(thanks Marty for showing that I'm really overly zealous on my Thriftiness...I originally posted the title without an R!)
Anyways, I thought I'd best share my findings and ways I go about this! Especially since the holidays are coming, times are tough, and every penny counts (they really do add up).
First of all, I've found there are a lot of online resources (if any of you reading this know of more, please share!). Just a few months ago, I didn't get the newspaper, but looked into a subscription on the weekend (so I could get the Sunday coupons of course).
Anyways, #1: I looked into our local paper here in CA, and it was only $20 for an entire year subscription. Plus I signed up for an automatic debit (to credit next year, which I will cancel early since we will be moving), and got a $10 Target gift card. SWEET! So all I'm saying is look into getting a newspaper subscription for the weekends, even if you don't read the paper. The first week of coupons alone, I think I'm going to save at least $40...so I've already paid for my subscription.
#2: www.couponmom.com This site it great. Sign up for the site, login, and you can click "deals by state." I realize not all the states are listed (I have since sent an email about Oregon because it NEEDS to get on there). But anyways, you can look at this list and some genius person has done all the tough work and corresponds Sunday paper coupons with the weekly deals. For me currently, it's mainly for Vons, Albertsons, and Walgreens. I don't know, but have a suspicion that even if you lived in Oregon you could look at the Washington Safeway deals and the deals would be similar. It takes a little getting used to because there is a code that they explain on the site. Their best suggestion is when you get the Sunday coupons DON'T cut out the coupons individually, stash then all in your purse, and then by the time you use them they are expired (I don't know how many times that has happened to me). NO, they suggest when you get the Sunday paper, take out all the coupons, put them in a stack, and label them with a tab from the date that Sunday paper came out. Then if you look on the lists from the website, they'll list a deal, say on "Chex Cereal." Then right before it, under "coupon out" they'll list 11-15 RP. That means go to your stack, find 11-15 (which you've neatly organized in date order), open up the "Red Plum" insert and the coupon will be right in there. You clip it out and now you KNOW you'll use it because it's on your list and on sale.
There are also some other great suggestions on that site you can read, and I won't re-invent the wheel, here. But definitely one thing, buying ahead and storing is SO much cheaper.
#3: There are lots of ONLINE coupons too. Couponmom.com generally will link to them as well. But sometimes I happen upon a good deal that they haven't listed. Sites such as:
www.coupon.com www.smartsource.com
#4: When you start making a list each week, you start realizing how much items go for, approximately. And when it is a good deal and when it's not. So just because it's "On Sale" doesn't mean it's a "Good Deal." And/or what's a good deal on produce and fresh items.
#5: Always compare sizes and costs per ounce. I remember my mom doing this in a grocery store with her little calculator. I'm not as diligent about it as she is, but it does make a difference. You realize the deal for the small size might not really be a deal, even with a coupon.
All of this to say, I come home from the grocery store and feel SO proud that I can tell Tobin that I save saved $55.00 on the grocery bill and only paid $40. I love the feeling leaving the grocery store, feeling like I outsmarted the store! I also feel like I would make the Miller family family roots proud. I remember when I was growing up our grocery budget (and overall budget) was SUPER tight, Mom and Dad would find the REALLY good deals (and usually those the store limits you to 1 item per transaction). Well, that meant the three of us kids turned into little shoppers too. We'd get all the items, then on some empty isle, Mom and Dad would have each of us kids take The Subject Item, the Coupon, and enough cash to purchase it ourselves. Then like a military operation we'd split! And into separate isle at different times we would go. Usually, worked like clock work. I remember feeling a little awkward when I'd leave the store (this 10 year old), walk out to the car, and have to wait by the locked car because mom had the key. Kind of looked weird. But I didn't suffer the embarrassment that my sister will never let my parents live down. She apparently was in the checkout, with the item, coupon, and the cash in hand, when the item cost with the coupon was more expensive than the cash my parents gave her. I think she must have turned beet red, said to the checker, "excuse me for a second," then quickly walked over to another isle where my mom or dad was and got more money so she could finish the transaction. Moral of the story, if you have a re-con militia system, give everyone enough money!!! But hey, we did what we had to, and overall were just outsmarting the grocery companies. And I haven't seen any of them shut down because of out thriftiness.
With all this said, I took this morning, about 1 1/2 hrs to make my list, cut my coupons, and I'm off to the trenches to get my deals, save my pennies, so I can enjoy other fun things or be able to give to others, knowing I have the money to do it!
