3 Traps to Avoid When Shopping at Walmart

No matter what part of the country you live in, chances are, there's a Walmart nearby. Walmart opened its first store in Arkansas in 1962. Since then, it's expanded to more than 3,500 supercenter locations throughout the country.

Now when you hear the name "Walmart," a few things tend to come to mind -- a massive selection and affordable prices. But it's for these reasons that you'll need to be very careful when shopping at Walmart, especially at a time when you may be on a tight budget due to inflation. Here are some pitfalls to avoid in the course of your Walmart experience.

1. Assuming Walmart has the lowest prices

Walmart's motto has long been "everyday low prices." Because of this, you may be inclined to assume that the prices you'll see at Walmart are the lowest ones in town. But that's not necessarily the case.

To know if you're getting the lowest price, you'll need to compare the numbers you see at Walmart with other retailers. You might think that $20 for a given kitchen gadget sounds like a great deal, but if Amazon has a similar item for $15, you might as well enjoy that savings.

For example, some of the fitted sheets Walmart sells retail for $26.99 online. At Amazon, you can find fitted sheets for under $10.

Now that said, you may not find the exact same brands at Walmart and Amazon, so your comparison may not be perfect. But if, for example, you're buying sheets to send with your kid to sleepaway camp that are apt to get destroyed, then you probably don't care what brand you're getting -- your focus is more likely to be on keeping your credit card tab to a minimum.

2. Assuming sale items are a great deal

Walmart is known for its rollbacks, which is the superstore's way of saying that items are on sale. But just because a given item is being offered at a discount doesn't mean you should buy it.

Let's say a $30 sweater is discounted to $15 at Walmart. Sure, that's a good deal on that specific item. But if you didn't really want or need that sweater in the first place, then you're not saving $15 -- you're spending $15.

3. Scooping up impulse buys on your way to check out

Like many retailers, Walmart tends to put items on display in front of and around its cash registers. Those displays are pretty much designed to encourage last-minute impulse purchases -- so try to avoid them.

Make a list of the things you need before heading to Walmart, and pledge to stick to it. If candy bars didn't make the cut when you put your list together, there's no reason to scoop up a few on your way out.

Shopping at Walmart is, for many people, a good way to stretch a paycheck at a time when living costs remain high. But do your best to avoid these traps if Walmart is a regular store in your shopping rotation.