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Have you ever been so impressed with something that you need to tell everyone you know about its greatness? That’s how I feel about Walmart+. I could shout it from the rooftops: Everyone needs a Walmart+ membership!
Moving back to the Midwest after a decade in New York City, I have yet to acquire a car. I’m grateful to have family nearby who can chauffeur me around as needed, but that doesn’t mean I want to bother them when I run out of milk or need to stock up on dog food. I only signed up for a Walmart+ membership for the free in-store delivery, and it’s already saved me nearly $250 — and this isn’t even the best perk of shopping with Walmart+.
What is a Walmart+ membership?
Think of Walmart+ as the retailer’s version of Amazon Prime, except it’s more affordable. It’s an annual subscription that gives members access to spectacular benefits, like free grocery delivery on orders over $35, which I take advantage of on a weekly basis. However, one of the biggest perks that drives shoppers to sign up for this subscription service is the fuel cost savings. You can save 10 cents per gallon at Walmart’s gas stations, as well as participating Exxon, Mobil, and Murphy stations.
Walmart+ Memberships are $98 per year, but for a limited time, you can sign up for 50% off, which costs just $49 per year. These memberships are rarely on sale, so it’s a great time to join.
Walmart+ Memberships
Courtesy of Walmart
If you’re not sure how often you’d actually use this service, Walmart is so confident in its program that there’s also a 30-day trial period you can try for just $1. This allows you to test drive the service before paying for an entire year. Though be warned, the half-off deal might not be available once this period ends. You can also opt for a monthly Walmart+ membership, which costs $13 per month. Since paying monthly costs over $150 annually and it’s not eligible for the half-off discount, it’s a much better value to pay the year upfront.
Benefits of a Walmart+ membership
Signing up for Walmart+ comes with 13 unbeatable benefits, including:
- Free delivery: You can shop the aisles of your local Walmart from your phone, and then have the groceries delivered to your doorstep for free. There is a $35 order minimum, but without a membership, this would cost at least $10 per delivery. You can also save on express delivery, which costs only $10 instead of the usual $18 to $20 extra.
- Free shipping: It’s not just free delivery from the stores you can get with Walmart+. If you do any online shopping at Walmart.com, you qualify for free next-day or two-day shipping. For online orders like this, there typically isn’t even a minimum purchase requirement.
- Gas savings: High fuel costs won’t make as big of an impact on your budget when you save 10 cents per gallon at the pump. This is exclusive to participating Walmart, Exxon, Mobil, and Murphy gas stations. Over 13,000 gas stations are part of this program, so you could even have multiple options available around town.
- Stream Paramount+ or Peacock for free: You’ll get free access to your choice of Paramount+ or Peacock streaming services. These are the ad-supported plans, but subscribing through Walmart+ means savings of up to $109 per year on these services. You can switch every 90 days, so if you get bored with one, you can try out the other.
- Free pharmacy delivery: If you’re sick in bed, the last thing you want to do is stand in a long line at the pharmacy pick-up window. With Walmart+, you can get your pills delivered to the house for free, and you can often get them within the day the prescription was sent.
- Burger King savings: Order through Burger King’s mobile app or website and score 25% off your order each day. Every three months, you’re also eligible for a free Whopper with your purchase.
- Free online pet care: If you have a pet, you’ll want to take advantage of the free Pawp membership, which provides around-the-clock access to veterinary experts. Without Walmart+, this service would cost $99 per year.
- Earn Walmart Cash on travel: Walmart partnered with Expedia to create a travel hub where you’ll find deals on flights, hotels, car rentals, and excursions. You can get up to 10% back in Walmart Cash on these purchases, which serves as actual cash on your Walmart grocery orders.
- Auto care savings: Walmart+ members can get a complimentary flat tire repair and road hazard warranty from Walmart’s Auto Care Centers.
- Free return pickup: Returning a product can be a big hassle. You have to find a box, print the label, and then visit a store to have it sent off. Walmart+ members can have their returns picked up directly from their home, eliminating the busy work.
- Scan and go shopping: You might be familiar with the scan-and-go feature if you’re also a Sam’s Club member. While you’re shopping, this service allows you to scan the barcodes of each item you place into your cart. Once you reach the checkout line, there’s no need to empty and scan the cart’s contents because it’s ready to go on your smartphone.
- Cash back on Walmart purchases: For this benefit, you’ll also need to be approved for Walmart’s OnePay CashRewards Card, but unlimited 5% back is a substantial perk.
- Early access to deals: You can start shopping the biggest sales of the year a day early, like Black Friday, with Walmart+ Early Access. It’s a great way to snag the best discounts before they sell out.
How much can you save with a Walmart+ membership?
Joining Walmart+ can definitely save you money over the course of a year, but the amount you’ll save depends on your shopping habits.
If you have groceries dropped off at your doorstep each week, you could save $520 just on the delivery fees alone. The savings on gas will quickly add up, too. The average capacity of a car’s fuel tank ranges from 12 to 40 gallons, so with 10 cents off per gallon, this would save you around $1 to $4 per fill-up. This isn’t a huge amount, but if you have a weekly fill-up, you could save $50 to $200 in the course of a year, giving you more flexibility with your budget. Depending on your lifestyle, the free streaming services, discounted Burger King, and online pet care can also reduce your monthly budget costs.
However, it’s not just the saving money that makes a Walmart+ membership so valuable. Having someone else do your grocery shopping, getting your prescriptions sent to the house, and having your returns picked up gives you more free time, which is a priceless commodity. To make the most of this purchase, you’ll want to snag Walmart’s 50% off deal before it ends.
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