10 things you might not be buying at Walmart but should. It’s the perfect place to stock up on some of your favorite, regular-use items. And they usually have better prices.
Restock your pantry, lighten up a dark corner with a strand of twinkle lights, or line your walkway with candles to welcome friends for dinner any time of year! From everyday name-brand purchases to some unique finds, here are a few house-hold staples I buy and how I use them. And your wallet will likely thank you.
Here’s a short list of what I think are some of the best things to buy at Walmart
1. Glass Jars and Storage
Designer Diane Karmen uses Glass jars in her open pantry
Madeline uses one as a cookie jar on her open shelving
I also use glass jars for flowers from my garden
They always have Anchor Hocking Heritage Hill Jars in several sizes, Cracker Jar, and all kinds of glass food storage containers. I use jars to keep food dry in my pantry and on open shelving in my kitchen. I’ve used them for making an individual pasta salad with vegetables to take to the beach. And I’ve even used them for smoothies too.
They also have a good selection of Ball jars too! I pick up a pack and use these Ball jars from Walmart for homemade granola. They make great parting gifts from a dinner party as well.
2. Twinkle Lights
When we moved, I left a strand of twinkle lights on in the corner and an extra box in the glass jar with all the keys to the house!
Iโve been using twinkle lights in dark corners for years. Walmart sells 20 light strands of incandescent lights on a white cord that gives the perfect light in a dark corner. Walmart has the best deal for these that I’ve seen. They are perfect for sort of a night light left on in the bathroom too. I stock up at the holidays, but they sometimes have them year-round.
3. Flour Sack Towels
Save your good towels from getting stained with a stack of flour sack dish towels to use for the dirty kitchen work. So many clean-ups in the kitchen will stain your pretty dish towels.
I love having a stack of flour sack towels that work well to clean counters and dry dishes, glassware, and pots and pans, but not have to worry about stains. Flour sack towels come in packages of 10 for around $8.
They are a great pick and they will last for years. So now I have two rows of dish towels. The pretty ones that I like to leave out by the sink and then the flour sack towels that I use for clean up after cooking and baking.
4. Lunch Bags
Walmart is the best place to stock up on things like lunch bags. They have kraft bags in two sizes and white lunch bags in the traditional lunch bag size. I go through a lot of bags when I make paper bag snowflakes!
5. Non-Stick Wok
We bought this non-stick wok as a fun gift for our kids when they were in college thinking it would never make its way home at the end of the school year. Turns out that we all love this non-stick wok. It’s perfect for everyday use.
Most of our pans are Sitram Cookware from France or All-Clad from Williams Sonoma. But when we need a non-stick wok, we reach for this one from Walmart that costs around $6!
6. Olive Oil, Almond Butter and other pantry basics
Olive oil, almond butter, and all our pantry basics are purchased at Walmart. I stock up every few months and Walmart has the brands we love at great prices.
7. Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer Brush
I first used this at Mary Annโs last October and ordered one from Walmart on my home! It is the best tool if you like to get ready in a hurry. With long hair, it used to take me forever to dry my hair.
Now, I use this One-Step Hair Dryer Brush and not only does it seem to shorten the time it takes to dry my hair, but it leaves it looking like I just came from the salon. And the bonus, it’s a good deal.
8. Lodge Cast Iron Pans
Everyone needs at least one cast iron pan and if you buy a Lodge, youโll never need to buy another. They are a great choice for pans. Walmart has a wide selection of Lodge Cast Iron Skillets in different sizes.
We love our mini Lodge Cast Iron Skillets. You can see how we use them for a grown-up version of s’mores likeย this one! It’s a fun way to serve dessert at theย dinner table.
9. Religious Candles
The perfect thing to line the porch or walkway to welcome friends. Have you ever arrived at a home for a dinner party and wondered if you had the right night? Like there were no extra cars on the street and you start to wonder if you got the date wrong!
Believe me, when friends come to dinner at our house, they never have to wonder! We line the porch railings with long-lasting white religious candles from Walmart for a warm welcome!
10. Small picture frames
I love mounting and framing post cards or small pieces of art. I use them as a little piece of design in unexpected places like on the window sill in front of a cafe curtain. I also enjoy a combination of art and meaningful photos for collage walls.
These frames from Walmart are so cute and very inexpensive. They also make great gifts for thoughtful moments. They come in all sizes but I usually use 4 x 6 frames, 5 x 7 frames, and 8 x 10 frames.
Annie! You can’t beat the galvanized buckets at Walmart! I use two as a planter: one upside down as a base and the second on top holding a Boston Fern I’ve picked up from their gardening center! Also, fab to use as a container by the back door for muddy shoes or extra Flip Flops. A perfect magazine holder. And, as a necessary utilitarian item: use it to collect the leftover ashes from your fireplace. Think about decoupaging the outside and use for all kinds of storage or wine bucket! It’s a great waste-can or garden tool holder. Oh! The endless possibilities! xx A.
Althea! I need photos! You are a wealth of information! I need to know how to find these galvanized buckets!
Althea,
I’m going to need more detailed information on these galvanzised buckets. Are they Behrn’s buckets? I must know!!
xx
The candles on a party night is such a good and welcoming idea! I’m going to remember that one. I have a huge glass cookie jar with lid that has made the most perfect terrarium. It’s very relaxing to look at and it’s an easy way to add a touch of greenery in the house for those who don’t have a green thumb.
Jeanne,
I’ll bet those jars would make great terrariums! Fun to make and so lovely to look at! Love the idea!
xo
Hi Annie,
I have a friend that joins me when we visit Walmart. She loves bargains and so do I. I buy their Lite Progresso soup at such a discount. Boxed cereal is another one. I always check out their homeware dept. and will have to look at their nonstick wok pan.
Saving money at Walmart is great. I only go about once every six weeks but I keep my list current before I head out.
xo,
Karen
Hi Karen!
That’s the way to go to Walmart, with a friend! Everything is more fun with a friend and when shopping for bargains (things not on the list), it’s great to have an extra set of eyes. I’m with you, Karen, I love to save money at Walmart!
xo
So many of these are on my list, too! Thanks for the candle suggestion!
They are nice to have on hand if you lose power too! Although, we hope that never happens!
Walmart has great prices and the breadth of merchandise is good but shopping at my local store is a very unpleasant experience. They are chronically understaffed and frequently out-of-stock on basics. I’ve seen fist fights break out in the check out line. I avoid going there if at all possible. I occasionally order from their website.
oh wow! I am sorry to hear that. I must go when it’s quiet time, I’ve never seen anything like that!
Happy New Year, Annie,
I’ve not shopped at Walmart because of their treatment of their employees. Just now, searching the internet, it was gratifying to discover the late October 2021 report documenting Walmart’s movement of more of their workers to full time while providing greater benefits. So, a run for twinkle lights and flour sack towels may be in the near future.
Diney on Camano Island
Diney! I should be more mindful of that! I’m glad to hear they are moving in the right direction with full time and benefits. Twinkle lights and flour sack are two must-haves!
Hi Annie,
You found all the good stuff! Darn, thereโs no Walmart near me or there would be a shopping trip on my schedule! I would always drop into the one near my parents when I would visit them. Also when dorm shopping in unfamiliar towns in different parts of the country. I see that some of these items are available on-line, that might be the way for me to go! Thanks for the list of must have items!
XO Heidi
Hi Heidi! Yes! Dorm shopping at places like Walmart is a must! We always needed several trips, no matter how organized we thought we were!
Darn, I don’t live near a Walmart but you’ve given me some good ideas. I like the way you crated this post. Now I’m off to go check out some of the links to other posts of yours!
Darn, I don’t live near a Walmart but you’ve given me some great ideas. And now I’m anxious to go read some of your other referenced posts!
Hi Joni! I live in the middle of two Walmarts, but still only shop about every six weeks to stock up! It’s worth a trip if you find yourself near one!
Oh my gosh you found some goodies! I love those anchor hocking jars…love that revlon brush thing., and I love that Olive Oil. I need to start ordering online from Walmart! My daughter in law has those mini cast iron skillets. As soon as I have room to store them I am ordering those! Love them.
Cindy,
We use those mini cast iron skillets so much! Sometimes to cook in, other times just for a pretty and rustic way of serving something! I think you’ll love them!
xx
Pretty post, but I don’t shop at Walmart. Not only are their employee management practices questionable, their profits go to support unsavory and outright dangerous political candidates and causes (in my opinion, at least)! Same with Home Depot’s CEO. Please be mindful of the companies you support. Thank you.
Thank you, Julia!
Great post! Thanks for all the finds at Walmart! Love this.
Hi Mary! There are just a few things that I always buy at Walmart! xx
Annie, I enjoy your posts and you accessible style. I noticed above that have pictured black doors. Is this your house? And if so, do you like the black doors? Curious because I am thinking of painting my interior doors.
Char
Hi Char,
This is ou former home in New Canaan and we did paint all of our doors black. The house was built in 1900 and the doors were in pretty bad shape, black made them look so much better. No regrets! For some reason we did not paint our doors in our new (old) home. The doors are newer and really didn’t even need to be repainted. We did add black Emtek hardware on the white doors though. I’m curiuous, ois oyur home an older or new home? I would love to know what you decide to do!
Annie
Thank you for this – such a great list of practical and useful items!
Thanks for reading MLT Jeannine! xo