What is Your Routine for Planning a Shopping Trip?

[sunflowers*8890]

I'm returning to couponing after about 20+ years. (My 21 year old daughter got me back into it ). Things have really changed, but some things remain the same: I've tried a few methods, and find that my old method of using a recipe index-card box is the best way for me.

I am sitting here on the living rich website, matching up my coupons with what is on sale this week at the best-price store around me (Shoprite). I actually enjoy doing this... but I admit, it is a bit confusing and cumbersome!

Just looking for any tips from you seasoned savers . I also wonder how many stores you would typically shop at in a given week? Do you look at the ads and then decide which to shop at for that week?

I'm not trying to be a super-couponer. We are empty-nesters and I lost my job this year. I need to spend as little as possible. Thanks!

[greekislandgirl]

I consider four supermarkets. That does NOT mean I go to all 4 in a given week. I look at their offers and then decide. I can go to 0 or all 4, depending on their sales.

My routine is first to check the circulars (online). I make a list of what's at which store (I keep my price notebook nearby so I can check that the sale prices are cheaper than the store brands - often NOT the case!) and note when the sale ends. That helps me combine trips.

We don't have many coupons here but if we do, I'll use those in combination with the best price. And I tend to buy large quantities of the sale items if the price is really good, for the stockpile.

[ladytoysdream]

Some of my best shopping trips are not planned.
I try to keep a few extra dollars stashed so if I see a really good sale, I can pounce.
I use Aldi's once a week normally. Also Sav a Lot. Only regular things this time of year are milk and bread. I look for bargains.

I like coupons but a lot of them are short dated. You have to stay on top of them. Most times for me, the generic item still ends up being cheaper than the name brand even with a coupon. That can really frustrate me.

Look for coupons on the product itself. I recently used a $ 1 coupon if you buy 2 of the same, on a sale price of $ 1 per one , on a product we use often. Other stores were getting about $ 1.50 plus for the same item. So I bought 2 first time shopping trip in that store. Took off the labels, and bought 4 the next time I went it. I kept doubling. Last trip in I bought 16 jars. And I see the price is still good, so probably should remove the 16 coupons on the last jars I bought and buy 32 jars. I need to check the expiration of the coupon first though I use the product like once a week.

[Ceashels]

I don't think it is the number of stores you go to as long as they are convenient. (My friend watched her mother run far and wide to get the best deals so she refuses to do that and shops at her local store and that's it.)

I use 3 stores: Aldi's for most of my weekly staples. BJ's gets used about every 2 weeks, and Safeway gets visited 1-2 times a month. I also shop at those stores when I pass them enroute to work. So it is rare for me to just go to the store.

Many of the coupons I find are for prepared foods and they are not used often so I stick with BJ's coupons for HBA, batteries, and their products that I use.

I used to wonder the grocery isles looking for inspiration but now I am inspired by the list of items I keep in the freezer and use my coupons to supplement my pantry for future needs. So if we haven't had 'Mexican" style cooking in a while, I'll keep my eye out for taco shells or tortilla coupons and when I get them... they go on the menu.

[Contrary Housewife]

I make a menu plan for the week, some old standbys, some new recipes I want to try. I try to use up what we already have and then make note of any ingredients I need. Meanwhile during the week we keep a running list of things we are out of.

Then I go through the online ads for 4 stores that are close to me, making lists of sale items I might buy and the price of things on my shopping list.

I use the web to search for manufacturer's coupons and print the ones for items I know I will buy. Some weeks I find a lot, some weeks nothing. I have a fake facebook account to get coupons when you have to "like" the manufacturer. I don't spend hours searching, typically if the words "(brand name) coupon" don't turn up anything, there isn't one. I make a note on my shopping list if I have a coupon so I remember to use it.

Then I decide which of the 4 stores I am going to, based on the sale deals. Usually one list is longer, or one store has the better prices on identical items and that is my first choice. I go to a 2nd or 3rd store based on what I need from there and how good the sale is. I try to only do one or two each week, but all are within about 2 miles of my house so I'm not doing too much driving around.

[khaski]

I shop one main grocery store as we are 'out in the woods'..sometimes a second IF I am going to CVS as it is next door. My 'primary' store does not double coupons, but the prices are sooo much lower than other places, usually even Walmart. I get the flier in the mail the thurs/fri before the sale begins on Sun. I shop on Thursdays, so the first thing I do is assess what coupons I already have to match up with sales, check online to see what coupons are coming out in Sunday's paper so I can see how many, if any, copies I want to purchase, and lastly I hit ebay or coupon clipping websites to see if there are coupons out there I don't have worth purchasing to match up. I esp. like some the drug store match-up websites that show you a few weeks in advance what's coming out....gives me extra time to plan, and also you'll find what looks like a 'deal' one week is an even better deal the next. it takes time and orginization, but like anything else, the more you do it, the easier it becomes!

[jas]

I shop one main grocery store as we are 'out in the woods'..sometimes a second IF I am going to CVS as it is next door. My 'primary' store does not double coupons, but the prices are sooo much lower than other places, usually even Walmart. I get the flier in the mail the thurs/fri before the sale begins on Sun. I shop on Thursdays, so the first thing I do is assess what coupons I already have to match up with sales, check online to see what coupons are coming out in Sunday's paper so I can see how many, if any, copies I want to purchase, and lastly I hit ebay or coupon clipping websites to see if there are coupons out there I don't have worth purchasing to match up. I esp. like some the drug store match-up websites that show you a few weeks in advance what's coming out....gives me extra time to plan, and also you'll find what looks like a 'deal' one week is an even better deal the next. it takes time and orginization, but like anything else, the more you do it, the easier it becomes!

Do you have a link for the site that will tell you a few weeks in advance for the drug stores? Thanks!

[nuisance26]

~Put it off for as long as possible.
I shop only once or twice a month and DH picks up staples at Aldi on his way home from work. I don't peruse ads every week anymore since we have only one grocery store. I have to pay their price or eat up gas going further out. Strangely, I'm not spending all that much more money and I'm working a lot less at it. It encourages me to be more creative with ingredients and less wasteful. I don't buy more food "on sale" when I already have a ton of great food at home already.
If I went back to using coupons, I would take my coupons with me and not just trust the matching I'd done with the ad at home. Over the last year I've noticed a strong trend toward "manager's special" sales. They're unadvertised either to cut down on extreme couponers or so that people can't take their printed ad to price match elsewhere.
Your box is a great idea! If you enjoy the hunt, that's half the battle. You should do very well!~

[hmcart]

I made the decision that we will be doing the majority of our grocery shopping at Aldi and get our paper products and hba at th edollar general across the street from our house. I just dont have time or patience for coupons but if you enjoy putting it together then you will do well!

[ncarr]

I go to CVS and Publix every sunday. I don't need to drive around since publix will accept competitor coupons and I can stack them with manufacturer coupons

[sunflowers*8890]

These are all great tips! I do enjoy matching up the coupons, but I want to make sure the time spent is worth it.... maybe I could be doing something more productive with my time and saving more $$, like cooking more from scratch.

I think I'll narrow it down to following 2 stores that have the best prices in my area (IMHO, of course!) Shoprite & Walgreens. That will save time going over the ads.

And I REALLY like the idea of just putting off the shopping trip to save the most money!

[Cricketlegs]

I take my dd and both coupon binders and first we go to Brookshires since the double and triple. Our rule is we only buy from Brookshires with a sale and coupon unless it is a really really great sale we will buy without a coupon. I spend about $100 maximum at Brookshires.

I get my meat from Super One Foods. I try to take advantage of the 5 for $20 but it isn't what it used to be...I try and keep that one at $100 too. I use sausage coupons a lot.

I do bulk shopping at Krogers who no longer doubles or triples...bummer. The prices are just a tad better and they really put a lot things on sale every week that I can coupon match. $200 to $300 is my budget there.

I do a lot of cvs shopping and take advantage of the bucks. Hate walgreens, only buy my 2 double dallas papers at walmart every week but little else there because they stink lol. Love Target, good sales, good checkers who are familar with coupons.

Sometimes(this week I made a killing) I go to Family Dollar and Dollar general.

[oheoh's momma]

I live in a small town we have a food city, walmart, rite aid, dollar general , and a family dollar. We have a save a lot and a super dollar which are mostly generic groceries.
1. I scan there web pages and go through my coupons. and make notes of what is on sale if I have a coupon and were at each web site and cross reference it with sales papers and look for store coupon to go with my manufactor .
2. I double check my lists and my stockpile.
3. take my coupons I am using from my bigger binders to my small purse size one.
4. remember to eat before I go...
5. take a pen and a calculater with u.
6. go by yourself..

[khaski]

Jas (and any one else interested in the 'peek ahead' ads for drugstores), check out iheartcvs.com. This person also does one for rite aid and walgreens.....if you look on the website to the right you should see links. How far in advance ads are posted varies, it pays to check in every few days. Also please note sales can vary region to region....though I live in NH and my sales fliers always match what's posted. The website has been invaluable in my shopping/deal searching! Also, if you don't know about it already, google the webiste 'sunday coupon preview'. Generally posts early-mid week what coupons are coming out in the next Sunday paper- again, regions may vary slightly!

[shoiji]

I check the couponmom website to match sales with coupons. I use the most coupons this time of year.