Making the most of an exceptionally good deal
I don't know, but I'm beginning to think Tammy might have won the prize for doing the best on the Kroger cheese sale. Can any of you top that? I'm impressed.
For those of you who think coupon-shopping/bargain-shopping is not for you, maybe you'll think again! Tammy's shopping is just a small example of how it works. Although this was an exceptionally good deal on cheese, most every week at one store I shop at or another (I rotate between 4-5 different stores which are all within 10 minutes of our home, depending upon which stores have the best sales which weeks!), there is some exceptionally good deal on something or other which we use a lot of. By stocking up quite a lot on those exceptionally good deals, within time, you will rarely pay full price for anything. And most of the time, you'll be paying pennies on the dollar.
For instance, this week, we spent $20 out of pocket on groceries. Not only did we buy enough food for the whole week for our family, we got enough for extra baking I'm doing for a tea party, for our church's Winter Festival, for a few events we're hosting at our home, and so on. In addition, we bought some items which were free (like 2 boxes of $9.99 hair coloring from CVS and Walgreens) which went directly into our garage sale box, and then more items which were "stock up on exceptionally good deal" items - like cream cheese, mandarin oranges, and sliced pineapple.
By first having a budget (I think this is vitally important otherwise you can go crazy on sales which are actually not that good and end up spending more money in the long run than you would have otherwise), by taking a small amount of time to check the sales against my coupons, by having a pretty well-stocked cupboard ahead of time (though it has dwindled quite a bit since my morning sickness break from coupon-shopping), and by planning our menu around what we already had on hand, we are able to save hundreds of dollars every month on groceries. Yes, it takes a little extra time, and a bit of practice, but we have found it to be so worth it!
For those of you who think coupon-shopping/bargain-shopping is not for you, maybe you'll think again! Tammy's shopping is just a small example of how it works. Although this was an exceptionally good deal on cheese, most every week at one store I shop at or another (I rotate between 4-5 different stores which are all within 10 minutes of our home, depending upon which stores have the best sales which weeks!), there is some exceptionally good deal on something or other which we use a lot of. By stocking up quite a lot on those exceptionally good deals, within time, you will rarely pay full price for anything. And most of the time, you'll be paying pennies on the dollar.
For instance, this week, we spent $20 out of pocket on groceries. Not only did we buy enough food for the whole week for our family, we got enough for extra baking I'm doing for a tea party, for our church's Winter Festival, for a few events we're hosting at our home, and so on. In addition, we bought some items which were free (like 2 boxes of $9.99 hair coloring from CVS and Walgreens) which went directly into our garage sale box, and then more items which were "stock up on exceptionally good deal" items - like cream cheese, mandarin oranges, and sliced pineapple.
By first having a budget (I think this is vitally important otherwise you can go crazy on sales which are actually not that good and end up spending more money in the long run than you would have otherwise), by taking a small amount of time to check the sales against my coupons, by having a pretty well-stocked cupboard ahead of time (though it has dwindled quite a bit since my morning sickness break from coupon-shopping), and by planning our menu around what we already had on hand, we are able to save hundreds of dollars every month on groceries. Yes, it takes a little extra time, and a bit of practice, but we have found it to be so worth it!
posted by Crystal Paine at 8:05 AM
8 Comments:
I had taken a break from my good couponing and sale shopping habits a while back and boy did our grocery bill increase. We were within the "budget", but our budgeted amount really didn't need to be that high. Looking back, I say to myself, "What was I thinking?"
All that to say, I completely agree with what you're saying. My husband laughs when I stock up on certain things, but he loves the end result.
*Sigh* Yeah, Tammy's post made me wish there was a Kroger nearby! I'm refusing to shop at Pick N Save now, so all I have is Walmart and Sentry....*sigh*
I love cheese too....
Crystal, I just left this link for the readers at Tammy's blog and wanted to send it to you as well. I recently found the following website: www.savvyshopperdeals.com. It it a great website for your readers who may live in the Utah area, but I have benefited from it because it lists sales/coupon info for Walgreen's, Target and Kmart stores which we have in our area as well.
I also wanted to ask you about the free items you said went straight to your garage sale box. I never thought about this before. Do you have a lot of success with these free items at a garage sale?
Anonymous: Yes, I have very good success selling coupon items at garage sales - provided they are new in the box, etc. (People aren't usually going to buy something which looks used if it is something like hair care products or personal hygiene products!). You have to check your local laws, though, as far as holding yard sales. I always price my stuff really cheap since I usually have gotten it free or close to free and I'd like to pass on the good deal to someone who doesn't have a lot of money.
Crystal... you are so right on planning your meals around your pantry supplies -- that too has saved us tons of money! As well---it is nice to have a stocked pantry during times of morning sickness or having a newborn.
I also took advantage of the great $7 rebate deals -- I super sized it to fit our size family and came out really good!!!
I'm curious as to why Andrea refuses to go to Pick 'n Save. Something about them I'm not aware of?
Just wondering, as that is where I usually shop (my husband doesn't like me doing all our shopping at Walmart).
Hey Laura -
In answer to your question about the great ol' Pick...
Ours, up until recently, was owned by a family in the area. Pricing was good, customer service was excellent, and I could trust the quality. Now, since Roundy's took over? Items are overpriced, the new staff is rude and incompetent, and the quality has dropped since the takeover. I'm not happy with the change at all. For example...the jar of Red Star Yeast I use is normally 3.59 or thereabouts. It is now priced at Pick n Save at 6.70! I thought it was a pricing mistake, but I was assured, nope, it is the right price Ma'am!
I'm just fed up with them and their icky attitudes. And with produce that's half rotten in the cases.
And the sad thing is? I live one block away from the Pick in Waterford. I'd rather drive 10 minutes to Burlington to Sentry and Walmart to get good pricing and qualtiy.
Andrea!!! I live in Waterford, too!!! What a small world. =) I'm a block from the library and Uncle Harry's. I have noticed the prices in Pick go up too since taken over by corporate and a couple of times, I just about flipped.
I am still in shock that you live in the same little town as me. =) We will have to meet up!
Post a Comment
<< Home