Tips On Saving Money Grocery Shopping
The government says that the average family spends approximately 10% of their income on groceries and this is one area of most people's budgets that isn't a fixed cost. What most people don't realize is that the key to saving money on groceries with coupons is not by simply clipping them, but by "stacking" them.
Manufacturer's know that most people use the coupons they find in their Sunday paper right away. Due to this, rarely will you see a product on sale the same week that a coupon for that particular product is issued. By waiting a few weeks after the coupon has been issued, the product will likely go on sale giving you a sale discount in addition to a coupon discount. Getting a price reduction of some type in addition to the regular coupon is commonly referred to as "stacking" coupons.
To make the most of your coupons, therefore, you need to act differently than most people:
Shopping coupon experts say that if you use the above techniques, you'll save more money than shopping at warehouse clubs or discount super centers. If you aren't willing to organize and shop sale items that you also have coupons for, however, and would rather simply shop for the items you want each week, warehouse clubs and discount super centers tend to be less expensive. It depends on how your want to shop.
Comments
The idea of stacking coupons with sales for the biggest savings is important, but I've found the opposite of what the tip says - it's actually quite often that there's a coupon in the Sunday paper that's on sale that week. My supermarket (Ralphs in California, Kroger in other parts of the country) seems to use many of these items as loss leaders to get people into the store, and there is often a store coupon in the Sunday paper to use on top of the manufacturer coupon and sale - this can lead to a 19-cent box of Ziploc bags or 50-cent tube of toothpaste. All that said, if the item I clipped a coupon for isn't on sale, I'll wait unless I need it right away. Also, don't forget that generic items can be cheaper than a name-brand item on sale even with a coupon.
I get my toothpaste free all the time with Walgreens rebates.
I've just got back to using coupons and find it's about 50/50 here. Sometimes the sale corresponds with the coupon & other times we wait til later. More often, the generic or store brand is cheaper anyway. Pays to shop when alert....... Stores are counting on people not thinking, just buying.
Try thegrocerygame.com. This lady has made a science out of it. Her database prints a weekly shopping list at major grocery stores in most states. You just match the sunday coupons with the items on her list for usual savings of 50-80%. Some coupons you won't use for months. Takes fifteen minutes a week. A free trial costs a buck for four weeks and then ten bucks every 8 weeks if you stay which is likely. If you're willing to vary your menu choices a bit you can clean up. Couple this with the free Walgreens list she offers every week and you won't be disappointed. I have no stake in the business.
Good tips. Coupons can really pay off. I've been doing it for 25 years. It began as a necessity, but now is a nice bonus (dontmesswithtaxes.type...), both for my grocery list and my checking account!
One of the most difficult types of coupon to find are ones for organic or natural food. Here's a list of organic and natural food companies that offer coupons at their websites - it's great resource for those that mainly buy these types of food and haven't been able to locate coupons for them.
Jeffrey - thank you for that link! I love shopping organically, but hate that it doubles my food bill!
Second with Nanostream on The Grocery Game - my wife and I just started on it, and we're pretty satisfied so far. Mind you, we haven't gotten to the "$290 of groceries for $2!" level because you have to build up a store of coupons and then redeem them all at once at the best time for that product. So start clipping, use a database like this one, and have a little patience.
Hey just want to mention...they normally aren't grocery items, but at Walgreens watch the weekly sale ads with the monthly rebate brochures. Often there are more free things or not free but great priced items every month that are only good deals for one week. For example, you can get 4 cases of Pepsi products or coke products on rebate for $1.25 or less per case if the soda is on sale with a rebate. Ihave gotten Pepsi products free in the past, only paid for tax & postage. Compare your sale ads to your rebate book if you do the rebates.
I try to eat a organic diet, and because of health issues I have to buy a lot of wheat free products-
I always use these organic coupons, Organic Food Coupons & Printable ECoupons you may want to visit the site and see what printable organic e-coupons they have- they change every two months. Also they have a coupon booklet that is mailed out out every 3 months if you sign up for it- and they have expiration dates that don't creep up too fast. Sometimes I see the coupon booklets in my local health food store. Most of the foods that I like to eat are usually pretty expensive- with these coupons and in store sales I have save a lot of money. I am also looking forward to trying the grocery game! Thank you for the great tips!
Coupons can save you a lot money. I like to shop through CouponAlbum site for grocery products. This site is a great source for hot coupons and discounts.
it is a famous and best site in the world
so all can make money of free so join wuth us have a nice site