This is how I save on groceries.

**Dancing Lotus** · 12-02-2007, 03:20 PM

I know some of you are coupon nay sayers but I thought I would post my shoping trip for this week and show you that it really does work.

Walgreens
4 jars of skippy peanut butter
4 cans of Hunts tomatoe paste
4 cans of mandarine oranges. total 5.56 I cant tell you what the regular prices are becuase I couldn't find my receipt but my total before coupons was 30.00. Now I do realize that I wouldn't have paid thirty dollars for that stuff at a grocery store but Im sure you agree I can't beat 5.56.

Publix
4 bags of goodlife cat food. regular 4.39 each.
4 glade carpet freshners, regular 1.99 each
glade scented oil refill candles, regular 2.99 each
4 pomagranet teasdrinks, regular 3.00 each.Total 14.69, total before my coupons and discounts was 47.64

Winndixie
Dole salad kits, buy 1 get 1 plus I got two 1.00 off my next order coupons. And I bought chicken thighs at buy1 get 1. My total saved was 8.94 and I used my two dollars off to buy a half gallon of milk. I also bought all my veggies here becuase they were all on sale so my total spent was 20.04.

Every week I match my coupons with sale prices and hit all three stores. They are all about three miles from each other so gas doesnt really factor in.
And for those of you who dont think this looks like a complet list I assure you this is all I bought for the week. Remember I do this every week so last week I bought all my meat and other staples ( that were on sale )so I didnt have to buy any this week at full price.

My total for this week was 106.00 before sales and coupons . 40.29 after. And thats how I spend on average 50.00 a week.

**redhead68** · 12-02-2007, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by AnnK

I know some of you are coupon nay sayers but I thought I would post my shoping trip for this week and show you that it really does work.

Walgreens
4 jars of skippy peanut butter
4 cans of Hunts tomatoe paste
4 cans of mandarine oranges. total 5.56 I cant tell you what the regular prices are becuase I couldn't find my receipt but my total before coupons was 30.00. Now I do realize that I wouldn't have paid thirty dollars for that stuff at a grocery store but Im sure you agree I can't beat 5.56.

Publix
4 bags of goodlife cat food. regular 4.39 each.
4 glade carpet freshners, regular 1.99 each
glade scented oil refill candles, regular 2.99 each
4 pomagranet teasdrinks, regular 3.00 each.Total 14.69, total before my coupons and discounts was 47.64

Winndixie
Dole salad kits, buy 1 get 1 plus I got two 1.00 off my next order coupons. And I bought chicken thighs at buy1 get 1. My total saved was 8.94 and I used my two dollars off to buy a half gallon of milk. I also bought all my veggies here becuase they were all on sale so my total spent was 20.04.

Every week I match my coupons with sale prices and hit all three stores. They are all about three miles from each other so gas doesnt really factor in.
And for those of you who dont think this looks like a complet list I assure you this is all I bought for the week. Remember I do this every week so last week I bought all my meat and other staples ( that were on sale )so I didnt have to buy any this week at full price.

My total for this week was 106.00 before sales and coupons . 40.29 after. And thats how I spend on average 50.00 a week.

Fantastic case study. How many in your family?

**YankeeMom** · 12-02-2007, 05:51 PM

What about your menu?

I find these posts fascinating. I always learn something new from them

**mickee311** · 12-02-2007, 06:18 PM

That's how I shop. I match the coupons with the sales or I don't buy it. Unless it's something I never have coupons for, like meat and the like. Heck, in September, with all the great deals going on, I got $1200 worth of groceries for $217....My grocery spending has been sliced in half at LEAST since I started couponing. And I always get to buy name brand and NEVER have to go to Aldi or Save A Lot anymore for anything thanks to coupons. Thank God.

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 12-02-2007, 08:36 PM

Thanks for sharing! You did GREAT!!

I wish we got more coupons up here...

**Cricket1** · 12-02-2007, 08:40 PM

Nice job! You're my hero!

**wulong32** · 12-02-2007, 08:45 PM

Very nice job! WTG!

**yonksgirl** · 12-02-2007, 08:46 PM

wow!!!! I just sent my hubby to the store to get the paper so I can get some coupons!

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 12-03-2007, 12:06 AM

This is the way I shop too. There is NO other way, IMHO!

**cottageliving** · 12-03-2007, 12:30 AM

Wow! Thanks for sharing that - and me without a paper today. drat. I have been learning so much from all of you.

**coltsmama** · 12-03-2007, 09:28 AM

Great job!

**Dancing Lotus** · 12-03-2007, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by YankeeMom

What about your menu?

I find these posts fascinating. I always learn something new from them

My menu is very diverse. A lot depends on what type of meat was on sale the week before. As far as other ingredients go I have a fully stocked pantry so I can pretty much make anything I want at anytime and I might only need on item.

This week we had taco salad with corn bread . For the taco salad I only had to buy the lettuce , I got that half price at winndixie. Everything else was already in the fridge or pantry from other sales weeks or maybe even months ago.The corn bread I made from a betty crocker mix I bought for .25 a few months ago on a sale and a can of cream corn I bought the last time publix had dole canned veggies on sale. I use creamed corn instead of the milk in my corn bread bread , it make is soft and moist almost like a bread pubbing.

Tonight we will have pork chops with apricot glaze and rice with sugar snap peas. The pork chops I got last week buy1 get1 and the incredients for the glaze are all in the pantry.

**Dancing Lotus** · 12-03-2007, 09:58 AM

I have four family members and three cats. SO I buy four papers. I find that one paper per family member is a good balance.

I think the biggest mistake people make is not keeping a coupon long enough becuase they dont think they will use it. For example I had coupons to save .25 cents of vanilla extract. I didnt think I would use it but I kept it just in case. Well I did use it , on the very day it was going to expire. It went on sale buy 1 get 1 so I bought four and with my coupons that brought my cost to less then half and now I have enough to last me the year.

I know to some people buying four papers sounds silly . I spend 6 dollars a week on papers but in just this week alone I used more then 30.00 worth of coupons. The way I see it I still came out 24.00 ahead.

**Katybird** · 12-03-2007, 10:00 AM

Nice job Ann. Thanks for sharing your shopping victory with us.

**Daisysmom** · 12-03-2007, 11:02 AM

Hi Ann,

Do you base you meals on what you have for coupons? I always say I can't find any coupons because I have it set in my mind what we eat usually. Maybe I need to start thinking about eating around what coupons I have. I'm pretty good with loss leaders, like meat and veggies but not around usual coupon items.

I just started clipping (6+ months) so I'm still getting the hang of it.

I'd like to get your thoughts on that. Thanks!