[ms_metis]

I feel like I'm not using coupons effectively. This week, we spent $157 on groceries. That did include about $40 in meets and $20 in produce. I had a coupon savings of $40.
I guess I feel like I should be saving more money by using coupons. I feel like I need a coupon for just about everything I purchase.

What is a good % of savings? How much do people normally save by using coupons. Last grocery venture, I saved about $50. So for the last 30 days, I've saved $90...I want to save more.

Thanks.
Brenda

[my3girlz]

Don't get discouraged!! I've been doing this for several years now & there are lots of times where I save way more than others. I consider saving 50% or more a great trip. Look at it like this...if you hadn't saved $40 you would have spent $197 Every dollar you save is that much more in your pocket.....it all adds up

Keep your chin up!

[isavealot5]

Unlike Susan/my3girlz.. I've started couponing only about a little more than a year ago..and I've done shopping trips where I saved a lot (more than 50%) and some trips.. so so. Bottom line.. I still saved $$. It takes a bit of preparing (coupon matching with items on sale - good thing for Shopping Lists here at AFC) so just sit down..relax..favorite drink on hand.. and do your shopping list. Happy Saving, Brenda

[ms_metis]

Thanks for the encouragement. I don't know how to get to 50%.
Here is our grocery list from yesterday.
garlic
onions
milk (regular)
juice (2)
potatoes
oreo vanilla cookies
fruit roll ups (2)
cola (storebrand)
chips
tortillas (flour)
turkey (deli)
salami (deli)
cat food
kitty litter
white vinegar
bananas
pork loin (on sale for $1/lb...cost $25)
tomatoes
lettuce
juice boxes
butter
soy yogurt
regular yogurt
soup (4)
vegetable oil
body wash
frozen veggies

I didn't have/use coupons for these items:
garlic
onions
milk (regular)
juice (2)
potatoes
oreo vanilla cookies
chips
tortillas (flour)
cat food
white vinegar
bananas
pork loin (on sale for $1/lb...cost $25)
tomatoes
lettuce
juice boxes
soy yogurt
regular yogurt
vegetable oil

[catlover7731]

I agree with everyone else, there will be trips you save more than others, also remember that your shopping habits are different than mine. My family eats different than many others.. I don't eat red meat/pork/poultry so the extra meals may cost me more, Dd is picky so I have to take this into consideration when shopping and hubby has health issues that requires special foods. We also eat a lot of produce .. I can spend $20- $50 easily a week on produce. So don't compare yourself to others if you do you will only see imaginary faults.
.

[ms_metis]

This is my third week (second grocery stop). My mom is saving coupons for me and I'm just getting started using paper coupons. I guess something is better than nothing. I want to get to the 50%. We don't do that many processed foods b/c my son is allergic to dairy.

[ms_metis]

Didn't think about that Cheryl. Yes, due to my son's allergies we are limited to what we can buy. We spend a lot on produce, meat, and soy products. My husband cooks and he knows how to take any meat and make it taste great. Different cuts require different ways of cooking. Due to the economy, he's taking cheaper cuts and making the best meals. He also buys meat in bulk. So the pork loin ($25) he got will feed us for 10-15 meals. The pork shoulder ($5) will feed us for 5 days.

[isavealot5]

Re: your shopping list.. do you shop at pathmark? They have a lot of sales going on this week like free milk when you buy 3 boxes of Kellogg's cereal (you can click on the pathmark icon near my name to lead you to Pathmark forum).
I do try to use coupons on every grocery items I buy.. but sometimes I just have to have that good quality bagel without coupons. It took me several shopping trips before I started saving 50% (sometimes more). Practice makes perfect..you'll get there in no time

[kategriffin18]

Sadly, what helps is even just searching here or googling some big ticket products that you want to buy. For example, just being on here for a few weeks has helped that I know there is a coupon around for when you buy oreos and milk and another coupon from all you magazine for vegetable oil. Just keep searching (sometimes it takes me longer to prepare than shop!!!!) and know that you are doing REALLY WELL!!!! I truly think that there is a learning curve...which we're all on!!!

A quick tip about the meat is I go on Monday or Tuesday evening to the grocery store. They usually mark down the meats with a yellow sticker because they need to sell it asap....that helps a lot because there are rarely Q's for meat. Something else I've learned is no matter the sale on produce, the farmer's market is MUCH cheaper. If you have one near you, it might be worth the trip!

Happy shopping and saving!

[Lynda1811]

Another thing to remember is that most of us have a stockpile built up and everyones savings are going to vary.

Each one of us have different needs for their family. What you purchase for your family, I may not purchase for mine.

I don't have little ones, so I'm not buying diapers and baby items that are expensive.

Try to match coupons with the sales as much as possible. I have also learned that having more coupons is better to utilize the weekly sales.

Check out the forums of the stores you shop, there is valuable info there. Even though we are spread over the USA, and some sales are regional, doesn't mean that you can't look for it when you go out shopping.

If you have a kmart, they have been doing double coupons, up to and including $2, so a $2 coupon = $4 off. Lots of free/nearly free items to stock up on.

If you have CVS or Walgreens, you can get a lot of items for free or really cheap. The members in those two forums know how to shop.

As you build a stockpile you will see your savings grow as well. Don't give up, we all started in the same boat.

HTH
Lynda

[kategriffin18]

AND...trade LOVE IT and everyone here is so generous to trade away!!!! The only downfall is you might have to wait to buy something because the coupon is in the mail

[Justlooking1208]

If there is something that can be held off until you find (or trade) for a good q, then wait, otherwise, you're doing pretty good so far. Sometimes when you see people pay $.32 OOP for their trip, they are only going there to get the stuff they have q's for. Not always are they going on their weekly grocery run. I have by DH and DD throwing things in the cart as I'm trying to save, so it doesn't always work out. Sometimes you don't see a difference in your pocket for a few months. Hang in there, you're doing fine so far.

[ms_metis]

OMG...thanks so much for this info. I have tons of coupons I can trade. Things we just don't use. (now to figure out how to trade)

Never thought about going to KMART...and I love the doubling part.

The closest Pathmark is about 30 min away. I may have to start looking at what they have and see which one is better to visit. I normally go to Shoprite. I will visit ACME if they send me a coupon like $10 off next visit.

Yes, I have a 5 month old and a 4 year old. Diapers are expensive. I breastfeed and prepare our own babyfood. I can't pay $1 for a 4 oz jar of bananas...

Brenda

[my3girlz]

Also Brenda, if your family has special dietary needs try contacting companies of food you do purchase & praising them...you'd be surprised by what you may get in the mail.

[Lynda1811]

When you click on the forum tab, scroll down to the AFC trading post and auction block.


Lynda

[joshmamabear]

are you aware you can ad match at SWM? if you have Aldi, their 3# bag of white onions is always .99 everyday price. when I see this in their ad, I just ad match @ WM and get the same price. I don't have to drive all the way to Aldi as long as I have their ads (sometimes I don't have to show it since cashiers have them at the register) and I just tell cashier what the price is at the competitor store. if you're not brand specific, WM will also ad match their store brand of milk, cheese, bread with their GV brand for more savings.

Just keep in mind that whatever savings you make is always a blessing. You can strive to do better each time but don't get stressed out. Do not go about comparing your savings with others who lists thousands of savings in a month's time. We all have different situations. You may be in a much better situation than some who have to struggle during this economic crisis. Just keep on saving and before you realize, you have more to show for it while spending less money. Good luck!

[Alexdur85]

I think a big part of it is alot of people have a large stockpile of food items. So when they go shopping one week they might only need produce and milk? So they don't spend alot of because alot of what they eat is already stockpiled at home. Stockpiling takes some time. I just took advantage of the COACH and mix and match at Safeway. It's the best deal I've found so far to stockpile items. I know I'll won't have to waste money on frozon items for a while as well as TP so I just saved some money there. When you find a good deal.. TAKE ADVANTAGE!!!

[z'smom]

It is difficult when you have special dietary needs and buy so many whole foods. We have a deep freezer, so when meat is a god price, we buy a ton. Also, I buy my produce at Aldi's when possible because it is usually less than 1/2 the grocery store price. Also, CSA's can help save produce money in the summer. CSA's are community supported agriculture and you prepay and pick up a box of produce every week. Many places have great ones and most are doing sign-ups now. Sometimes non-soy milk substitues are on sale if you can use those. Sounds like you did save quite a bit though. The pork was a good deal.

[dmyersquin]

I don't look at "savings" on my receipt as much as I look at the fact that I am spending less. At first, I was still buying what we needed each week and starting to use coupons and stockpile the good deals. If I normally buy 1 box of cereal each week for 3.50, but now it's BOGO, I have coupons that doubled and there is a promotion for free milk and $10 back (this past week at Harris Teeter). I spent more than 3.50 on cereal, but I have 6 gal of free milk coupons, and $20 I will get back. Plus, lots of good cereal to eat or donate.
2 things that really help me. I get multiple inserts so I have more than 1 coupon of each item. I go around to each of the stores near me and cherry pick the best deals each week (that I know about from looking at the flyers and reading on here). I have 4 stores I really like within a 5 mi radius, plus SuperTarget right outside our neighborhood. I buy the items I can get free with coupons at each store. I donate lots of things to the food pantry and other organizations, send boxes to soldiers, etc. It has taken me 2 yrs to get to this point that I can buy just what is a good deal, hardly ever buy anything I need. I just figure out how to make meals out of the good deals. Hope that helps, Diana

[ms_metis]

You guys are all right and Thanks so much. I'm still learning and should be more thankful/greatful.
This year we are planting a veggie garden so this will cut down on some of the produce cost throughout the year.

I need to beef up on the terms here. Not sure what SWM means. I think WM = WalMart.
Bren

[DevotedWife]

I thought about starting a similar thread after I went shopping last week.

I can relate. I thought I did really well at K-mart last week during doubles.....then I read others' stories. I give myself a break b/c I don't have anywhere near the number of coupons as most on this site, and I learn something new daily. I'm still brand loyal although I'm trying to get over that and buy what I have coupons for (don't know how well that will go over w/DH either), so I'll take my $54 oop for a $91 transaction. It's better than last month when I would have spent the full $91. I know that as I learn and do more my savings will increase. My inspiration is someone's signature. I only saw it once, but it was something like I don't clip coupons because I'm a SAHM, I'm able to be a SAHM because I clip coupons........I love it.

We'll get better at this!!!

[jessl]

Do you have a cheaper store you can go to for things you absolutely need that week but arn't on sale?

For example, I shop at Shaws and Aldi. I only buy things at Shaws if they are a on sale for great price. The regular price at shaws is about twice the price at Aldi. (So I save 50% right off the bat if I just buy everything at Aldi)

As you build up a stockpile you will have less things you need every week but now while you are still at the beginning you will have a lot of needs so its even more important to get them as cheap as you can, even if it means two trips. A typical Aldi trip for me would be:

milk
cheese
bananas
fish
maybe one or two other things.

Looking at the list of what you bought, most if not all of those are available at Aldi. If you don't have Aldi do you have a Walmart or Target?

This week at Shaws I got only a few different things (I'm not done yet but here are the numbers so far):
scallops - on sale 2.99/lb got 5 lbs
ground beef - on sale 1.99/lb got about10 lb
chicen breasts - on sale for 1.19 lb - just got one pkg my freezer is full!
wipes - free after coupon - got 30
hot sauce- free after coupon - got 18
gum- free after coupon - got about 50
100 cal packs - 88 cents after coupon - got 4
Nabisco go packs - 25 cents after coupon - got about 24
Bagged salad - $1 after coupon - got 4
Got a few other free items due to some coupons Shaws put out for baby/H&B items

Notice I got a LOT of each item since they were so cheap or free and I had a lot of coupons.

So the strategy is:
-Buy as few needs as posible, at the cheapest store posible
-Re-evaluate if you need something or it is just a want. Sometimes you have to make sacrafices if you want to save money. If you don't need it wait till it goes on sale.
-Buy as many deals as posible to stock up so you will have fewer needs later.
-Find out whats on sale as soon as you can and trade for extra coupons or buy from the clippers - it is worth it!
-If you don't have an extra freezer besides the one in your fridge invest in one so you can stock up bigtime when meat or frozen food is on sale

[alexia598]

I've only just returned to couponing and I'm in the same boat with you -- all three of my girls are dairy-free. With food allergic kids, you often HAVE to be brand loyal. Many coupons are for processed foods that just aren't useful for our families, so the bottom line is just to spend as little money as we can on the products that we use. I've seldom saved more than 40% but feel like I'm coming out of the stores with more for my buck because of the coupons/sales.

Just want to give you a heads up: Sam's Club has the best prices on Silk soy milk and Arnold's whole wheat bread (dairy free). Where I am, the soy milk is about 7.50 for 3 half gallons and the bread is just over 3 bucks for 2 loaves, also bananas and white vinegar are the best price there.

Also, I second the comment on writing to companies whose products you use. Silk has a consumer panel. And Tofutti and So Delicious brands have given out coupons in the past.

You are shopping wisely (great meat purchases), and the veggie garden will be great savings. Keep up the good work.

[applerama]

I think grocery savings is the hardest. I can save a lot at Walgreens or CVS for shampoo and stuff but still have a hard time working out great deals at grocery stores. It takes practice. Don't get discouraged. If you find something that's a really good deal and you have coupons, stock up that week, even if you don't need it for a few! That way, when you do need it, you'll already have it and won't have to pay full price!

[kategriffin18]

Click on forum and then scroll all the way to the bottom. Click on FSOT. Under that, you can look at ISO (people in search of coupons). You can see if someone wants a coupon you have...then private message them and tell them to take a look at your wishlist to trade. OR do forever stamps. If you don't have a wishlist, I would suggest doing one so people can browse what to offer you without having to send personal messages. Once again, click forum, go to FSOT, then click on wishlists. there should be a sticky thread (kept at the top of the list because it's so useful) that directs you how to create a wishlist and how to link it to your name so people can click on it and not have to search for it

all of AFC is awesome, however my favorite part is the trading (although my husband laughs when I clip the polident coupons... )