Thursday, February 12, 2009
Grocery Nerd
So I'm on the "needing to save money at the grocery store train", like everyone else these days. I'm still not sure what system I'm going to use as far as coupons and the like, but I will share a few tips that have worked so far. First, I've been trying to establish which store really has the lowest prices. Sometimes the stores that seem to have a lot of deals actually mark up their products then offer them in some buy one get one deal and it's not really a deal. SO I save my receipts and compare the items that I buy regularly to see what the lowest price is. Second, I started taking a calculator - like a big plastic calculator - and as I'm putting items in my cart I add the price to my running total on my calculator. I felt a little nerdy at first, but honestly I don't even care. I am just blown away at how fast the money adds up as I am adding things to my cart. It's amazing what seeing you total add up can do for decision making. When you know you've already spent or are close to your budget you really think about each purchase. The calculator has been the biggest help so far but if any of you out there have other great money saving ideas please share them with me. Thanks in advance!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
Hey Lisa! I am a nerd too and take my calculator to the store all the time! I keep it in my purse in fact. The other night I was at a RS activity, and we were trying to add something up, so I whipped out my calculator, and everyone was very "impressed" that I had a calculator with me. Ha ha!
go to slickdeals.net, forums,drugstore and grocery deals, then look for safeway threads. read in the "wiki" and look at the last few pages. it takes a little work, but people will post deals there that you normally wouldn't find in the ad. normally safeway is way too much if you don't get their deals. i sure miss winco's prices on non-perishables.
Hooray for nerds! I love taking a calculator with me to the store. You're right about seeing the total add up, suddenly adding a $4 package of Oreos doesn't seem like such a minor thing anymore ;)
I found making a weekly menu and only purchasing things I am actually using that week makes a HUGE difference. Also as I make the menu I clump meals involving the same ingredients together, such as: spaghetti with meat sauce (saving half the meat) and then making tacos the next night (and I only have to simmer the meat in the sauce for time savers too!). We have a regular rotation of about 20 meals a month...it takes a few minutes preparation time but it is the only way we've been able to afford food out here!
PS. When we drove home at Christmas I sent Nate back in the car with a 5lb bag of flour. In Utah for the whole bag it was $3. A 1lb bag here is $6.75...
I swear you need to get coupons from ebay. You can even share them with friends so you don't waste the ones you don't use. I also use pinchingyourpennies.com or I think grocery smarts is the same thing. It tells you what store has the best prices on things.
I should totally do the calculator thing! I'm always a little surprised when everything in my cart is rung up and I discover the total. I've done the "twenty meals a month" regimen too, and it actually works if you stick to your meal plan.
Good luck!
This is the post for me. Please share all you can because I need so much help in this area.
Hi Lisa! I found your blog through Kim's and your daughter is sooo adorable! Congratulations! It feels like it's been ages but you look as beautiful as ever. So I've been recently doing the coupon thing and so glad you posted this because I've been frustrated not knowing how I can afford the time going from store to store getting the best deals from each. BUT, there's a site called frugalcouponmom.com that provides coupons for walmart's weekly deals and some other great ideas. You print them out and take them, saves you a few bucks. But I do need some major overhauling on our food budget. Ha! Don't we all apparently...Hope you're doing well!
Post a Comment