Mary a.k.a. Canadagirl hosts Tightwad Tuesday where we can share our tips for frugal living. This week I don't really have a tip per se, but I just have to brag a little about my last big shopping trip. I shop every two weeks for groceries...paper goods, toiletries, cleaning supplies and food for the 3 meals a day for two weeks. Of course I have to go back often for fresh produce and milk and bread, but the big shop at least stocks us up. This past trip I saved $27 using coupons! That is the most I have ever had in coupon savings. I know it's not much compared to those who go and buy $100 worth of groceries and spend only $5 lol, but it's a lot of savings for us. The thing I want to stress, and I guess you could call this my tip for the week, is that I only used coupons for items I normally buy. I did not buy anything that wasn't on my list just to use a coupon or get a good deal. I am not dismissing those who scour the Walgreens and CVS ads and get lots of deals there. It's just that right now I have a strict grocery budget, and I can really only afford to get what we truly need and don't have any extra for "stocking up." So I was truly happy to get the savings I did last week. I get my coupons from inserts in the Sunday paper (only one paper) and off the internet. Simple as that. The biggest coupon I had was for the buy one get one on Dove chocolate (a necessity for mom lol.) Otherwise it was just .50 here and $1 there. Now, I may have to switch brands every now and then to use a coupon, but if it winds up costing less than my normal brand it's worth it. It takes me a good 1 1/2 hours to shop for the two weeks, making sure I compare prices and utilize my coupons, but the savings is so worth it.
My problem with coupons is that when I get in the mood to visit the grocery store, I'm not in the mood to check coupons. I end up wasting time by cutting them out because I'll likely never use them. (insert blush here)
ReplyDeletePlus, I have often found the generic is cheaper than using coupons.
Hi there,
ReplyDeleteWhat you said is soooo true. Only buy what you use. And if you can get a cupon for that BONUS. We find that most things in the flyer doesn't apply to us but it shows how much we are saving by how we shop and live. [0=
there are ony a few BIG ways to save but it IS all the small things we do ( like you did) that adds up !
Blessings and ((HUGS)) my SSiC
In Him<><
-Mary
I like to only use coupons on what I really need at the grocery store, so that means I only save a few dollars here and there, but the savings add up eventually. (Although I will buy it if I have a coupon for to get it for free. lol.)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got some chocolate! That's always a big help for Mom!!!
ReplyDeleteI usually use only the coupons for things I normally buy, too! :-)
ReplyDeleteAngela
www.homeschoolblogger.com/thomasjaz1999
When we go to Wal-mart, it takes me forever to shop, because I have to find the very best deal. We usually go to a grocery store that only sells one type of everything. This is much easier. I just pick up a case of pears and I know that I'm getting a good deal. I'll have to check out your future tightwad Tuesdays. Usually, I try to do Frugal Friday.
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