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I have been interested in some of these online coupons, but I have not been motivated enough to spend the time sorting it all out. I stick with the coupons in the Sunday paper. After comparing the prices of some items after coupons to the stores I typically shop at for groceries, I do just fine without the coupons.
I know the large stores have strangled many smaller grocery stores, but here, there are a few small ones that have great prices. There is a Mexican produce store down the street from me, and I typically spend about $20 bucks a week for groceries there. Sticking to fruits, veggies and fresh meats has kept my food expenses exceptionally low, and my refrigerator and pantry is always jam packed. The key is avoiding prepackaged and prepared foods, and learning how to cook delicious food yourself... Your basically paying extra for something you could be doing at home when you buy prepackaged foods.
That is the best way...."shop the perimeter" of the store-the inner aisles are for packaged/pre-made foods and the outer is for dairy, fruits and veggies etc.
But I still slip into the aisle with Cheezits sometimes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by andywire
I have been interested in some of these online coupons, but I have not been motivated enough to spend the time sorting it all out. I stick with the coupons in the Sunday paper. After comparing the prices of some items after coupons to the stores I typically shop at for groceries, I do just fine without the coupons.
I know the large stores have strangled many smaller grocery stores, but here, there are a few small ones that have great prices. There is a Mexican produce store down the street from me, and I typically spend about $20 bucks a week for groceries there. Sticking to fruits, veggies and fresh meats has kept my food expenses exceptionally low, and my refrigerator and pantry is always jam packed. The key is avoiding prepackaged and prepared foods, and learning how to cook delicious food yourself... Your basically paying extra for something you could be doing at home when you buy prepackaged foods.
I went to Walmart today for my monthly shopping. My bill before coupons was $118.05. and after my coupons were deducted, it came to 90.49. So I saved $27.56.
The "extreme couponers" are usually buying absolute crap.
Chef Boyardee and that kind of thing.
Not a big problem once in a while, but when your house is stocked with,
well, absolute crap, that's what you're eating b/c you're so happy to have gotten it for "free or next to that."
No thanks.
I'll continue to combine my coupons with store specials on decent items
and buy the perimeter items when on sale.
I don't buy crap. Cereal is over $1.00 cheaper at Walmart than the grocery stores, and coupons make it even cheaper. I had a coupon (two of them) for $2.00 off on Kingston charcoal. I bought two bags for $5 each, and got them for $3, I also had a coupon for a free box of L'Oreal hair color. I buy my non-meat items at Walmart with coupons. I buy meat from Costco, ethnic grocery stores, and major grocery chains when it's on sale. I only buy items that I need and can use, I don't buy unecessary items.
If I had bought what I bought at a major grocery store, it would have cost me over $200.
I look through the coupons that come in the newspaper but usually there are only a handful that I will actually use. Coupons do save us money, but not even close to the huge amounts you see on those shows.
We get coupons in the mail and we use those to save money at local restaurants and on car repair/maintenance. Those deals can add up to some big savings over the course of a year.
Also we pick up Roomsaver coupon books to get discounts on hotel rooms.
Sometimes you can find coupons in the stores themselves. Today at Target the laundry detergent I normally buy was on sale. If you bought 2 then you also got a $5 giftcard. I bought the extra box because it was on sale anyway and now I won't have to buy it for awhile. I also have an extra $5 to spend in giftcard form.
At Safeway I always go through the clearance section where the coupons are attached to the products. I've gotten 50% off paper towels (the package only had a tiny hole), 50% off vitamins (not even close to expiring), 50% off canned goods and cereals (so what if it's slightly dented...lol), and assorted other paper products. I also buy the 50% off clearance meat. If you check things over you can find some good stuff. On one good day a few months ago I got ground turkey, assorted cuts of beef, chicken breast, and pork loin. The retail before the coupons was about $200 and my final bill was $98. I have a big freezer so I just throw the meat in there and eat it over time.
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