Well - off and running on the shopping trips yesterday and today. I managed to plan these trips because there some things I needed in addition to some things that I wanted. Learning to plan my shopping trips according to the sales and coupons is going to part of the challenge.
Sure I "plan" my trips out - usually based on exactly what I need for the next day or two (maybe a week) - I've even occasionally planned meals for a week - and I've done that shopping but this is more targeted - part of the initial stocking up plan. I'll let you know my results in the end
We are not very good at stocking up on things and know that this is part of the reason we spend so much on stuff when we need it. It's also the balance between hoarding (which we've both seen family members do - it is not pretty) and having a well stocked pantry and supplies which is the goal.
The websites I've visited while learning how to coupon recommend making a list of things that you want to have on hand - your stockpile. But knowing what you want to have on hand is only part of the journey - knowing when and how to get those items at the best price is the ultimate goal. For the past 2 or 3 days we've kept a running list of things we'd like to have on hand - its a huge list probably well over 100 items already. Everything from coffee, salad dressing, and ground beef to dishwasher soap, paper towels, and shampoo and tons of stuff in between. Ultimately it would be great to be able to buy everything when its on sale and with a coupon - it would be even better if it was a "rock-bottom price" sale, but in the beginning here, I'm going to be happy with finding sales and hopefully having a coupon and taking it from there.
Our next step is figuring out what we actually already have here. We've done a lot of warehouse shopping at Sam's and have 47 million packets of oatmeal and are nearly out of cooking spray. We have got to find the balance between what we have and need and how much "back up" we want to have on hand. Right now we are in this step and seeing what we actually already have here buried in the pantry. All part of the organizing steps.
As it will take a while to inventory and I want to start saving now it was time to go ahead and jump in feet first with items that I know we need or want and don't have on hand so my first step was checking the ads.
With the warning of possible TMI - I knew I would be needing to buy feminine products very soon and checked out the national chain ads at www.couponmom.com (you have to register at the site but it is well worth it) and I knew I saw some coupons in last weeks Red Plum (RP) ads. CVS had the sale I wanted on the items I wanted and the coupon that was referenced was a buy one get one free - hey I have what I need and a back up too - and I got a great price! Start of the stockpile :-) First targeted shopping savings of 50% whoo hooo!
Today I wanted to go get some grocery items as its back to school tomorrow and we need some stuff. I went to the couponmom.com site and went to the drop down menu for Giant Eagle and made my list based on the sale and what I needed. I especially like that couponmom lets you sort the sale by percentage saved off of retail price. Then I went to my coupon stash - which is pretty small since I just started this endeavor - to cut out what I needed in order to buy with super savings. Unfortunately, I only had coupons for 3 of the items I wanted. So then I went to www.coupons.com, www.smartsource.com and www.redplum.com to print manufacturer coupons for what I needed to buy and targeted to what is on sale at the store I want to go to.
On my little trip to Giant Eagle today - I bought 17 items (including a whole chicken) - there were four items that I purchased that were not on sale, of those I had coupons for 3 of them. Of the items on sale there was only one on my list that I did not have a coupon for in addition to the sale (the whole chicken). So I bought only 1 item that was in no way discounted (Schwebel's Wheat bread - lunches tomorrow - its what the kids like).
Total retail price of my shopping trip: $38.24
What I paid after sales and coupons: $22.41
Savings of: $15.83 (41%)
(and I stuck to my list and did not give into the temptation to buy other stuff while in the store)
Not bad - I hope you are picking up tips and are using them too.
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WTG! I am staying away from the stores and living out of the freezer and pantry this month. Yesterday, I picked up milk, eggs and some fresh veggies at Aldi's. I spent today writing to companies, raving on their products, hoping they will send me coupons. Cristina
ReplyDeleteCouponing Tip: Read your coupons! So many times I just looked at the picture and miss a great match-up. Example: I have a coupon with a picture of Ritz Crackers; however, it is good on any Nabisco product--wheat thins, sociables, triscuts, honey maid graham crackers, saltines, planters nuts, oreos, teddy grahams, etc. Hope this is helpful. Happy couponing, Cristina
ReplyDeleteThanks for your tips Cristina - I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge :-)
ReplyDeleteEllie, I am so excited about my January email campaign. Instead of shopping this month we are eating out of our stock pile and I have dedicated some time to emailing companies of the products that I use and love. I am not asking for coupons, just asking questions like, can I freeze Cabot cheese? or sharing a positive experience regarding their product. Look at some of the responses I am getting:
ReplyDeletePlease expect a Contessa care package which includes discount coupons and recipe cards. We thank you for your patronage!
Thank you for asking your question. As a token of our appreciation, I have placed coupons, recipes and some literature in the mail for you to enjoy. We pledge to continue working diligently to earn your approval while providing high quality and satisfying products.
We are sending coupon(s) good toward your next purchase and we hope you will consider trying the many other products under the SeaPak, Farm Rich, Casa Di Bertacchi, World Catch, Byron's and Rich's labels. We are confident you will enjoy them.
Yippie, I can't wait to get my coupons.
I'm glad you like couponmom.com, it is where I started my couponing adventure. Today I challenge you to write to Schwebels and tell them how much you love their product and see if they send you some coupons. I got my first coupons in the mail today and I just began my email campaign Monday. I recieved 2 $1/1 Keebler coupons, 4 .55/1 Bush's baked beans, $5 in coupons from Duncan Hines, and free dryer sheets from Seventh Generation.
ReplyDeleteLove your tips!
ReplyDelete