Some people can drop hundreds of dollars on clothes, beauty products, home goods, you name it! Me? My weakness is the grocery store. No, I don’t spend hundreds of unnecessary dollars at the grocery store, but I do love buying and testing new things, finding fresh produce, getting organic products… It all adds up. Add to that the deals I miss and the coupons I forget on my way out the door, and I ultimately end up throwing money away!
One thing I decided I need to pay more attention to in this new year is comparing prices, looking for deals, and clipping coupons. Since coming back from our Christmas travels I have been busy organizing my life. My notes from last semester are in order, the house is tidy, and I have begun to organize my stack of coupons that I’ve collected (but rarely used) over the past few months. You go to the store and with your receipt, you always get a coupon or two. I look at them and think “Great! I like this product. I’ll use this coupon!” But then the next time I go to the store, I forget about the coupon until I am already in the store.
To try to organize my coupons and, consequently (we would hope!) actually use them, I bought myself a little organizer.
Each division of the accordion folder is a different section of the grocery store: Dairy, Produce, Health/Beauty, Deli, etc. And in each division, I ordered my coupons by expiration date. This is how my mom used to do it (maybe she still does?)…and if it worked for her, it will work for me. I just have to remember my new little money-saving friend!
On the subject of coupons and saving money…. Has anyone tried the iphone app “Coupon Sherpa?” There is a long list of stores that you can select from, and it will tell you what deals that store is offering. It also tells you where the closest store is! Very cool! There’s also coupons.com. You simply select which coupons you want to print. Look at all of the coupons I got!
Dave thought it was pretty cool, but got really excited when he saw this:
Aside from finding good deals, it also helps to be a smart shopper in the store: knowing when and where to shop. We get a newsletter called “Bottomline Personal,” which you can also find on-line. It has a lot of little tidbits ranging from health to money management. One article in their January 15 issue talks about common grocery shopping mistakes. A couple really jumped out for me:
- Mistake: Shopping in the wrong department. The article mentions that certain items are more expensive depending on what department they are found in. Salsa brands, for example, are more expensive in the snack aisle than in the condiment aisle, while organic products are more expensive in the organic aisle that when they are interspersed with general products throughout the store. Cheese is more expensive in the deli section than in the dairy section, while the price of nuts can differ depending on whether they are found in the produce seaction or the baking aisle.
- Mistake: Assuming the largest size package is the best deal. You need to check the “per unit” price.
- Mistake: Assuming that the items placed at the end of the aisles are a great deal. Often there is one item at a sale price and another similar item that is not on sale that is located right beside the sale item.
- Mistake: Buying 10 of something you don’t really want because the store is offering 10 for $10 or not buying something you need because you think you need to buy 10 to get the deal. Unless it says so specifically, you can buy 1 for $1 or 5 for $5.
- Mistake: Assuming there is a one coupon per item policy. In most stores you can use a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon for the same item.
There are a few more helpful hints, but you get the idea. I, for one, need to be more careful about comparing prices and using coupons to get the best deal. That way, with the money saved, I don’t have to feel guilty for filling my cart with all of the fresh produce to make this beautiful salad!
I am on a real salad kick and tonight I really impressed myself! This salad includes: spinach, steamed broccoli slaw, cucumber, pepper, tomato, roasted eggplant, egg whites, tuna, and thawed frozen strawberries. With a beautifully roasted acorn squash half on the side.
Dave is home from his quickie business trip so I am off to spend some quality couch time with him. Sometime soon I hope to get him to write his own post about money matters. While talking about or thinking about money bores me to tears, it’s a hobby of his. Everything from making budgets to talking stocks and investments gets him really excited. We balance each other out quite nicely!
What do you do to save money?
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog…I loved reading your comment. I’m posting the ADA’s position on inulin tomorrow, so be sure to stop by for some info : )
I love your blog, and this post has inspired me to get it together with coupons to save on the foods I truly WANT. Like you, I can go a little nuts at the grocery store, so why not save some money?
I try to buy the things organic that I think matter most — like meat, and save on fruits and veggies that I wash with produce wash to “clean” up. Great post, looking forward to reading more!
Wow, this is the second post Im reading about an addiction to supermarkets. I am also a grocerholic. I spend most of my money on food!
My worst problem is that I STOCK up so much when there’s a sale. I spend so much money, thinking it’s “ok” since they are on sale and it’s an “investment”…the problem is I end up using the food much more liberally, thinking I’ve got a huge stock, and the money ends up being the same.
I’m addicted to both supermarkets and bargain shopping. I have the same little binder thing, but mine’s green!
My best tip is to use your coupons when that product is on sale. That way, you get even more savings and more often times than not, you’ll get it free!
This is MY kind of post! I’m so similar to you Shannon. I love coupons, of any kind, and I consider myself a pretty savvy shopper. Unlike Nick, I know when a coupon is a waste, and I won’t buy something JUST because I have a coupon for it. He’s learning….
Thanks for the application notice. I am going to check that out, for sure. I have a little bag in our kitchen with all of our coupons. I go through it every week and make sure nothing has expired! That’s the worst when you get to the cashier and find they have expired.
Have a great day, and thanks for all the wonderful tips!
Im with sophia…I stock up BIG time when things are on sale or if I see something I love, I buy two of them, then I have so much food around the house! coupons are a great idea, but I never save them, or end up losing them or forgetting to bring them to the store, I should get better at that!
also lots of coupons say get one free, but you have to get like 4 of the item before the 5th is free!
your salad looks great!!
I love the coupon ideas! PS Sweet quinoa is tasty!
Oh I need these tips! I never look at prices when I go shopping, I buy what I need and don’t really care. But I DO use coupons =)
I don’t do anything to save money and it’s a big problem.
Ok, well I do make my lunch and bring it to work 85% of the time. But other than that, nada. I did attempt to talk about saving money with Jared the other night. I made a 2010 plan and mentioned all the things we want to do and need to save for.
Oh so funny! You know why? I have an almost identical coupon organizer!! haha! 😉 I even made one for my mom and all my friends are doing ’em now!! Mine has tabs labeled: groceries, cars, home, dogs, entertainment, gift cards, etc. I should take a picture to show you – maybe I’ll put it on my blog. It’s even blue like your’s!!
Have a good evening!!
Oh! I didn’t even think of that “shopping in the wrong department” tip. That is a good one! I need to organize my coupons by when they expire. I don’t think I have any extra tips after my post on the same topic… some people brought up some really good stuff there though!
i adore grocery stores and coupons!! thanks for the great tips!
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