Savin' at the store

I stopped writing about my store savings for a while. I did this because I felt like I was only regurgitating what I had been told, rather then what I knew. It's been a few months now and I have a better handle on things. When I started the envelope system I started it budgeting $100.00 per week on groceries. This did not work. Here is why. Lets take a four week month for example, I'll break down in weeks about what I would buy.

Week 1: Chicken, ground beef, vegetables, eggs, milk, cheese, tortillas

Week 2: Chicken, beef, pasta stuff, milk, veggies, laundry stuff

Week 3: Chicken, pork, ground beef, milk, veggies

Week 4: Beef, veggies, milk, eggs, bacon, veggies, snacks

Here is the problem with that. I was buying meat weekly. That was hard when meat wasn't on sale, and harder if I needed meat and laundry soap in the same week. Then, the next week if meat was on sale, or I budgeted meals particularly well and I had leftover money I found that I was spending it on frivolous grocery items rather then necessities. So, rather then storing the left over money that week I would buy junk food, or other non necessity items.

So what I've been doing from now on is a big $200.00 grocery trip followed by three $40-$60.00 fill in trips. It is working so nice. The first week I spend hunting down sales on meat and other items. I drive to 3 or 4 stores to get meat on sale and stock up. I also try and plan this around other coupons or sales. For instance one week looked like this:

Safeway: $150.00 in groceries. However I transferred a prescription so I got a $35.00 gift card. Then with my club card and coupons I saved an additional $40.00 making the total cash out of pocked for $150.00 in groceries only $80.00!!!

Albertsons: Pork ribs & tenderloin on sale. I got 3 large packs of ribs and 4 tenderloins for $40.00. I also picked up avocados, tomatoes, and onions on sale.

On that trip I stocked up on orange juice, butter, veggies, rices, cereal, oreos, shampoo, and more. Since I had so much money left over I was able to go to Raleys and take advantage of their tri-tip sale. Tri-tip for $2.99 a pound. 17 Tri-tips later I was happy but not done. I still had a little money left over so I headed to Smiths. I have a Smiths (Kroger) card and each time I shop I get coupons. The week before I had gotten a coupon for Always pads, Cottonelle toilet paper, free tissue, and frozen veggies and foods. So I went online and scoured the Internet for additional coupons. I found one for Cottonelle, and Always. I got toilet paper for about $4.00 for a giant 12 pack and pads for free. Plus I got a free package of Kleenex ultra soft tissues. However while I was there I noticed that chicken was on sale. I got packs of chicken thighs for $1.65 each, so I grabbed five.

That week was a great week for groceries. With tax money I purchased a food saver so all of my meat was frozen nice and tight and safe.

The next two weeks I only had to fill in. A few fresh veggies, milk and eggs.

The fourth week I found chicken on sale again so I grabbed five more packs. I don't care if I have $5.00 in my grocery budget, if meat is on sale I will find the money in another envelope and stock up, it's just smart.

This week I had $43.00 total for groceries. Here is what I had on my list:

Red wine vinegar
olive oil
pam
balsamic vinegar
spam (shut up my husband needs it)
eggs
milk
garlic
spinach
syrup
tomatoes
lettuce
hair gel
bubble bath

Here is what I walked out with

Kroger brand organic olive oil spray
eggs
milk
garlic
tomatoes
spinach
apples (3)
onions (2)
asparagus
lettuce
hair gel
bubble bath
bananas
spam (only 1)

I spent $41.00. Heres how. Last weeks Smiths coupons included a free Organic fresh Naturally preferred salad item. I chose to get a free spinach for $3.29. I knew that if I purchased the cooking spray I could hold off on the $11-$18.00 bottle of olive oil until my large budget shopping week. I could easily make meals with out vinegar for this week. I purchased the lettuce that was on sale this week. Instead of Johnsons bubble bath I went with a Kroger brand night time one that actually smelled yummier then the Johnsons. I picked a hair gel on sale. I grabbed only one can of spam instead of 3 and left it on the list to remind me to buy it again the week I do a big trip. I grabbed only a couple tomatoes. Onions were on sale so I grabbed two. Asparagus was on sale for $1.99 a pound which is excellent so I grabbed two bundles. I got the bananas because Codi saw them and wanted them and if he wants something he gets it since he never eats. I got the apples rather then the syrup because I knew I had a gazillion boxes of cereal at home so that would suffice for breakfast and apples would be a good snack.

I think the best part of stocking up meat wise is that I now know I can go at least 3 weeks or more with out purchasing meat. This makes me relax so much more knowing that I have wiggle room with my grocery budget now.

I also now keep a coupon book. It is a small notebook with a pocket in front. In the pocket is envelopes for each store. That way when I go to Smiths I automatically put my Smiths coupons in there. Then on a sheet of paper labeled Smiths I put what coupon is in there and it's expiration date. In front of the envelopes are manufacturer coupons paper clipped together. I have about 10 Huggies coupons right now. They are paper clipped in order of earliest expiration to the one farthest away. I also list those on a sheet of paper. When I do my large shopping trip now I make lists based on each store, and put marks next to what I have a manufacturer coupon for so I can keep an eye out for sales. Every Wednesday I search the store circulars for coupons. Sunday I check the paper. Weekly if there is something I really need I go online. For instance I need laundry soap this week so I went to Gain's website and found a coupon. I often visit Walmarts free section and ask for samples because samples always come with coupons. I don't put more then an hour a week into couponing but sure saves me money.

To recap here is what I've learned.

Don't be afraid to adjust your budget. If it isn't working find out why and redo it.
Be open to adjusting your grocery list. If you see something on sale like meat or veggies figure out how you can adjust your list to accommodate that.
COUPONS ARE YOUR FRIEND
Go store brand on things that don't matter (hair gel, bubble bath, etc)
Don't skimp on important things, no matter how much money you save single ply shitty toilet paper is never going to feel good when you wipe your ass!
Stock up on meat, but that doesn't mean use it all right away. I still buy meat. That way I have some saved for weeks I am short money. If I end up needing toilet paper, laundry soap, and diapers in the same week you bet your ass I have no money left for meat, I'm relieved knowing I have my little stock pile!
Menu plan. I can't tell you how important this is.
Buy cheap sides. You can get really far with a bag of brown rice and a bag of potatoes. The possibilities are endless!
Make your own. I made fresh blueberry cranberry muffins today and I didn't spend a dime, it was all stuff on hand. Purchasing muffins or muffin mix would have cost me so much more then just making it from scratch, don't be afraid to cook!

Tell me. What have you learned lately? Have you saved money shopping? Do you have any great tips?

posted on Apr. 14, 2009

Comments

Apr. 15 2009	kristi said… the meat idea is a great one...we just need to buy a freezer!
Apr. 15 2009	Just Jiff said… You are my hero. Seriously. I need to do ALL of that. We even have a deep freeze.
Apr. 15 2009	Steph said… I had to adjust our restaurant envelope budgeting too. When I started out, I was giving us $75/wk (I get paid weekly) but sometimes would use it up before the next week. So, I switched to doing $150 the first week of the month, and $200 the third week. We usually have money left over or enough to have a bbq with friends. Keep in mind there are only 2 of us and we don't eat very much meat. I also only shop at Trader Joes (with an occasional trip to a bigger Whole Foods type store). For us I find that it saves me money because they have good prices on a lot of things, and they don't carry all the extra's that grocery stores do. I.e. there isn't a huge cleaning or cosmetic isle for me to be tempted with:) The envelope system is all about finding what works for you! I also switched from giving us gas money once a month to once a week, and to putting away clothes money once a month. After following it strictly since Jan, we have it down now and are able to have extra money left over in most of our envelopes AND our credit cards will all be paid off in May and June. I didn't think the whole Dave Ramsey system was going to really work for us because I was already pretty organized, we weren't frivolous spenders, but seriously.... sooo glad we are doing it!
Apr. 15 2009	Tabitha said… I am going to have to give this envelope system a try! I have had to re~adjust the food shopping budget here too ~ everything over here is just costing more and more each week ~ it is unbelievable!! Thanks for sharing this ~ you sound like you are so organised with all this stuff! Love and hugs Tab XXXX
Apr. 15 2009	Tabitha said… I am going to have to give this envelope system a try! I have had to re~adjust the food shopping budget here too ~ everything over here is just costing more and more each week ~ it is unbelievable!! Thanks for sharing this ~ you sound like you are so organised with all this stuff! Love and hugs Tab XXXX
Apr. 15 2009	Tabitha said… I am going to have to give this envelope system a try! I have had to re~adjust the food shopping budget here too ~ everything over here is just costing more and more each week ~ it is unbelievable!! Thanks for sharing this ~ you sound like you are so organised with all this stuff! Love and hugs Tab XXXX
Apr. 15 2009	Tabitha said… Oh Goodness ~ sorry about that ~ the comment thingy went a bit mad ha ha XXXXX
Apr. 15 2009	hobbychanger said… I also steal my mom's coupon section from her newspaper on Sundays. There, I only cut out the brands of things I must have because of my own anal retentiveness. Then when I go to the store, I have two sets of coupons and I buy double and store it. Granted, this doesn't work well with things that go bad quicklky, but it's fanstastic with things like detergent, body soap, toothpaste, and tylenol, etc. Yes, it cost me more upfront to buy double, but I end up saving money because I have coupons on things I would buy anyways during the times when there aren't coupons for those brands/items. I also use up the coupons before they expire too this way!
Apr. 15 2009	Mrs. J said… Sign up at shortcuts.com to get e-coupons with your kroger card. I don't know if you wanna do it but when I go to Kroger (sometimes only coz it's like an hour away from our area), I check out their manager's special meats. They usually put discounts on meats that they need to sell asap. I buy them and just stick them in our freezer. I get cheap meats that way. Also check your Kroger's coupon policy. Ours double coupons up to 50 cents value. I heard other Kroger stores triple coupons too. I don't know if you have time for this but check out www.hotcouponworld.com. Go the forum for Kroger and you will learn good deals from couponers :) Hope I helped a bit. You can also check out other store forums in there too.
Apr. 15 2009	Stacey said… I've been finding meat a bit expencive too so I decided to go vegetarian! Not completely because I'll still eat chicken and I'll eat meat if I have too (honestly my family are soooo against not eating meat). So far its working out allright and I dont have to sacrifice the good stuff (like my trashy magazines with Robert on the cover). Totally with you on the good quality toilet paper! Dad tried to buy cheap stuff once and I was like "hell no you dont".
Apr. 16 2009	Alexandra said… I don't know how you do it. I try to stick to a budget but end up failing miserably. I might just give this Envelope System a try.
Apr. 16 2009	Alexandra said… I don't know how you do it. I try to stick to a budget but always end up failing miserably. I might just have to give this Envelope system a try.
Apr. 16 2009	Aimee said… UGHHH I am about to start this!!! Our bills are crazy and I think the first way to cut back is food! It isn't worth having to go back to work full time just to have the cheese doodles, brownies, and fancy pants dinners! And so I surrender, and will start my frugal fanny ways!
Apr. 16 2009	Marni said… What great tips. I totally need to meal plan, but I just keep saying it.
Apr. 16 2009	Heidi said… I think my biggest grocery saver is the fact that I am not just buying food anymore. I used to stock up on food whenever it was on sale. I would continue to stock up til it went bad. I learned after looking at it all, I wasn't eating as much as I was buying. I am saving a lot more by just picking up a few things here and there. Did you know Target/Walmart sells cereal for $$ less than Frys or Safeway? I get all my paper, cereal, bathroom items and most of my boxed goods from Target/Walmart.
Apr. 19 2009	Mrs. F said… I am very impressed with your mad shopping skilz. I would say that menu planning definitely helps me get the most bang for my buck. Knowing what I am going to buy when I go to the store is my best tip.