Save! Save! Save!

So I'm ALWAYS looking for a good deal.

We know this about me :)

Recently, I've been working on getting my grocery bill as low as possible so I've been trying to find every way to save possible.

I always use coupons and match them with the circular but I was looking at one of my favorite blogs the other day and the woman had posted a great post about what to do to save on groceries.

If you want all the info. (believe me you do.) you should click http://allthingshendrick.blogspot.com/2009/04/350-worth-of-groceries-for-125.html

So I took some of her advice and below is what I bought and how much I payed for it total.

-2 loaves of Sara Lee wheat bread
-1 head organic romaine lettuce
-1 package organic carrots
-1 package organic raspberries
-2 organic apples
-5 ears of yellow corn
-4 organic tomatoes
-organic bananas
-1 tub country crock butter
-1 pint organic half & half
-3 packages of 6 ct. organic waffles
-2 packages of chicken breasts
-1 package lil beef smokies
-2 packages Tyson bacon
-2 boxes Kraft mac - cheese
-1 bottle Kraft bbq sauce
-6 pack of Hansens sodas
-1 package capri suns
-1 package 4 ct. colgate wisps
-Nivea body wash
-VIVE shampoo
-VIVE conditioner
-Lady speed stick deodorant
-Arm and hammer (3lb.) washing soda
-Arm and hammer (4lb.) baking soda

Total before Kroger savings and my coupons: $93.42

After w/ all savings and coupons: $57.42

Total savings: $36.00

I think that I did a pretty decent job but I'm going to keep working on my savings tactics. My goal, to get my groceries for almost free. I do believe it's possible. Please check out the link above and all the links in her post and register at the websites she gives. They really are very helpful.

After all, who wants to spend all their money on groceries?

I do believe the reason that my grocery bill wasn't less is because of my organic preference on most things. This is something that I can't give up so I'm working on finding places to receive more organic and natural product coupons. I know there has to be more resources.

So give it all a try the next time you go to the grocery store.

If you have any questions about anything email me at victoria41986@yahoo.com I would love to help you save :)

Snip & Save

Alright, so in case you haven't noticed our economy is quite umm.... crappy right now. That's right, I said it, crappy! EVERYTHING has at least doubled in price over the last year or so. Everything that is, except your salary.

What to do... what to do....

Let me share a bit of wisdom (ironically I posted about my lack of wisdom just earlier this week lol). Like I said though, each day you live and learn. And since then, I've been livin and learnin.

Last night I was watching the news and can't believe the wonderful coupon and store savings knowledge that was bestowed upon me. I'm so flippin shocked what I didn't put it together before. It burns me up!

SAVE! SAVE! SAVE! That's what we have to do these days when you walk into a supermarket... well any market/store. But I'm gonna let you in on some secrets on how to save bagoodles in the supermarket. Perhaps you already know these "secrets", if so enlighten me and let me be joyful with my new found way to save!

Alright. Coupons. They are your BEST friend! Get the Sunday paper (Dallas Morning News) you can purchase it on Sunday but I wait til Monday to get mine, it's $.50 cheaper and I'm not a fan of Sunday grocery shopping anyway since every grocery store known to man is crowded on a Sunday afternoon. I'll pass thanks.

Your paper will also have all the grocery store circulars (I use Kroger's). Take that out of your paper, it will be needed.

Ok. You have your coupons, you have your circular and you are going to need a pair of scissors and something to keep your coupons in. Now you're ready to get started.

Cut all the coupons you need and/or want. Check your circular to see what's on sale. This is where the savings can get out right ridiculous, when you put the two together.

For example: You see that Kroger is having a sale on all General Mills cereals, this week they're 2 for $4 with your Kroger card. That's a deal in it's self, right? Yes, but you also have a coupon for General Mills cereals that is $1 off. So you just got two box's of yummy Lucky Charms/Cinnamon Toast Crunch/Cheerios for a $1.50 a box. Pretty sweet deal don't you think? How can those savings get any better? Is it even possible, why yes, it is. Check with your local super market, they will have double and triple coupon days. Now this stumped me. I had NO clue what this was even talking about?! My idea was that you got to use as many coupons as you wanted for the same thing ha ha. Of course that can't be right because then everything could be free. Well, actually double and triple coupon day means that they will double or triple the amount on your coupon that is taken off of your purchase. So, let's go back to our example of the cereal's. They're 2 for $4 and our coupon is $1 off but it's a double coupon day, so the coupon is now worth $2 off making the cereal's 2 for $2. But if it's a triple coupon day the coupon is worth $3 making the cereals .$50 a piece. Yes, that is quite the steal may I say.

The catch? You have to find out when your double and triple coupon days are. They aren't everyday of the week. Also, sometimes not all amounts off apply, it depends on your grocery store. Like it may say, "Triple coupons up to $.40." That means that they will only triple coupons worth $.40 or less. You have to catch these small things in order to save big.

Yes, I know... some of you think this post is crazy. I mean I'm 22 years old and writing about grocery savings, again (I have already posted about how to save money on meals previously). Well, it's never to early to learn the value of money, food and saving.

Honestly, it makes me feel so much better when I walk out of the grocery store and hold that receipt in my hand and see the amount that I saved by just taking a little time outta my day to clip coupons and look at deals.

Today's grocery store trip was very very successful :)
Price before coupons/Kroger card savings: $72.58
Price after coupons/Kroger card savings: $47.49
SAVINGS: $24.09

So I'm challenging YOU to go give it a try ;)

I Kicked That Grocery Stores Butt!

Let me start with, I hate buying groceries for one! I miss having my roomies to cook with. But growing and moving happens. So, now I am forced to make trips to the grocery store alone.

When I first moved away to college my grocery bill was outrageous!! I would spend about $65 a week on groceries. Multiply that by four and that's about $260 a month and that is ridiculous! I was feeding one person, not a family of four.

The crazy thing is, these groceries were not getting eaten. Most of them went bad because I wouldn't use them. I wouldn't use them because I would be too lazy to cook or I would go out to eat with the girls. I also didn't buy in portions that could be eaten before they expired.

So, this went on for almost two years I'd say. Two years of throwing money away on food that didn't get eaten. Food that starving children in less fortunate countries deserved, I most definitely did not deserve it. I was so unappreciative. I know you are thinking, OMGoodness! It's just food! People do it all the time. Which is true. We abuse our ability to go out and buy food at anytime and we abuse the fact that it's unlimited for us.

I'm not sure when things changed exactly but somewhere in my mid-sophomore year my roommate and I decided to team up on dinner. I think it started off with us consolidating our grocery lists so that we would cook together and not have so much uneaten food.

That worked well. But by my junior year, she and I had become pros at this grocery buying business. We could walk into HEB get our groceries for the week, this included: breakfast for the both of us for 6 days, lunch for both of us for 6 days, and dinner for two for 6 days. (Sunday's were our go out to eat after church day, it was our freebie.) Our grocery bill per week? $30! Not a piece, together! I know, I know.. how?

Well, first off junk food is out. It's overpriced and terrible for you.

Secondly, we PLANNED our meals a week in advance! This is so crucial. It keeps you from not knowing what you are going to be eating and it cuts out on last minute take out. There is no excuse for you to eat out during the week when you have a meal planned at home. Some of you are thinking that this is ridiculous. "How am I going to plan my meals for a week?" That's what we thought, but get yourself a few good cookbooks and you'll be just fine. The key to a good cookbook? One that has recipes with minimal ingredients, if not, you end up buying way to much stuff that won't get used.

Which brings me to my next point. You must choose recipes where the ingredients overlap. This will save you the most money! Choose things that each item can be used more than once because you always have something left over and instead of it going to waste, use it.

Always have a list made! Never walk into a grocery store without a list in hand. That is just asking for it. Because when I don't have a list I find that everything in every aisle pops out at me and says, "Buy me!" and of course I do. I have nothing holding me back from not.

Check your cabinets before you leave the house. I normally find half the stuff I need for my meals and I can mark it off my list. I don't know how many times I used to come home with ANOTHER can of green beans or ANOTHER box of spaghetti.

I'm sure some of you are thinking, man this is a lame post. She needs to spice it up a little. ;) Well, let me tell you something, the next time you go to buy groceries take a few of these tactics along with you. You will leave that grocery store with a smile on your face and extra money in your pocket and then... you will love me for sharing the wealth.

Todays grocery store bill? $20.61. Six breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Believe me it can be done and that money can go toward something a little more imporant than food.

Give it a try, let me know how it goes! I love converting people to thrift junkies like I am!