Raising A Family

I have always considered myself a frugal shopper.  When I got married 13+ years ago I began to shop the way I had watched my mother shop as I grew up.  I’ve clipped coupons and always looked for the cheapest item on the shelf.  I’ve always checked the ads and bought in bulk to get the most out of my dollar.  However, several months ago I heard about a few websites that detailed exactly how to pinch that penny even harder and decided to give them a try.  Using coupons to the fullest and really budgeting has helped our family a lot.  If you want to get started saving on your grocery bill, here are some things to think about.  And consider that even small savings can add up.  Just saving $5 a week can mean $260 at the end of a year.

• Set a budget. If you don’t give yourself limits you won’t know when to stop.  It may take a little time to figure out the right dollar amount and that’s ok.  A little tweaking here and there is totally understandable and you will start to learn just how much your family can survive on.  This may be a weekly budget or a monthly budget but start with something.  All You magazine recently posed a challenge to feed your family on $25 per person per week.  That might be a good starting point.

• Buy the Sunday paper. I have never been one to subscribe to the paper.  We can do all of the reading we need online when it comes to the latest happenings in the world.  But I do buy the Sunday paper for the coupons.  In fact I buy the early edition on Saturday while I’m out running errands.  It doesn’t have all the news the Sunday paper does, but it still carries all the same ads and coupons.  And since I don’t buy it for the news, this isn’t an issue for me.  I occasionally pick up more than one copy depending on what’s inside.

• Check for online coupons. There are many great sites that offer printable coupons.  Sometimes they are even of greater value than those in the paper.  One of my favorites is coupons.com.

• Clip coupons. Once you have bought the paper and checked the internet you need to clip and store the coupons that are inside.  There are many different systems for filing coupons. Personally I have two pocket size file folders.  I keep one for food items and the other for non food items.  I alphabetize them according to the brand name of the product.   It is important to keep up to date on this.  I tend to get behind at times and find myself shuffling through a big stack to find that one coupon I know I have.  Once you have decided on a filing system you will need to check once a month for expired coupons.  It’s of no use to keep coupons that are expired.  Clipping coupons does take time, but the average coupon clipper saves $7 a week for 10 minutes of clipping.  Is that worth it to you? It is to me.

• Use the coupons. Now that you have clipped and filed the coupons you need to use them.  There are so many methods for using coupons.  You need to find a method that works best for you.  Maybe you like the way you shop and are just into saving a few dollars.  Use your coupons on things you normally buy to save a bit here and there.  If you are in it to save as much as you can there are some great websites out there to help you match up store ads and coupons.  One in particular that I use is moneysavingmom.com.  This site gives you daily and weekly updates on store sales and coupon match ups. It’s a great way to keep up to date on things and know what the current deals.

• Plan a menu. A great way to save is to plan a menu.  There are several ways to do this.  One way is to print out a blank calendar and fill in the days.  Another is to make a list of meals for any given time.  I tend to alternate back and forth between these two methods.  I know some plan the menu according to what’s on sale during a given time period.  It is a proven fact that those who plan save money.  Try to plan the menu when you are hungry.  It’s easier to think of things to eat that way. I also try to involve the family by letting them pick meals to add to the menu.  However, don’t go grocery shopping on an empty stomach or it may backfire.

• Make a shopping list. After you have checked the ads, clipped your coupons, and made your menu, you need to make your shopping list.  Although it’s very tempting to go astray, you need to stick to that list.  There is no point of clipping all those coupons if you are going to waste the money on unnecessary items. For me the only exception is finding a spectacular deal that won’t be there the next shopping trip.  This leads to my next topic.

• Be observant. Once you are out at the store you need to be observant.  I often notice things that are being cleared out at a particular store.  These items are often marked down 50-75%.  I once got yogurt for 12 cents a container because it was marked down and I had a coupon.  That’s a bargain!

• Carry all your coupons with you. If possible you will want to carry your coupons with you.  Doing this works great for times when you find that surprise bargain you did not have on your list.

• Don’t buy items just because you have a coupon. Occasionally this is ok for a treat here and there, but for the most part you need to buy items you would regularly buy.  There is no savings, even with a coupon, if you normally wouldn’t buy that item.

• Buy in larger packages and in bulk. This alone has saved our family a lot of money.  Instead of purchasing several small packages of crackers, I buy one box and divide it up.  This is generally the case for school lunches.  It may take a little more time but it’s worth the savings.  Buying in bulk is generally a great way to go also, but you need to be careful because sometimes a good sale, especially coupled with coupons can beat out a Costco or Sam’s Club price. I have a list of items I frequently buy at Costco.  When I see an item on sale or that has a coupon I compare prices to see which is the better deal.

• Enjoy the journey. It’s not worth the effort if it’s going to be a big stressful task that makes you grumpy.  If you find yourself getting stressed out cut back and take it slowly.  It’s a great thing but it can be overwhelming.  And remember that even saving a little is still better than saving nothing at all.

Using these ideas and adding your own will surely add up to some savings in the grocery department.  You’ll feel a sense of satisfaction and be able to use the money you’ve saved somewhere else. Good Luck!