It's my new hobby. Scratch that. It's my new habit!
If you really want to get me all riled up just ask me how to save money at the grocery store. (oh my, when did I get old?!?!?!) No, really. I love it. I call my mom every time I leave the store and tell her how much I have saved. Right now, she is the only one who gets my joy! Let me share with you what I have been doing the last 3 months or so.
Before I take you step by step I have a few tid bits to share.
1. It takes a little time. Not only the actual retrieving of the coupons but also the accumulation of coupons. When I started I was saving about $5 a shopping trip. I went to the store today and saved $38. (both times I spent about $50)
2. You will need to "invest" in a few items. I have a coupon holder that I keep in my purse so that I have the coupons on me at ALL times. I also buy about 2 Sunday papers a month. My total investment a month is $3 but I save (a modest estimation) $150 a month. We spend $200 a month on groceries. (that is for about 25 dinners, snacks, 20 lunches, most cleaning and personal hygiene products)
Now are you ready? Here is what I do:
Step 1: Clip the coupons.
There are 4 major coupon inserts in your newspaper. Red Plum (RP), Smart Source (SS), General Mills (GM) Proctor and Gamble (P&G). They don't come every weekend so I sometimes buy the paper when there are only 2 inserts and ALWAYS buy the paper when there are at least 3. How do you know when that is? Here is a handy link for the 2010 Insert Schedule. I have also signed up on some coupon websites. They are free of charge and have pretty darn decent coupons. Not to mention that P&G mails samples! God love samples! I use Coupon.com, pgeverydaysolutions.com, and sometimes couponbug.com. Out of pure laziness, I only clip coupons online about 2X a month. I don't clip coupons for products I DON'T BUY!
I almost exclusively shop at Kroger. The reason for this is because of the Kroger Plus Card. I know what you are thinking! "That just gives them the excuse to hike up the price and I can get it cheaper at Walmart." Well you are right! You are right that is, if you are the average shopper. If you use the program to it's full extent than the savings easily beat Walmart's prices (not to mention that Walmart gets a ton of your money because it is a Super Store). I have logged my Plus card in at Kroger.com. This allows me to "electronically" put coupons on my Plus Card. That's right. All I do is buy the product and the coupon is used when I swipe my card. Handy. This is a fairly new concept so there aren't a ton of coupons on there but more are added every week. There are also coupons that you are able to print off from the site.
Step 2: Look at the AD
Every Wednesday the grocery stores come out with their weekly sales ads. This is where Kroger.com once again comes in very handy. I electronically look at the ad. It allows me to "circle" the items I want and puts them on a list for me. I know it sounds like I've spent a ton of time on grocery shopping already but it only takes me about 15 minutes to shop once I am in the store. Here is the BIGGEST TRICK TO SAVING MONEY! I make my weekly menu off of the weekly ad. This ensures I get the most savings. I then match up my coupons with the items in the ad. This is where you need patience. It will take you a few weeks or a couple of months to collect enough coupons to completely make your list with items already reduced AND use the coupons. Patience, please! It's worth it. Here is how it works.
I buy the perishable necessities like normal. (Milk, plain bread, eggs)
I ONLY buy "fun stuff" if it is drastically reduced and then I stock up! Anything that I don't NEED right away I stock up when it is greatly reduced AND I have a coupon! (I only buy Dr. Pepper if it is 4 for $12)
I try and buy our meals for the week if they are in the ad AND I have a coupon. (Bertolli's sauce was on sale and I had a coupon for $1.00 off)
Step 3: At the Store
Be on the look out! The store likes to throw in a few little "extras"! For example: I NEEDED bathroom cleaner. I took out the three coupons I had for different cleaners. I checked out each one to see which was cheaper to begin with AND which one had the MOST coupon savings. I had a $1.00 off Scrubbing Bubbles "All Natural" cleaner. Lo and behold the bottle ALSO had a $1.00 off coupon. I got a better look at the price tag and it said that if I buy 2 or more of the "All Natural" cleaner line then I will get a coupon for $2.00 my next grocery purchase at Kroger! BONUS! I bought the Scrubbing Bubbles and Windex for $5 after using both $1.00 off coupons. (AND THIS IS WHERE MY ORIGINAL POST WAS DELETED SO I SHALL TRY AND START OVER) Secret savings like that are all over the store! Remember though that it doesn't mean you need the item!
The best part of the trip is checking out! I hand over my Kroger Plus card and ALL of my coupons. Once you start using coupons the more coupons come out of the machine at the cash register. On average I get a $3 off of my next grocery purchase (that's just off the top! It's not with any purchase of a certain product). Even more exciting, I get my own personal coupon book from Kroger a little more than once a quarter. The coupons are for items that I buy often and it is usually for more savings than I can get out of normal coupon clipping. Off of the top of my head the most exciting coupons have been ( remember I have only been doing this for 5 months) $2 off $10 or more meat purchase, Free Ranch dressing, Free Ben and Jerry's, Free Jello Pudding, $5 off $20 or more meat purchase, 2.50 off Bertolli's Frozen Entree, $3 off next grocery purchase and so on and so forth.
That's IT! Really, It's not hard. This was my grocery receipt from today. Remember I have done this for 5 months.
Garlic Bread-half for dinner tonight and half for a later meal in the week#*
Bertolli Frozen Entree-dinner later#*
Tyson Chicken Fries-Carl's Lunch#*
Mozzarella Bites-Snacks*#
Morningstar Crumbles-my ground "meat" for tacos #*
2 Turkey Sausages-for dinner AND for Covered Dish on Sunday#
Cherry Turnovers-2 for dessert tonight, 2 for another night #*
Dole Salad-something green #
6 Yoplait yogurts-snacks for me*#
3 Artichokes-dinner for me #
2 Hass Avocados- for tacos (TRICKY, TRICKY Kroger had an advertised special for other avocados 10 for $10, these were .69 a piece...watch out for that stuff!)
Milk-for Carl
Scrubbing Bubbles stamps-NEED*
Windex-Need soon. #*
Scrubbing Bubbles-NEED #*
2 Black Eyed Peas-for Covered Dish recipe#
Bertolli's Sauce-dinner for tonight*#
Vinegar-Covered Dish#
Oil of Olay Body Wash-Need#*
Venus Razors-Need*#
Pasta-Dinner and in pantry #
As you can see I only bought one item that didn't have ANY savings.
TOTAL:54.69
COUPON SAVINGS:19.90
BONUS: .40
KROGER PLUS SAVINGS: 16.40
TOTAL SAVINGS: 36.70
PS Be on the look out for savings at the ends of all your receipts. I try and enter in most "enter and wins" and I have had 10 free Route 44 drinks thanks to my sonic receipts. I just call and answer a few questions and they give me a code for a free drink!
Once you have the habit down you won't believe how much money you have been throwing away!
