Saving on Groceries, While Still Having a Life

You're not alone. I've watched the show, and while I kind of enjoy seeing those shoppers "stick it to the man" by carting off hundreds of dollars in free grocery, the efforts they go to seem unreasonable, at least for me. I am a busy mother of two, and with my family, work, and other responsibilities, I don't have forty hours a week to devote to clipping coupons and studying unpublished sales reports. In reality, I don't think most people have that kind of time on their hands.

Another question occurs to me: What the heck would I do with four hundred toothbrushes and a pallet of canned peaches?

So, if you're like me, you want to save a reasonable amount on your grocery bill, in exchange for an equally reasonable amount of effort. Over the years I've been married to the military and feeding our brood, I've honed a strategy that helps me shave between $35 and $60, on average, off my biweekly grocery shopping total. It's not astronomical money, but it gets one of us a full tank of gas, or pays for a nice meal out with my husband, so in my mind, it's worth it. I'm able to save this money without abandoning my responsibilities or becoming that weird lady pilfering coupon circulars out of recycle bins.

* Choose Your Favorite Two Stores

If you shop around a bit, you'll notice that some items are cheaper at one store than another. This is why I shop at two stores. For me, the two stores are usually Food Lion and Target, but that's just based on my geographical area and the prices here. I buy my food items at Food Lion, but most of my non food products (diapers, training pants, hair, health, and beauty products) from Target, because these items are noticeably cheaper there. Now, in your area, this may not be the case. Just compare prices around your neighborhood and see what you discover.

*Get Your Coupons and Store CIrculars

Get a sales flyer for each store you intend to shop at. Also, gather the coupons found in your local paper on Wednesdays and Sundays. If your store offers printable coupons, like Food Lion does at its MVP Savings Center, add those in, along with coupons that came with products you've already bought.

Take a quick look at what's on sale at each store, and match the coupons to the flyer when possible. Sometimes you won't find very many deals that match the coupons, and that's okay. You can still plan what you will cook for the week based on what's on sale at the stores you shop at. Be particularly aware of buy one get one free deals, as these can save you a lot, especially when combined with coupons.

Also, if the store has a loyalty card, get it and use it. You'd be surprised how much higher the prices are without it.

*Inventory Your Coupons

The easiest way to do this is to make a simple chart on a sheet of paper with two columns- product, and value. List your coupons this way, then slide them into an envelope to take to the store with you. This way, as you're shopping, you can see if you have a coupon for items that are on sale, but were not included in the sales fliers. You may think this is time consuming, but it is a lot less time consuming than trying to chase down information about unadvertised sales before you get to the store.

*Take Your Willpower to the Store

If you ask me, willpower is a lot more useful than a calculator, and it's one less thing to fiddle with. (I usually haul a clipboard, a crap load of reusable shopping bags, and sometimes a tiny human with me to the store as it is.) You know what your family needs, and what they don't. You know what will get eaten, and what will rot in its packaging before anyone touches it. Use that common sense when making your purchases, and you won't overspend. Don't let a sale tag sway your resolve. Be honest with yourself: do you really need four cases of soda? No, you don't, and your kidneys will thank you for leaving them at the store.

*Evaluate Your Purchases

When you get home with your bags and put things away, take an inventory of what you bought. Did you get what you needed, and a few things you wanted, without overspending? (Allow yourself some chocolate, or wine, or whatever it is you enjoy. You ought to get something for all the trouble you go to to feed you family.) Briefly evaluating your purchases now will help you on the next shopping trip.

See? You can save on your grocery bill, without becoming a coupon obsessed recluse who only goes out to shop. Shop with a clear head and a plan in mind, and you'll do just fine.