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Rock Bottom Pricing: Defined and Discovered

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Last week, while defining and explaining how to stockpile, I mentioned the term “rock bottom prices.” For example: “My rock bottom price for marinades is $.75 or less.” This means that, for me, $.75 is a low price for a marinade. If I can purchase a marinade for $.75 or less, I will stock up on marinades since I probably won’t find a lower price.

DISCOVERING MY ROCK BOTTOM PRICE

You can make this process as simple or as complex as you need to save money. I love to save money, but I also love to spend time with my family. If my budget has some wiggle room, then I might purchase a marinade on sale for $1 which is a good deal. But when my budget is tight, I will spend more time working the sales and seeking the rock bottom price for some of the extras, like a marinade. Overall, I have a simple  organizational system, but you can save more by using your time gathering the information.

Simple Version: Shop the sales at 2-3 grocery stores in your area. Then supplement those purchases with items bought at the least expensive grocery store in your area. You can then compare what you pay at all the stores to find the best savings.

The least expensive grocery store in my area is Aldi. I use their cost per unit as my rock bottom price. I keep my receipts and refer to them when I need to compare deals. For example, the price of sugar at my Aldi is $2.39 for a 5 lb. bag. While at Sam’s Club today, I priced the 10 lb. bag of sugar at $5.95. After a little math, purchasing 2 – 5 lb. bags at Aldi for $4.78 is less expensive than the same weight at Sam’s Club. Having done the comparison, I chose the better deal. I picked up 2 sugars from Aldi while I was there shopping.

Maximum Savings Version: Use a pricing book, which is a journal or notebook that lists the prices you pay for items. When a sale comes along and you snag a great deal, update the pricing list with the lowest price you paid for that item. If you have the time and energy to keep up a pricing book, then do so. This system is more complex and more time-consuming, but you will see deeper savings to your budget.

Whether you choose a simple system or the maximum savings version, you need to have a price list from which to work. Next week, I will use the simple version and walk you through creating your rock bottom price list.

Do you use an organizational system, like a pricing list, to help you compare, have a general idea within $1 or $2, or really don’t care as long as the item is on sale? I’d love to hear how you save money and time as you gather items to feed your family.

Stockpile: Pasta and Vegetables

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The term “stockpile” refers to items that have been purchased at rock bottom prices prior to needing the item. Some people use their garage, pantry, and linen closets to house their stockpile. I have a few places where my stockpile resides: pantry, outside freezer, garage, under the sink in the Master bathroom, and the Master bathroom linen closet. I keep food in the pantry, outside freezer, and the garage; and I place the toiletry and personal items under the sinks and in the linen closet of my Master bathroom. When I arrive home from shopping, I have a designated place to put my free to really inexpensive items that we will be using in the future.

When I find a great deal on items we need, I buy ahead and place those items in one of the locations of my stockpile. For example, on Monday I shopped at Publix. (These sales prices ended on Tuesday and are no longer available. This breakdown is an example of using the sales to add to my stockpile.)

Here’s what I purchased:

4 boxes of Mueller’s Pasta – on sale buy one get one free or $.69 each. I used 2 coupons for $1 off 2 boxes which made them $.19 each. I consider $.25 or less a rock bottom price for pasta.

1 bottle Ken’s Steak House marinade (16 oz.) – on sale buy one get one free or $1.49 each. I used $1 off coupon from newspaper which brought the cost to $.49. With grilling season around the corner, this teriyaki marinade on chicken is a family favorite. My rock bottom price for marinades is $.75 or less. If I had had more coupons, I would have purchase more.

6 bags of Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers – on sale buy one get one free or $1.19 each. I used 2 coupons for $1 off 2 bags which made 4 of the bags $.69 each. I also used 2 coupons for $.50 off one bag. Since this coupon doubled, I was able to get 2 bags for $.19 each. My goal is to purchase frozen vegetables for less than $1 per bag. This sale pairs with the coupons reached my rock bottom price.

2 containers of Friendship Sour Cream – on sale for $1.25 each. I used 2 coupons for $.55 each off which doubled. My final cost was $.70 each. My rock bottom price is $.99 for sour cream.

My total for these 13 items came to $5.57. I saved $20.69 with sales and coupons which was a savings of 79%. After celebrating my savings, I placed the pasta and marinade in my pantry, the sour cream in the refrigerator, and the frozen vegetables in my outside freezer. As I plan my menu, I now have an assortment of pasta and vegetables from which to choose as I feed my family.

Unlike some, my stockpile will not feed my family for 2 years. Since the sales typically run in a 6-week rotation, I can purchase at rock bottom prices enough items to last me the next 6 weeks. I will usually purchase only as many items for which I have coupons to get that rock bottom price. Since I am willing to wait for a sale, I will be patient and not make my broccoli and cheese soup until the half and half and cheese goes on sale.

You can stockpile even if you don’t have a lot of space. Just purchasing one extra item at a rock bottom price will be a savings to your grocery budget. Start small as you find a system that works for you!

Next week, I will explain more about rock bottom prices, and how I determine that price for my family.

Buying Ahead

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Were you able to snag any grocery deals this week? I was able to get some items we will be using at great prices! This week I shopped the sales at Publix after creating my grocery list from the sales ad listed by Jenny Martin at http://www.southernsavers.com/.

TIP:     If you are looking for coupons to use with items that are on sale and you do not live in the southeast, then check for your local sales at http://www.becentsable.net/store-deals/. You can click on your state and find links to blogs that post sales and coupon match-up deals in your area.

On Tuesday, I made a run to Publix. I purchased:

  • 6 Publix 2 liters (buy one get one free $.89 or $.44 each).
  • 4 boxes of Ronzoni pasta (buy one get one free $1.39 or $.69 each and used 2 coupons for $1.00 off 2 boxes. With the coupon, each box was $.19.)
  • 2 Log Cabin Syrups (buy one get one free $3.89 or $1.94 each and used 2 coupons for $1.00 off. With the coupon, each bottle was $.94.)
  • 1 Argo Pure Corn Starch (on sale for $1.39 and used $.30 coupon. After the coupon doubled, the container was $.79.)
  • 1 Argo Baking Powder (on sale for $1.39 and used $.30 coupon. After the coupon doubled, the container was $.79.)
  • 2 Smart Balance half gallons of milk (on sale $2.50 and used 2 coupons for $2 off. With coupons, each carton was $.50.)
  • 4 bags of Pepperidge Farm Goldfish snack (on sale $1 and used 4 coupons for $.35 off. After coupons doubled, each bag was $.30.)

My subtotal was $37.94. After subtracting coupons and sales of $28.82, I paid . . . $9.12 which is a savings of 76%.

Buying Ahead at Publix on April 5, 2011

Though right now I do not need all the 2 liters, pasta, syrups, corn starch or baking powder, I will be using these within the next 6 weeks. To help save money, I purchase these items when they are on sale. When my family finishes the current bottle of syrup, I will have another bottle in my pantry for a replacement. Had I not purchased the bottle on sale, I may have ended up paying full price if I needed syrup and could not find it on sale. I might also have needed to run out to the store which would unnecessarily use my time and energy.

The reason I buy items my family uses ahead of time is to save money, time and energy. Anytime I can combine sales with coupon savings, I am maximizing those savings. I can then add these items to my pantry. When I plan my menus, I will have some staples to get me started.

Do you use the BUY AHEAD principle where you purchase items, when they are on sale, before you need them? What deals have you been able to snag by buying ahead?

Grocery Store Customer Surveys

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Last week I shared how I review each receipt after purchase to be sure I was charged correctly for the items I purchased. Another reason I review my receipts is to locate points, surveys, and sweepstakes.

Periodically on the bottom of my grocery store receipt, I will find a survey opportunity for a chance to win $250 in free groceries. Each time I receive an invitation for a survey, I act upon it. The survey usually takes about 5 minutes to complete.

Upon completing last week’s survey at Bi-Lo, I found a coupon for a free bag of Southern Home pretzel twists. (Southern Home is the Bi-Lo brand.) After printing my coupon, I placed it in my Bi-Lo envelope. When I shopped the sales this week at Bi-Lo, I cashed in my coupon for the free bag of pretzels valued at $1.25.

You may or may or not receive a coupon for your participation, but giving the store feedback will help improve your shopping experience. I’m willing to spend a little time to help the store and am thankful for the coupon which helped me save another $1.25.

Do you take advantage of the survey opportunities, or do you pass them by? I hope to report to you one day that I won free groceries. In the meantime, I will take the surveys and look closely for extra coupons.

Checking the Receipt

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After shopping, do you review your receipt? I try to review it immediately after my purchase, but sometimes, I wait until I’m home to check the receipt.

Over the weekend, I went to Bi-Lo to stock up on the chicken deal, eggs, sausage, and bread. The Arnold bread was on sale for $1.99 per loaf, and I printed 2 coupons for $.55 off each. Since Bi-Lo doubles coupons up to $.60, the coupon would double to $1.10 off. The price of each loaf is $.89. Spending less than $1 on bread is definitely a rock bottom price for me.

When I went to Bi-Lo on Saturday morning with my oldest daughter, we got her a cookie, shopped, and checked out. I did not review my receipt until Saturday evening. I then noticed that only one of my $.55 coupons for the Arnold bread was scanned.

WHAT DID TRACY DO?

A. Ignore it.

B. Return the bread.

C. Ask for the $1.10 back.

Can you guess what I did? Yes, I’m a penny pincher, and I refuse to pay more than I need to pay. If you guessed that I ignored it, then spend some more time getting to know me. I will not ignore saving money in any amount.

On Monday morning while I was running errands near Bi-Lo, I stopped by the customer service desk. I had the loaf of Arnold bread in a bag with my Bi-Lo envelope housing my receipt and my grocery list. When the representative assisted me, I explained that I had shopped on Saturday morning. I had purchased a number of items including two loaves of bread and had handed the cashier my coupons with two $.55 off coupons for the bread. I showed the representative my grocery list with the coupons listed, and the receipt showing only one coupon had been scanned. The representative offered to reimburse me the $1.10 for the missed scanned coupon. I agreed to her resolution.

Would you have returned to the store? If so, would you have addressed the issue with customer service? I know some people think, “It’s only $1.” You’re right! It is $1, but it is $1 more that can be used wisely to help someone else.