I Saved $103.24!!!

It's been quite a few months since I've coupon shopped using Teri's List for shopping but yesterday I reaffirmed that it does pay to take the extra time and be a smart shopper. I saved close to 50% on my shopping trip yesterday. What would have been a $225.24 bill came to $122. Woo Hoo.

I'm not going to lie - it is a time consuming process but once you get your system down it's quite easy (and for dorks like me, it's fun).

Here is my system:

Ralphs is the only store right now that doubles coupons so I only shop there. Advertisements from Ralphs are mailed on Tuesdays - sales run from Wednesday - Tuesday.

Sunday morning I Log in to http://www.thegrocerygame.com/ to get THE LIST.

Sunday-Tuesday - Shop with TERI'$ $HOPPING LI$T

Make sure you have your coffee. : )

I print out the list of the items I want to buy.

Make sure I have all the coupons out of the newspaper (LA Times).

Start cutting - everything. Even the things you don't think you'll ever use. Sometimes they will be free and you could give them away or find a use for them. (except for items you KNOW for sure you won't use)

I have an idea of what coupons I'm looking for off of the list so I put those in a pile and the ones I'm not going to use that week I'll put them in piles so I can file them after I'm done.

File the ones I'm not going to use this shopping trip.

I have a good idea of the layout of the store so I put the coupons I'm going to be using in groups according to the aisles.

I take my list, grouped coupons and filed coupons with me to the store. I refer back to the list while I'm shopping just to be sure I'm using the right coupon, have the right item, etc.

I've found that if I take an envelope to put the coupons in AFTER I've found the right product I save a lot of time. So when I get to the check out I give them the ones in the envelope.

I also take my filed coupons with me - some times something might be on sale and I have a coupon for it but it's not on the list.

I know the process sounds tedious and way too time consuming but once you have your own system down shopping with be a lot less of a pain.

I buy things even if I don't need them at that time - I like to have nice stocked cabinets. So I have it when I need it and don't have to pay full price.

The Grocery Game

I need to get back to cutting coupons and shopping more wisely. I used to save so much money by taking the extra time cutting and organizing my coupons.

I found a great website (thegrocerygame.com) a few years ago and it has helped me so much when it comes to coupon shopping. It's a great tool to help find the "rock bottom" prices on hundreds of products each week and match them up with manufacturers' coupons for the best possible savings at your local supermarket. She makes coupon shopping so easy. And it's amazing how much you can save.

I really had to change my way of thinking though when it came to grocery shopping. There are basically two ways we spend money on groceries: "Stockpiling," and "Need" shopping. By stockpiling items you will eventually need, you don't have to overpay when you do need it. It's basically thinking ahead in terms of shopping. When you "need" shop, you only buy those items you need at the moment or for that particular week. Because it's an immediate need, you will pay whatever price the supermarket is offering, thus grossly overpaying. The fee is minimal compared to the savings.

While it can be a bit of a chore - the reward comes when you walk out saving over $100! I've just motivated myself to get cutting and start saving again!