Lady at the Store

I was grocery shopping last Sunday (without kids for once, very peaceful LOL) and was stopped by this lady mid-aisle. 

Question #1

“OK, seriously.  Does using coupons REALLY work for you or is it more time consuming than what it saves you?

Answer… More than worth it!  I use idle time to cut my coupons and sort and put into my three ring binder (will show you mine later).  I have a $40 weekly budget for groceries.  This includes all food, snacks, paper products, dog food, etc. for a family of four.  Most times it includes the toiletries as well but I started $10 weekly budget to learn how to play the drugstore games to get those.  Regardless, we are a family of four and I do it on this budget each and every week.  I think I’ve gone over one time.

Question #2

She asked if she could look at my coupon book and was intimidated by it.  I have a 3” three ring binder that is packed full of everything!  Baseball card protector sheets, dividers, zippered pockets, etc.  I am very organized because it makes the shopping easier, especially when you have two children with you.  She asked how long it takes me to do each week.  Probably an hour, but when I first started it took me longer because I was NOT organized but it was well worth it.

Question #3

How long does it take you in the store each week to get your shopping done?  I asked with or without kids?  I normally have both of my girls with me and with them in tow it takes much longer, about an hour and a half, but with just me an hour or less.  I have learned to go first thing on Saturday mornings.  The store is not busy because people generally sleep in longer than on the week days.  I stop and get the girls breakfast at Chick Fil A and bring drinks.  They sit in the cart and eat while I get the first half of the store done.  The second half is what takes the longest.

Question #4

Do you shop from a list or how do you get it all figured out?

I first plan my menu for the week from home on Friday evenings.  I go through the freezer see what meat is there and come up with all the main dishes.  Then, head to the pantry to write down the sides and then the freezer (sometimes the pantry) for the vegetable.  I try to make my entire menu from what I have on hand and if I’m missing an ingredient or two, no big deal, I just add to my shopping list.  If I can make the whole menu from what we already have at the house then that’s when I do the best coupon shopping because that’s all I’m shopping for… the deals and the steals.

Question #5

If you aren’t shopping completely from a list then how do you make sure you have enough for the next week (week after the menu already planned)?

When I get to the store I first hit the meat section.  If split chicken breast is on sale for .99/lb or less I buy it.  This can be used in casseroles which go a really long way.  Then, I buy whatever they have on clearance that we would eat.  When I get home I put ALL the meat in the freezer because we already have the menu planned for the week so I will use that towards the next week’s menu.

Question #6

How did you get so many coupons?  I am not a coupon snob and will get them from anywhere I can.  I get multiple Sunday papers each week, I get people’s coupons that they don’t use or all of their coupons if they don’t use them at all, I got to coupons.com and print them all there (print twice the ones I need from multiple computers, product websites, links from other blogs, Target’s website has grocery coupons, drug store fliers, samples in the mail normally come with coupons so I request them whenever I find them, sign up online for different “communities” (like huggies.com for baby stuff and things like that) and you will get them in the mail or online via email, and wherever else I can find them!

Question #7

This all seems intimidating, what advise do you have for someone just starting?  Treat it as a game.  There is so much you can get for free, next to it, or much cheaper than normal and you have to make a game of it and try to “beat” it.  As long as you treat it like a game and have fun with it (which it can be addicting) then you will win.  It takes time to get it organized, but once there it is easy to maintain.  Keep your head on straight and don’t let it overwhelm you.  Start with just making a menu and keep to it.  That was difficult for me since our schedules change all the time and often at last minute but I have learned that just by sticking with that and using what we have on hand saves a lot of money.  That way you only buy stuff that is on sale and you have more food this way then before when you just bought whatever without a second thought.  Start with a larger budget and once comfortable, work your way down.  It can be done and is the easiest place to start when trying to save money.

This lady really made me smile because I could really talk about coupons and saving money for hours on end and it’s become a game to me.  I told her about rain checks and trying to master one store first and then branching out once you feel more comfortable.  Like me starting on the drug stores.  It’s a game and once you “have it” at one place then start the game over again with another store. 

It is possible… just breathe, keep clipping and take your time!