Anna Marum, The Oregonian/OregonLive

By Grant Butler, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Shoppers who are on the hunt for deep discounts on groceries know that they can make their dollars really stretch at WinCo, the no-frills chain of West Coast supermarkets where you bag your own groceries and don’t expect fancy features like in-store sushi bars or online personal shoppers.

In most cases, you’ll save quite a bit of money on everyday pantry staples, produce and basic household items. But you can get even bigger savings by following some smart shopping strategies.

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Get on WinCo's mailing list

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wincofoods.com

WinCo doesn't spend much money on advertising in an effort to keep costs as low as possible. But if you sign up for their mailing list, you'll get the occasional mailer alerting you to special sales, as well as deals that are unique to your particular store.

You'll also find out about deals by following WinCo's Facebook page.

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Before leaving home, have a meal plan and a grocery list

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Grant Butler, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Before heading to any grocery store, you should have a meal plan and create a grocery list. Taking a quick glance in your kitchen cupboards and refrigerator lets you know what you already have on hand, what needs to be used up, and what you’re almost out of. Think of meals you can make built around the groceries you already have.

Once you’ve assessed what groceries you have, start building a weekly meal plan and making your shopping list. Without a list, you may forget key items, forcing return visits to the store and the possibility of impulse buying.

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Shop when it's less crowded, and consider shopping alone

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Grant Butler, The Oregonian/OregonLive

If you’ve ever gone to WinCo on a weekend, you know that the crowds can be brutal, and getting your cart through clogged aisles can test your patience. Grocery stores are also busy at lunchtime and between 4 and 7 p.m. on weekdays. At slower times, you’ll feel less rushed, giving you time to compare prices and talk to store employees about getting the best deals. And since most WinCo locations are open 24 hours, you can shop in the dead of night – good news for insomniacs and people who work odd hours.

Shopping with children or your significant other in tow causes distractions and can lead to impulse purchases. Instead, go solo so you can concentrate on your list and your budget.

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Work the entry wall for the biggest savings

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Grant Butler, The Oregonian/OregonLive

When you walk into any WinCo, check out all the products that are featured on the entry aisle. This is where each store puts some its items with the deepest discounts. You’ll find big-name brands and seasonal items. But be careful about impulse purchases, since this is where a lot of snacks and dessert items are promoted.

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Be picky about your produce, and don't over-buy

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Fredrick D. Joe

WinCo used to have a reputation for having sub-standard produce. But that’s no longer true. The produce department features many organic items, as well as conventional produce that’s frequently priced lower than other grocery stores.

Produce is at its lowest price when it’s abundant and in season, which is why corn and tomatoes are so cheap in August and September, and why they’re pricy in mid-winter. As an added bonus, in season produce tastes better than stuff that’s grown far away and trucked to your grocery store.

As always, give your produce a close inspection to make sure it’s fresh, and avoid the temptation to over-buy, since wasted food is wasted money.

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Look for green "Extra Savings" signs

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Grant Butler, The Oregonian/OregonLive

WinCo makes it easy to spot the best deals, thanks to bright-green “Extra Savings” signs. These typically are items that the store has bought in bulk at a deep discount, passing the savings on to shoppers.

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Look closely at the yellow everyday prices tags

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Fredrick D. Joe, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Yellow shelf tags indicate everyday prices for items, and they are often less than what you’ll find elsewhere. For example, Rosarita refried beans were recently 88 cents a can at WinCo, while they were selling for $1 a can at another grocer.

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Work the bulk section

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Grant Butler, The Oregonian/OregonLive

People think of bulk bins as a place where you have to buy large quantities to save, but the opposite is true, since you can buy very small amounts of items, saving lots of money compared to packaged products.

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Grant Butler, The Oregonian/OregonLive

WinCo’s bulk section has more than 800 items for sale by the pound, and there are more varieties of grains, pasta and sweeteners than you’ll find in the main part of the grocery store. Never tried coconut sugar? Want to buy alphabet-shaped pasta for making homemade alphabet soup? This is the place.

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Buy the big bags and save even more

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Grant Butler, The Oregonian/OregonLive

In the bulk section of WinCo, you’ll find big bags of rice and beans. If you have a big family, you’ll save a lot buying these larger bags. For instance, brown rice recently was selling for $14.25 for a 25-pound bag. That’s pencils out to just 57 cents per pound.

WinCo also offers a 5-percent discount on some bulk items if you buy them in large sealed sacks instead of straight from the bins. So if you go through mountains of pasta or flour, ask a bulk-section clerk if there’s a discount on big bags.

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Get "spooktacular" savings on Halloween candy

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Grant Butler, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Sorry, bad pun! But the amount of money you’ll save on Halloween candy this time of year is no joke. WinCo has bulk bins filled with chocolate eyeballs and other spooky treats, priced far below what you’ll pay for bags of those “fun size” candy bars.

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Spice up your savings

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Michael Lloyd, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Spices from WinCo’s bulk section can cost up to 75 percent less than the packaged versions, and you can buy small quantities of spices you don’t use very often, eliminating the need to throw out old spices that have lost their zing.

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Compare prices on packaged meat and fish with what's at the butcher counter

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Grant Butler, The Oregonian/OregonLive

WinCo offers family packs of meat and seafood, but they may not always offer the biggest savings. Compare prices with what’s available at the butcher counter, where you may be able to buy smaller portions for the same price or less.

If you find a really good sale, consider buying enough to freeze for future meals.

While at the butcher counter, ask about super-cheap beef bones, chicken feet and turkey necks, which can be used to make homemade broth or to give extra flavor to pots of slow-cooked dried beans.

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Check out WinCo's house brands and baked goods

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Grant Butler, The Oregonian/OregonLive

WinCo offers house labels for many grocery items, sometimes priced 50-percent less than big-name brands. Often these are the exact same products as the national brands, offering the same quality for a lot less money.

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Keep track of your budget and savings as you shop

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Fredrick D. Joe, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Have a dollar amount in mind when you head to the store, and mentally tally up how much you’ll spend as you add items to your grocery cart. Don’t have a head for numbers? Take a pocket calculator or use the calculator app on your smart phone.

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Don't be afraid to play the coupon game

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Grant Butler, The Oregonian/OregonLive

WinCo accepts manufacturer's coupons, as well as printable store coupons that can be found on their website. There are lots of coupons available for many products you buy, but use them with caution. Getting 75 cents off a product you wouldn't normally buy isn't a good deal. But saving that money on a box of your favorite crackers or your weekly pound of coffee helps your savings add up quickly.

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Bring reusable bags, because every penny counts

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Grant Butler, The Oregonian/OregonLive

WinCo gives shoppers a 6-cent discount for every reusable bag that’s used. On big grocery trips, that adds up fast.

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The way you pay keeps prices low

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Grant Butler, The Oregonian/OregonLive

If you normally pay for groceries using a credit card that gives you airline miles, you’re out of luck at WinCo. Credit card companies charge fees for transactions, which is why WinCo doesn’t accept them. You can still pay using a debit card or good, old-fashioned cash.

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More grocery saving strategies

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Fredrick D. Joe, The Oregonian/OregonLive

A few years ago, The Oregonian and OregonLive offered a series of stories on how to save on groceries, looking at unique strategies for every part of the store. You can read the full series here.

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How to save at dollar stores and Grocery Outlet

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Grant Butler, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Discount grocery stores and dollar stores are different from no-frills grocers like Winco. They carry a more-limited stock of items, and don’t feature grocery store amenities like in-house bakeries or butcher counters. You'll find some surprisingly good buys, along with some deals that aren’t as good as they seem.

48 things you should (and shouldn't) buy at discount grocers and dollar stores.

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-- Grant Butler

gbutler@oregonian.com

503-221-8566; @grantbutler