TIPS: Instacart Hack: How to Get 2 Weeks of Flyer Deals in One Order

Want to maximize your grocery savings on Instacart? Here's a clever timing trick that lets you stack two weeks of flyer deals into a single order.

How Grocery Flyers Work

Most grocery store flyers operate on a weekly schedule with specific start and end dates. For example:

• Current flyer might end on Thursday
• New flyer starts on Friday
• The transition happens at midnight

This weekly cycle creates a unique opportunity for savvy Instacart shoppers.

The Flyer Timing Hack

Here's the step-by-step strategy to maximize your savings:

Step 1: Preview Next Week's Flyer

Use apps like Flipp to view upcoming flyers the day before they become active. On Thursday, you can see what deals will be available on Friday.

Step 2: Place Your Order on the Last Day

On the final day of the current flyer (e.g., Thursday), place your Instacart order but schedule delivery for the next day when the new flyer is active (e.g., Friday).

Step 3: Lock in Tomorrow's Prices Today

When you schedule your delivery for Friday, Instacart will apply Friday's prices—meaning you get the new flyer deals even though you placed the order on Thursday.

How Far Out Can You Schedule?

You can technically schedule delivery several days in advance, but our testing shows:

• ✅ 1 day ahead: Works reliably
• ⚠️ 2-3 days ahead: Success rate drops
• ❌ More than 3 days: Prices may not apply correctly

Stick to next-day delivery for best results.

Bonus Tip: Double-Dip on Flyer Deals

Here's where it gets even better. While your order is being picked and packed:

1. Open your Instacart app
2. Add items from the current week's flyer (Thursday deals in our example)
3. These items get added to your order at current prices
4. Your scheduled items still get tomorrow's prices

Result? You've combined two weeks of flyer specials in one order!

Why This Works

Instacart's pricing system applies the active flyer at the time of fulfillment, not when you place the order. The scheduled delivery time determines which prices apply to your pre-selected items, while last-minute additions use current pricing.

Pro Tips for Success

• Check flyer schedules: Not all stores follow the same weekly cycle
• Use Flipp: This free app aggregates flyers from multiple retailers
• Monitor your order: Watch for any price changes before it's fulfilled
• Time your addition: Add current flyer items just before your order is picked
• Don't overdo it: Stick to 1-day scheduling for reliability

The Bottom Line

This timing strategy requires a bit of planning, but it's one of the easiest ways to maximize savings on Instacart. By understanding flyer cycles and using scheduled delivery strategically, you can access two weeks of deals in a single order.

Just remember: this works best with next-day delivery. The further out you schedule, the less reliable the pricing becomes. Happy saving!