eductation instructor.

Grab Your FREE Money Tracker!

Categories

  • Debt Payoff
  • Money Basics

Reader Favorites

woman with pencil savvy budget girl wendy coop

Should You Save or Payoff Debt? Recession Edition

walmart plus savvy budget girl wendy coop

Is Walmart Plus Worth It?

debt free Christmas wendy coop savvy budget girl

How to Have a Debt-Free Christmas

Wendy Coop + Savvy Budget Girl are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Wendy Coop + Savvy Budget Girl are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

  • Privacy Policy
  • CCPA
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms + Conditions

Connect

In this video, I'm going to talk about what a medical sinking fund is and how it can help you achieve your financial goals.

A medical sinking fund is a great way to manage your debt and protect yourself from unpleasant surprises. By having a medical sinking fund, you'll be able to deal with unexpected expenses without having to resort to debt.

If you're interested in getting started with a medical sinking fund, then watch this video today! I'll discuss the benefits of establishing a medical sinking fund and how you can get started.

#medicalexpenses #cashenvelopebudgeting #sinkingfunds
🏥 You Need a Medical Sinking Fund 💸
This back to school shopping sinking fund will help you get through your favorite shopping without resorting to credit card debt.

By setting up a back to school shopping sinking fund, you'll be able to buy the things you need without having to use your credit card. This fund will help you get through your shopping without succumbing to credit card debt, which will help you stay debt-free on your back to school journey!

#debtfreejourney #cashenvelopebudgeting #backtoschool
📚Back to School Shopping Prep 💸
How much should you have in your emergency fund? ******Get your money tracker! ➡️  http://trackingmycoins.com

In this video, I'll cover everything you need to know about emergency funds: Why they are important, how much you should have, and where to keep them. We'll also give you tips and strategies for building and maintaining an emergency fund that will help you weather any unexpected financial storms.

First, I'll explain what an emergency fund is and why having one is crucial. I'll also discuss how much money you should aim to save in your emergency fund and where to keep those funds. Next, I'll provide actionable tips for building your emergency fund quickly and efficiently, including budgeting tricks and smart saving strategies.

I'll also discuss common mistakes to avoid when it comes to your emergency fund, so you can make sure you're setting yourself up for financial success.

By the end of this video, you'll understand how emergency funds work and how to build and maintain one that meets your unique financial needs. Whether you're just starting out or looking to enhance your existing emergency fund, this video has everything you need to know.

HYSA recommendations:
https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/banking/high-yield-online-savings-accounts

Read the blog:
https://savvybudgetgirl.com

Buy the merch!
http://savvybudgetmerch.com

Buy me a coffee:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/savvybudgetgirl

You can also visit the Etsy shop!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/SavvyBudgetGirlTV

This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, meaning if you buy something we'll receive a small commission. 

📒 Show Notes + Resources📒  

Read my latest book, “Budgeting for Women”
https://amzn.to/3oqWP6a 

Get up to two free audiobooks for trying Audible Plus:
https://amzn.to/3bhg2Ea 

Apply for a Capital One Secured Card:
https://capital.one/3zZvKfV

Build your credit with a Self account:
https://self.inc/refer/10777328

Come save money on Fetch with me! Sign up w/ code VQ4E8R & get 2,000 pts: https://referral.fetch.com/vvv3/referraltext?code=VQ4E8R.

Tune into the Savvy Budget Girl podcast:
https://wendycoop.buzzsprout.com/ 

1️⃣ YNAB (You Need a Budget)
https://wendycoop.com/ynab  

2️⃣ Cash Envelope Wallet (like in my videos)
https://amzn.to/3xqXp94 

3️⃣ Qube Money (digital cash envelopes)
https://tracking.qubemoney.com/SH2F

4️⃣ Budget binder on Amazon
https://amzn.to/3RZdACQ 

Boost your videos with vidIQ:
https://vidiq.com/wendycoop 

Here’s where I learned all about YouTube:
https://wendycoop.com/vra 

Here are the ways to work with me: 
⚡️FREE Tracker: Download your FREE Money Tracker at http://trackingmycoins.com  

Connect with Savvy Budget Girl 
https://instagram.com/savvybudgetgirl 

QUESTION — Have a question about personal finance, budgeting, or making money? Post in the comments section of this video!


---------Cameras and Gear Used To Create This Video -------

Wendy Coop’s Video Gear Checklist:
https://kit.co/wendycoop/livestream-setup  
 
#emergencyfund  #savingsgoals  #debtfreejourney 

About:
All about emergency funds.

Disclaimer: I am not a financial advisor; this is simply what works for my family and me and how I like to budget. Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our videos on the Savvy Budget Girl channel. https://savvybudgetgirl.com/privacy-policy
The Ultimate Guide to Emergency Funds: Tips and Strategies
Subscribe

Copyright © 2023 Savvy Budget Girl · Theme by 17th Avenue