Photograph Credit: Flickr (Karen Brockney)

If you happened to be at one of our local grocery stores on Tuesday and heard some high-pitched giggling and occasional screaming, then that was my family. Yeah, those were my kids.

With my son running ahead of the car cart and the girls “driving” to run him over, we made it through the shopping trip in one piece. I am thankful for the small grocery list this week. Even with the raucous and my repeated, “please keep it down,” our shopping trip was a success.

At checkout (which we will begin covering next week), my son asked me, “How much do you need to pay?” After all the sales and coupons were tallied, I owed $7.33. (The subtotal was $34.98 with the sales and coupons subtracting $27.67, and adding $.02 in tax for a total of $7.33.) When I answered my son, he responded, “You did great, Mom.” The nice cashier agreed with him as we celebrated our 79% savings.

Savings occur because of deliberate choices made with a plan of action. Thus far in our Gathering your Savings series, we addressed the first two steps for shopping our grocery list in Part 2a, the next two steps in Part 2b, and today, the final three steps will complete Part 2 of 3 in the grocery shopping process.

STEP FIVE: Choosing Deals

As I gather the items on my shopping list, I check to be sure that my family will eat the flavors offered. If the store’s shelf for a needed item is bare, then I circle the item on my grocery list and write “rain check” and the flavor desired on the side of my sheet. I will use this information after checking out to get the rain checks needed.

If I have a coupon for an item on my list, I may check the coupon in my envelope to be sure the item I want to purchase meets the coupon requirements. Sometimes the sales flyer does not specify which brand items are BOGOF. In that case, when I get to that item in the store, I view my coupon, the sale stickers on the shelves identifying which items are BOGOF, and then make a decision on whether or not to purchase those items.

STEP SIX: Bypassing Not-So-Great Deals

When the deal is not what I thought it was, I cross the item off my list and move to the next deal. Just because the item is on my list does not mean I will purchase it. Seeing the deal will either sell me on the deal or nix it from my list. Be ready to bypass deals that do not fit your family’s current needs. Remember that another sale will be coming in a few weeks. 🙂

STEP SEVEN: Noting Menu Planning Options

Often I get menu planning inspiration while grocery shopping. As I place the pasta in the grocery cart, I may reminisce about a favorite comfort food – baked macaroni and cheese.  Whether or not I have the ingredients at home, I will still jot down this idea on my grocery list. Later, I can check to see what additional items I will need to make this family favorite.

By choosing deals, bypassing not-so-great deals, and noting menu planning options, I complete my shopping trip and prepare for checking out. In using time wisely, I repeat this process at each store. The more often I repeat, the more efficient I become at completing my errand. Though grocery shopping is a necessary stop each week, I execute my plan to increase my savings while using time wisely. You can, too. Just take it slowly and learn from each shopping trip. Happy savings!

Question: How is your shopping experience different from these steps? I am curious to know if you have a plan when you grocery shop.

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Leonard McAlpine)

As I went grocery shopping with my daughters yesterday, I followed these steps. Though I had to backtrack once, due to the seasonal items being rearranged, I shopped both stores in under an hour. Finding a system that works for me has increased my efficiency while shopping to help me in using time wisely.

In Part 2a, I shared about knowing your store and including your children. This week I will continue with the next two steps in my grocery shopping adventures:

STEP THREE: Considering the Price per Unit

When I need to purchase an item that is not Buy One Get One Free (BOGOF) or on sale, I will seek to purchase items with a coupon. By considering the price per unit on these items, purchasing the largest bottle is not always the better deal. For example, 48 tea bags are $5.98. However, the 24 tea bag box of the same brand is $2.55. Purchasing 2 boxes of 24 tea bags for $5.10 is less expensive than the one box of 48 bags.

Finding the price per unit for each size will determine the best deal. By using time wisely to consider the options, I have snagged some very inexpensive items by using coupons without a sale price.

STEP FOUR: Reinforcing Math Skills

On the shopping trips where my son is with me, I ask him to help me determine the prices of items when we use a coupon. Through these lessons, he is learning to divide the price in half for BOGOF deals and subtract the coupon amount. If the coupon is doubled, then he subtracts the coupon amount again. Depending on his mood, he may perform 2-3 math problems throughout our shopping trip.

I love interacting with my children, teaching them life skills, and running an errand all at the same time. Besides using time wisely, I am spending time with my children and giving them the attention they need.

Entering the store with a plan to execute keeps me using time wisely. Though I might take a little time to consider the price per unit and reinforce math skills, I am spending time with my children and gathering savings for our family. As you shop and gather your savings, I hope you are discovering a plan that works for you. Happy savings!

Question: Do you use a calculator as you grocery shop? I am curious to know how this helps you. Please let me know.

Photograph Credit: Flickr (I-5 Design)

My shopping trips usually land on a weekday. Either I shop with my girls after dropping my son off at school, or I shop with all 3 children after picking my son up from school. If I can, I allow Publix and Bi-Lo to supply the afternoon snack of a free cookie for the kids while we replenish our family’s food supply.

Last week in Gathering your Savings – Part 1, I explained my tips when entering the grocery store and planning the route to take through the aisles. In continuing gathering your savings, I will share in Part 2 how I shop my grocery list. With seven total steps, I will break these down into 3 different posts: Part 2a, 2b, and 2c. Today, I will share steps 1 and 2:

STEP ONE: Knowing the Store

The more you shop at your store, the better you will know where items are located. In using time wisely, I try to move forward aisle by aisle without backtracking.

STEP TWO: Including my Children

We play games throughout the store. One on-going game is “finding the coupons.” Have you seen the blinkie machines in your store? These little machines are small movable devices that dispense coupons. The little red light blinks to get your attention. When you take the coupon, the dispenser waits a few seconds and then partially ejects another coupon. My children have learned to:

1. Notify me of their find,
2. Allow me to determine if we will use the item, and
3. Pull out only the ones we will use.

If I am purchasing the item and need a coupon, then I will use one of these on this trip. Most of the blinkies we take, I save for a future purchase which might be redeemed at another store. These coupons that are dispensed are manufacturer coupons that can be used at any store that accepts manufacturer’s coupons.

By knowing the store and including my children, I can quickly maneuver through the store gathering my savings while using time wisely. Though my children are not always cooperative with the coupon finding, I usually gain a few minutes to concentrate while they snack on their cookies. As I remember where items are kept in the store, my shopping trip times are improving with less roaming and more gathering. Next week, I will share the next two steps of my in-store shopping strategy. Until then . . . happy savings!

Question: How many blinkie coupons do you take from one dispenser? Pop over to Using Time Wisely‘s Facebook page to see my answer.