Finding the Best Way to Save at the Grocery Store...

There was a time that I would have called myself a semi-extreme couponer.  For real.  I had a coupon binder, an envelope system and would save between 55%-75% off (and a few times even more!) every time I went to the grocery store.  I'd take about an hour a week to plan and then like speed racer I would hit up CVS, Publix and Kroger in about another hour.  The system was like a well-oiled machine.   Then life changed.  We moved a few times and I could never get to be quite as efficient… or save quite as much.  I tried some other methods and never quite settled on one.  Now after being here, there and every where for a while we are finally a little settled (for now at least:)). And I need to decide how I want to do our grocery shopping to save the most money AND time.  I kind of think that is the key… there are lots of ways to save you just have to choose the one that is best for your family.

So here are the options I came up with… I would love to hear if you have any more, or if you do some combination of these!

The Semi-Extreme Couponer

Soooo… I would basically go back to doing what I did before.  Pick a couple of stores.  Spend an hour or so a week prepping.  When I prep I usually use Southern Savers to help.  Then an hour or so a week shopping.  This method requires weekly investment. Pros… think I could save a lot this way if I could get as good as before. Cons… takes the most time both prep and weekly shopping trips.  Also have to stay really organized.

The Discount Store Shopper (AKA Shop mostly at Aldi) 

People rave about Aldi… a mean seriously rave.  They even have a selection of organic options.  I just don't know about trying to get all or even most of my groceries there.  Maybe some of you can ring in.  I have shopped there once and their prices are already low… pretty bottom of the barrel.   Pros… I think that I could buy whatever I need each week, without much planning because their prices are always low. Cons… I am not sure about things like meat, eggs and milk which I am pretty selective about.  This method might only work if I pick more than one method.

The Bulk Shopper (AKA Sam's, Costco and the like)

We have done this on and off for the past 2-3 years… why?  For us, it was ease.  I could get a ton of food and only go grocery shopping two times a month.  It is a huge time saver… but in my opinion it is more about the connivence, on most items you do not save that much money. Pros... Huge time savings. Cons… Not as cost efficient… also have to be especially careful not to but the things you don't need!

What do you do?  What save the most time? What saves the most money?  Any thought… I would love advise!

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Been living in a small town for 7 months now… here is what I have learned…

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BD at this stage is so fun. Seriously the personality!  The talking- mom, dad, uh oh, hi and bye. The games- patti-cake, waving and peekaboo.  The movement- crawling, cruising, and trying to stand.  I can't stand how amazing it is sometimes!!!

three

I have not been a serious couponer in a while.  I decided to try again and saved just short of 40% plus almost $10 fuel savings...  Maybe I will get back into it!

four

Next weekend we are going to see our grandparents in Florida.  It will be so fun to see them :)! We are also going to Disney for one day!  Andrew and I got passes for our birthdays, and BD gets in for free!  It will be a totally different experience going with a baby, but we are up for it.  We are currently taking suggestions and recommendations.  

five

I keep looking at the calendar for the February and March and telling myself that I have to breath.  You know those months where there is something in your day planner for EVERY SINGLE DAY (or dots on your iPhone calendar:))  Praying that we can keep focus on the things that matter in the midst of being so busy!  

the power of patience...

We have this old window frame in our house that has always had our wedding pictures in it. Upon moving we decided to replace some of the pictures with pictures of/with BD. I went to an online photo site, and picked the pictures I wanted.  Now, 8x11 pictures don't come cheap, cart filled I realized my total was over $20. As much as I wanted to order them then, I knew those sites had sales regularly so I decided to wait. Low and behold a week later I got sent a coupon code for 50% off my cart and I got said pictures for a little over $10.

It is hard to have patience when it comes to buying things...but it pays off.

Think about a shirt at your favorite store, buy it when it first comes out you are paying full price. Wait a few weeks and it may be 25-75% off! Almost everything at the grocery store goes on sale... check the ads and buy things when they are on sale, not when you run out. Patience helps you in another way too. Say you see something and you think, "I had got to have it."  If you wait a while you are less likely to indulge the impulse buy.

So, on what things have you had patience and ended up saving $$$???

A word about meal planning...

When I talked about couponing before, I briefly mentioned that to save money you no longer make a list based on what you "need" to go to the grocery store.  Instead, you base what you buy, on what is on sale.

So what does this do to your meal planning? and What if you are making a certain recipe?

These are the first reactions I get when I talk about my grocery strategy.  But this grocery strategy really works for us and probably for most other people.  The way it works for me is I sit down on the weekend and take a look at the food we already have, along with what is on sale this week at the store.  Using those I come up with a schedule of what we will eat each night for the next week.  Lunch is based on leftovers, and other things that are stock piled or were on sale this week.  We even buy produce by what is in season.  There are certain things we buy every week like organic milk and lettuce.  This saves us money and is a fairly simple system.

Now I admittedly am not a future food network star, nor strive to be.  I don't long to cook elaborate recipes.  But I do find myself getting better at improvising as a cook.  If I want to make something, I figure out how to make it with what we have, or I am willing to wait until the ingredients go on sale.

Today I was able to make this curry grape chicken salad (my favorite:)) without getting anything from the store!

Give it a try... meal planning this way makes a difference in your budget and your family :)!

Couponing Lingo ...

When I first started couponing, I felt like the people, blogs, and websites around me were speaking a different language.  It took some time to learn this language... so here is a crash course!

o ***Store coupon- Coupons put out by the store. Can be used with a manufacturer coupon, but not a store coupon.

o ***Manufacturer’s coupon- Coupons put out by the manufacturer. Can be used with a store coupon, but not a manufacturer coupon.

o BOGO- buy one get one free (can use two coupons on these because there are two items J)

o Peelies- coupons that peel off items you have bought

o Blinkies- those you can take out of store displays

o Doubling- when stores give you double a coupons value up to a certain amount

o ***Stacking- Using a coupons with store deals. Also using a manufacturers’ coupon with a store coupon.

o Limits- When there is a deal sometimes there is a limit of how many of that deal you can get

o Purchase amount coupons- coupons distributed by a store that give you a certain dollar amount when you spend a certain amount

o Rain check- a slip that lets you by a product a store is out of after the sale dates are over

o ***Personal Buy Prices- Prices where you know the deal is good/great.

o ***Catalina- machine at most registers that prints out coupons, purchase amount coupons, and the Register Rewards at Walgreens and Extra Care Bucks at CVS.

***Key Lingo for success 

How couponing works...

A simple overview for beginners :)

How the process works!

1. 1. Start basing your shopping on in-store ads, not just the shopping list you “need” from week to week.  So look at the store adds at your favorite stores, the stores that are most convenient or stores you think you will save the most at, to form your list.  At first this is hard, but most sales go in cycles of 6-8 weeks.  You have to start committing to only buying most food items when they are on sale.
2.  Look for coupons that match the sales you have found.  Stack coupons with store deals for maximum savings!  And for even more savings put a store coupon together with a manufacturer coupon.  Then if you are lucky you can even put a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon for even more savings. I actually never clip coupons before I need them, I will talk about that when we get to organization
3.         Match up everything and make a list (I use the southern savers website to make this all easier for me).  The better your list the easier and quicker it will be at the store.
4.         Go shopping for only the items on your list!

Give it a try and see how much money you can save!!! :)

Is couponing worth it???

The Benefits of Couponing

o   Knowing you are being a good steward of what God has given you.

o   Saving money.

o   Ability to share more with others (whether with items you have bought or more money).

o   The excitement of knowing you did not pay more than necessary J.

Couponing in Your Life: Some things to Remember

o   Don’t get discourage, you won’t be an expert right away.

o   It might be good to start with one store or one deal to not get overwhelmed.

o   As you start remember any savings is good.  Decide where your priorities are (if it 

o   Your time is worth money too.

o   Remember how much storage you have (don’t buy more than you have room to store).

o   PLAN, PLAN, PLAN- good planning is key (list making, coupons, trip order), your time at home is just as important as going to the store.

o   Get organized, it will save you time later.

o   Check coupon policies.

o   Just try it, you will learn how as you go!

Calling all teachers (and anyone else who loves school supplies:))...

I LOVE office stores this time of year…

 the equivalent to black Friday in terms of school/office supplies.

You see, right before school starts office stores have killer sales.  While I can’t believe it is that time again… this makes me glad it is.

For example today I went to Office Depot.  There I have a Work Life Rewards Card, that gives me $$$ back based on what I spend and what I buy. 

So today I bought  

• 2 PaperPro Staplers
• 2 Mr. Scent Marker sets
• 2 100 count manila file folders
• 1 ream of Office Depot Printer Paper
• Total: $60.49
• Total after $10 off $50:  $50.49

That does not seem that great right?  But the key is I got 100% back on everything except the paper, which after mail in rebate I only paid $1 for.  So in short I may have spent $50, but I am getting back $60 (that’s right I basically made money to spend on my next trip).  But even better, I used my rewards from previous purchases to pay for this one… so really I barely spent anything at all, in order to get money back.

I also did this with Office Max.  Now, this store is not as convenient for me, so I made my purchase online knowing as long as I “spent” $50 I would have free shipping.  No extra shopping trips for me!

At Office Max I bought:

• 3 Packs of 12 Assorted Color Felt Tip Pens (These are the really great pens that the teachers on my team love!)
• 3 Packs of Yellow Highlighters
• Total: $61.05

Office Max has two programs, one for teachers, and one for anyone (I think the one for teachers is a little better, so if you can, sign up for that one!)  On this order everything was also 100% back.  I also used my previous maxperks to buy, so I am making more than I am spending… wahoo!

***Side note:  I went to Office Max through EBATES and also made 3% cash back on my order.

The moral of the story, you can get school supplies for free… so you need to get them when they are on sale… so you rarely have to pay full price!