13 Mistakes You Could Be Making When Shopping At H-E-B

If you live in Texas or have visited the state before, then you have likely heard of H-E-B. H-E-B's history traces back over a century when the first store was opened in Kerrville, Texas. Today, the company has expanded throughout the state of Texas and into Mexico, operating over 40 locations. 

Whether you're a Texas native and have been a regular customer or are about to move to the state and have never even stepped foot into a H-E-B before, there are several common shopping mistakes you'll want to avoid. Making these mistakes could cause you to miss out on a great deal, spend more money than is necessary, add too much stress to your grocery shopping experience, or cause you to miss out on some of the perks of shopping at H-E-B. Read on to learn how to make the most of your shopping experience at this grocery store.

Before you plan your trip to H-E-B, take a few minutes to download the My H-E-B App on your cell phone to streamline and simplify your shopping. You can use it to place curbside or delivery orders, add items from a previous order to a current cart, and even clip digital coupons. Another useful feature of the app is the barcode scanner. When you're shopping in the store, you can scan the items you're adding to your cart to see if there are any available coupons. You can also use the scanner at home to add items that you're running low on to your cart for a curbside or delivery order.

If you've ever spent too much time wandering through different aisles in the grocery store looking for a particular item, then you'll definitely appreciate the app. Open it, search for the product you're trying to find, and click "view store map." This will bring up a map of the store with the aisle or section highlighted to show you precisely where to find what you're looking for.

While there is nothing wrong with letting one of the H-E-B cashiers scan your items and check you out, if you're in a hurry, it might not be the fastest solution. Rather than waiting in a long line on a busy day, consider downloading the H-E-B Go app, which allows you to scan items as you shop and add them to a grocery bag. The app will keep a running tally of your order total, and when you've finished you can visit one of the self checkout registers to pay and then be on your way. There is no limit to the number of items you can scan with the app.

If you want to be able to take advantage of the quick checkout at one of the H-E-B Go kiosks, then you'll need to add a credit card to your account. If preferred, you can still wait in line for a cashier, present your order ticket from your phone, and let them check you out at the register. A cashier can also help if you have any items that couldn't be scanned. If you do run into any problems scanning a particular item or items, just separate them in your shopping cart to be added on to your total at the end.

Just as with any store, if you go at the wrong time, you're going to regret it. With too many people in the store, it can be difficult to navigate the aisles and find what you're looking for. There is also greater potential for the shelves to be picked over, which can lead to additional trips to try to find any out-of-stock items. More shoppers also means longer checkout lines, which nobody wants.

To avoid all of these potential problems, it is important to choose a good time to shop. The store is likely to be less crowded during the early morning hours or later in the evenings. Early morning can be an ideal time to shop because, in addition to fewer crowds, products are typically restocked the night before and readily available. If possible, try to avoid shopping during peak times, such as mid-morning to early afternoon on the weekends or weekday afternoons after work.

While "buy one, get one" deals (often referred to as BOGO) are commonplace at many grocery stores, you are typically required to buy two of the same item. However, you don't always need two of the same item, so the freebie is likely to end up going to waste.

H-E-B's Combo Loco deals put a fresh spin on a traditional BOGO sale. Rather than having to purchase two of the same item for one of them to be free, the Combo Locos specials allow you to get a separate product for free when you purchase one. The deals often pair products that you would use together, such as deli meat and bread, shredded chicken and refried beans, or pizza sauce and pizza crust. You'll also find some of the more traditional BOGO (or buy two, get one free) sales in the Combo Locos section of the ad.

Paying attention to the sales and bringing coupons can help you save money, but did you know that you could be saving even more by downloading a few more apps to your phone? There are several that will reward you with cash back just for buying the groceries that are already on your list.

As you explore the many apps out there, you'll notice that each one works slightly differently. Some, such as Ibotta, list available offers for each retailer, such as H-E-B. You select the offers that you're interested in, purchase the corresponding items in store, and then scan your receipt and the promotional items you bought. The rewards will load to your balance and as they accumulate, you can cash them out with a direct transfer to your bank account or by snagging a free gift card.

Other apps, such as CoinOut, reward you with points for scanning any receipt. While these apps won't allow you to earn as much in rewards, you also don't have to spend any time flipping through the promotions. Once you scan a receipt, points will be added to your account. Once your point balance grows, cash out for a bank transfer or gift card, depending on the specific account you're using.

If you rely on H-E-B for all — or almost all — of your grocery needs, then now may be the time to consider applying for a H-E-B credit card or debit card. If you're already going to be spending money in the store, you might as well get rewarded for it. With the H-E-B Visa Signature Credit Card, you'll receive 5% cash back for all H-E-B brand purchases. All other purchases will earn 1.5% cash back (this applies to purchasing non H-E-B products or shopping anywhere else).

If you don't want to charge your groceries to a credit card, consider signing up for the H-E-B Debit Card, which allows you to earn 5% cash back on all H-E-B brand products. You can easily add money to your account from your bank or another debit card. The debit card also comes with the option to set up a high-yield savings account, which can earn up to 6% annual percentage yield for a balance up to $2,000.