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You are here: Home / Archives for grocery shopping

Start Saving from Scratch – Part 3 of 6

November 15, 2012 by Tracy

Start Saving from Scratch

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Hopefully, you are gaining momentum in the kitchen. In start saving from scratch, I feel like I can make an informed decision because I know what I have in my house and what I need to feed my family.

In the process of saving money while feeding my family, I have organized my food supply and created a menu. Rather than guessing, I know what is in my food supply and on the menu. Now, I continue saving by compiling a grocery list.

Part 3: Compiling a Grocery List

Preparing the Grocery List

My grocery list comes together from two sources: products needed and products on sale.

Identify Products Needed

To identify the products needed, I consult the pad of paper on the side of my refrigerator. Throughout the week as we open the last jar of ketchup or notice we are running low on flour, we add that item to the list. Also, any items needed to complete a meal are added to this list.

With a quick look over the pantry, freezer, and refrigerator, I can add any items that are low in supply. Usually milk and bread make it on the list from browsing my supply.

Identify Products on Sale

To see the deep savings, I shop the buy one, get one free and sale items at the grocery store. To save time, I consult blogs that specialize in food savings. My favorite grocery store match-ups are found at Southern Savers where I just click the box next to my selected item. At the end of that store’s sales, I can create my grocery list with those items selected.

Composing the Grocery List

With the products identified, I can then print the coupons from the links provided and collect the remaining coupons from my binders. Knowing how many items I can purchase and need, I add those numbers to my grocery list.

With the grocery list complete, I place it with the coupons into that store’s envelope. I then repeat this process with each store.

Any item remaining on the pad that was not on sale for the week at either Publix or Bi-lo, I will purchase at Aldi. In my area, Aldi is the least expensive solution for feeding my family.

At the conclusion of this process, I end up with a maximum of 3 grocery lists: Publix, Bi-Lo, and Aldi. Some weeks, I bypass a store if there are no deals I need. By shopping the sales, I am restocking my supply at home with products at a low cost. As I make my menu in the weeks to come, I will use the products on sale this week to feed my family for less.

In using time wisely, I have adjusted this process to work for me. As you work through the steps, make adjustments as needed to find a system that works for you. Happy savings!

Question: Where do you find the best coupon match-ups for your area?

Filed Under: Grocery Shopping, Food Tagged With: grocery shopping, saving from scratch

Grocery Shopping: Limits on Sale Items Explained

July 19, 2012 by Tracy

Understanding sale limits
Understanding sale limits

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Polycart)

After running out of milk 3 days ago, we made it to the first day of the weekly sale at Bi-Lo, where milk is on sale for $2.99 per gallon. Whew!

Having almost run out of gas, completely used up the milk, and down to our last 2 eggs, I either need to plan better or choose recipes without using these ingredients.

With a little creativity, I plan to make our last 2 eggs stretch until Saturday’s one-day sale at Bi-Lo where eggs are 68¢ per dozen with a limit of 2. (My rock bottom price is 99¢ per dozen, so this deal is FANTASTIC!)

Stocking Up with Limits on Sale Items

This one-day sale has some deep discounts (aka, loss leaders), and most of the items have a limit of 2 or 3. However, I will purchase more than 2 at the sale price by separating my purchases into multiple transactions. The limits listed are per transaction.

Per Transaction

If I want to purchase 8 items that are at a limit of 2, then I need 4 transactions. To space it out, I would checkout with 2 transactions at a time. I might even go to multiple stores. Depending on how busy and how empty the shelves, I may choose more or less transactions at the same time.

Per Customer

Some stores specify that the limit is per customer and not per transaction. To cover my basis, I take a helper with me. Though I have not been denied multiple transactions, your store may run differently. If you stay within the limits, refrain from clearing the shelves, and stay organized, then you are on your way to snagging some great deals.

Benefits to Multiple Transactions

Another bonus to breaking up the shopping to multiple transactions is more receipts with surveys. When I complete a survey with Bi-Lo, I get rewarded with a coupon for a free item. From the month of June, I have restocked our tissues from the free coupons.

In using time wisely to plan your shopping trips, abide by the limits. If you need more of that product, then purchase those items in multiple transactions. Learning to play the savings game will net you food for your family while maximizing your savings. Happy strategizing!

Question: How many units of a deep sale item do you purchase?

Filed Under: Grocery Shopping, Food Tagged With: grocery shopping

Try, Try, Try, and then Cut your Losses

April 12, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Kizzzbeth)

Do you have a grocery store that when you pass by your blood boils?  I do.

When Paul and I lived in Pennsylvania, I would get so worked up just driving past one of the grocery stores.

This store was easy for me to get to and had good prices. But after try, try, and try again, I cut my losses and drove across the street to another grocery store where I gathered my savings.

Try

The first weekend we moved into our apartment, I headed out to go grocery shopping. Finding this store, I stopped. After getting the items on my list, I proceeded to check out and wrote a check for the groceries.

When I handed the cashier my check, he handed it back saying he could not accept an out-of-state check. I explained that we just moved to town, and I did not have a local bank. With the store policy set, I had to pay by credit card. Though I am not opposed to credit, I had the money set aside for our move, and I really wanted to write the check.

Try

On my next visit, I made sure I brought my checks from the local bank. With apprehension, I proceeded to checkout after getting the items needed. At the time of payment, I wrote a check from our local bank. Once again, the cashier handed the check back refusing a starter check for payment.

By now I was getting irritated. I asked to speak to a manager. After I explained the situation, the manager suggested applying for a check writing card which would end the writing a check issue. So, once again I paid with credit. Then I filled out the card to get check writing privileges.

Try

During my third (and last) visit to this store, I ran in for a few items, and went to checkout. When I pulled out my checkbook, my heart began to race. After writing the check, I handed it to the cashier. Seeing that it was a local check, she asked if I had a check writing card on file. I indicated that I filled out the form on my previous visit. She called for verification before returning the check because the application had not been processed.

By this time, I was just tired of this store. Instead of paying with credit, I left my purchases. Yep! Right there in the checkout station, I walked out and never returned.

I got in my car, drove across the street to Giant (which was an affiliate of Bi-Lo) and became a loyal customer. They took my out-of-state check with no forms, questions, or comments. What a breath of fresh air!

Cut my Losses

After giving that store chance, after chance, after chance, I cut my losses. Companies that make shopping at their store difficult turn me off. As you can tell, this experience changed me. I feel like it just happened though the visits occurred over 14 years ago. Yeah! This experience frustrated me so much, I have yet to step inside that store (or any of its affiliates) since walking out and leaving my groceries behind at checkout.

In using time wisely, find a grocery store that fits your needs and become a loyal shopper. Knowing the staff, store policies, and store layout increases my productivity and shopping experience.

If you find a store that does not work with you, try, try, try, and then cut your losses. There are other grocery stores that would love your business, and welcome you as a loyal customer. Now to go calm back down . . . happy savings!

Question: Have you had a similar experience?

Filed Under: Grocery Shopping, Food Tagged With: grocery shopping

Store Policies: Not All Locations Operate in the same League

March 22, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Steven Depolo)

With soccer season beginning, I know the rules of the game will be the same, but the regulations for choosing the sideline, seating for spectators, and distribution of snacks differ from league to league.

Knowing the game rules alone does not create confidence in a player in a new league. To gain confidence, the player participates and learns how to substitute, where to put his gear, and how to succeed on and off the field.

Shopping at your grocery store involves the same confidence. Just knowing the sales and the coupon match-ups alone does not create confidence in the shopper. To gain confidence, the shopper must practice and learn her store’s policies.

My Publix Shopping Trip – Unfamiliar Store

While out running errands with my girls on March 6, I stopped by a Publix near our insurance office. With Wednesday to Tuesday sales’ dates, I needed to gather my savings since the new sales began the next day.

The girls and I shopped and then headed to checkout. When the cashier took my coupons, she looked them over. Upon noticing that my Mueller’s pasta coupons expired on February 29 (the first day of the sale), the cashier refused to accept them. Confused, I asked for an explanation. She indicated that this Publix location does not accept expired coupons, even when the coupons expire within the sales’ week.

Since I was not familiar with this store’s policy, I asked the cashier kindly to remove the pasta boxes from my transaction. I paid for the remaining items, took my Mueller’s pasta coupons, and left the store.

My Publix Shopping Trip – Familiar Store

Later in the day, I stopped by my Publix store. I gathered the Mueller’s pasta and salad dressing on my way to the checkout station. Mr. Mike was working, so I chose his lane. After scanning my items, he took my coupons, noticed that the expiration date was within the sales’ week, accepted my coupons, and I paid the difference – $2.03 for 10 boxes of Mueller’s spaghetti and 1 bottle of Wish Bone dressing. Mission accomplished!

 5 Lessons Gained

1. Management dictates the store’s policies.

Though both stores carried the Publix name, the management policies differed. You may find one location with more meat specials while another expands the coupon policy. In this case, the first store has a narrow coupon policy where my favorite Publix offers a broad interpretation of the coupon rules.

2. Location matters.

Armed with your shopping list, store coupons, and manufacturer coupons, you can experience different results depending on where you shop. One store may allow a substitution for an out-of-stock product while another will just write a rain check.

3. Stay firm in your coupon knowledge.

If you know that another location will accept your coupon, then remove the item from your shopping cart. Don’t feel pressured to give-in to their store’s policy. I knew that my store would honor the coupons. Confident in my Publix’s store policy, I refused to pay $5 that I knew I could save at another location. If I had been unable to shop at my familiar store that day, I would have by-passed the sale. For me, I refuse to pay for what I know I can save.

4. Know your store’s policies.

When I enter my Publix store, I immediately head to customer service to get coupons. While waiting for the employee to retrieve them, I ask questions. From these interactions, I have learned that my store honors certain competitor’s coupons, double coupons up to $.60, offers a scholarship program, and accepts coupons that have expired during the current sales’ week.

5. Shop at your familiar store.

In using time wisely, I will plan my errands more carefully to include my Publix. By shopping in my store, I will save money (use my coupons), energy (quick trips after knowing the store’s layout), and time (one stop verses two locations in one day).

If you have a less-than-perfect experience using your coupons, don’t give up. Try another location of the same store. You may find that your favorite location is not the one closest to your home. Just because one store regulates the store policies differently does not mean you need to give up the coupon game. Keep using coupons, just find another league. Take heart; it happens to all of us. Happy savings!

Question: What store policy turned you off to a store or location?

Filed Under: Grocery Shopping, Food Tagged With: grocery shopping

Evaluating: Taking a Step Back – Part 3 of 3

February 9, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Bethany Lynne)

Here it is . . . the last post in this food cycle series. This journey began with menu planning, circled around grocery shopping, came to evaluation, and continues back to menu planning. By following an intentional plan, I continue to save money, energy, and time.

In Step Seven: Evaluation, we considered reviewing our grocery list (Part 1) and our store envelopes (Part 2). In Part 3, consider reviewing your receipts.

Reviewing your Receipts

Surveys. When I review my store receipts, I check the bottom for a survey invitation. Though Publix does not offer surveys, our Bi-Lo stores do. Since there is a 5-day time limit to complete the survey, I try to get these done first.

When I complete my survey, Bi-Lo offers a link to a coupon. The coupon is usually for a free product with a month-long expiration date. If you really like the coupon, then break up next week’s trip into more than one transaction. You can print a coupon for each survey completed.

WARNING: Please do not print or copy multiple coupons without filling out a survey for each coupon printed. If customers take advantage of the system, then stores may stop these survey benefits.

Documenting. After taking the survey(s), I enter the receipt totals into a spreadsheet. Tracking my spending and savings by entering the amount I paid and the amount I saved, I can watch the numbers and the percentages all year. Need a free spreadsheet? Try the Coupon Savings Tracker by Happy Money Saver or the Coupon Savings Calculator by Coupon Closet.

Filing. When the documenting is complete, I file my receipt by how I paid. Filed in a pouch, kept with my monthly expenses, are the cash receipts while the credit card receipts are filed in that credit cards’ file folder in my filing cabinet.

In evaluating my shopping trips, I review the store receipts by completing surveys, documenting my savings, and filing. With the shopping and evaluating process complete, I am ready to start back at menu planning. This process continues as my family continues to need nourishment.

As you find a system that fits your needs, be intentional with your planning, spending, and evaluating to save money, energy, and time. Continue using time wisely to create a system or adjust my process to work for you. Happy savings!

Filed Under: Grocery Shopping, Food Tagged With: grocery shopping

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