I like to post, usually on my Facebook page, how much I save when I go grocery shopping. On average, I’ve been saving between $50 and $60 dollars a week on groceries and spending no more than $45. That includes meat, toiletries, laundry detergent, etc. For a family of four, that’s pretty darn good!
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So what exactly do I do?
Every Sunday I start my day by heading to my local dollar store to pick up 2 papers (sometimes 3). Then I head to my parents house and pick up their coupon inserts. After I am armed with all those coupons, I begin cutting them out. Sometimes I am able to get my husband to help…but not too often. I have a HUGE binder that I have broken down into the following categories:
- Produce
- Dairy
- Cereal/Bread
- Snacks
- Rice/Pasta
- Canned Goods
- Condiments/Spices
- Baking
- Meat Department
- Frozen Foods
- Pet Items
- Cleaning
- Paper Goods
- Shaving
- Deoderant
- Shampoo
- Soap
- Toothbrushes/Toothpaste
- Lotion
- Make-up
- Contacts, Meds, First Aid
- Drinks
- Catalina Coupons
- Target
I know that seems like A LOT of categories, but when I had less categories…it made it very difficult to find my coupons. At the front of my binder I have a pencil case with a pen and scissors.
Now to find the deals. I would love to say that I do it all on my own using the store ads, etc…but I don’t.t. Instead I use an awesome site, Bargains to Bounty! Once you are on the site you can pick the store you need to find your deals and begin compiling your list.
I open up an Excel spreadsheet and keep track of my list that way. My columns across the top are:
- Item
- Quantity
- Regular Price
- Coupon Amount
- Total Price
When I’m finished, I print my spreadsheet out and head to the store. By having the spreadsheet, not only can I estimate exactly what my total cost will be at the store, but I can also keep track of whether or not I am getting the deals I am supposed to be getting!
For me, saving money means we can do other things with the kids. Like take them to Lego Land this summer. I know so many people that spend SOOOOO much money on groceries when they really don’t have to. Sure it takes a little work, but it’s worth it in the end. I’ll probably never end up like those people on TLC’s Extreme Couponing, but that’s OK! I have no idea why anyone would want 100 yogurt cups anyway. It’s not like you can eat that much yogurt before it goes bad!
Leave me a comment and tell me what coupon sites you use…I would love to check them out!
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