Anyone get their groceries for almost nothing?

[cata5]

I hear stories about people who use so many coupons and get their groceries for very little $$.What are the secrets to this?

[kells3]

I would also like to know their secret. I use a lot of coupons when I shop. Last week I spent $149 and that was with getting $98 off with coupons. How people get a cart full for free or are owed money is beyond me. Kelly

[cata5]

Is that usual for you? Once in a blue moon I can do that well!Tell me YOUR secrets!!!!

[kells3]

No this is not usual for me, I wish it were. I only do a big shopping once a month or so, and usually save $50 to $60 in coupons. My store doubles them. Kelly

[geepie1961]

I usually do really well because my store doubles up to $.99 for a coupon. If the Sunday paper has good coupons I'll buy more than one.

[lightning1966]

Another great way to get a deal is if the item is on sale, and you use a double coupon. I have gotten things for free or really cheap that way.

[Mouse7088]

You know something...I've given this a lot of thought myself..I've seen those ppl. on Oprah (hee hee Karen, wink) and Sally that have gotten those huge carts full of grub for just a few bucks and wondered how in the heck they do it..now, I use coupons quite a bit..I have saved a $100 on a trip before, but you know what...I noticed that a lot of that savings was on detergents or cleaning products...things that I really had no business buying all at once like I did. I will still use coupons tho on the higher priced items that I just can't do w/o..like Wishbone Western Salad Dressing (french...yum)..when I have a big ole stack of coupons, I end up buying just for the sake of using the darn thing..I will go to a specific store we have when I know it's time to "stock up" on canned goods or when a store like Walmart has veggies on sale..I'll buy it by the cases.
We did the grocery shopping thing tonight and the DH and realized how stupid we have been...some of you have heard me whining about not getting a child support check since Dec. 12th....well, that cuts our household budget down about $450 a month. I usually take the CS check and do the grocery shopping with it. We realized that we weren't being as thrifty as we use to be. We have $ in our Credit Union Account and our Savings Acoount, but this is money we have been saving for emergencies and for our car restorations..we don't want to take it out because we know it will be 10 times harder to put back in. Tonight knowing I had to make a $100 go for groceries and gas for two cars really made me think back to how I USE to go about shopping. I spent $62.00 and have plenty for meals and for the hubby's and kids lunch for the week. We weren't packing the kids lunch like we use to..why? Because we had the "extra"...hubby was spending almost $5 a day on soda and a snack each day..why? Because we had the "extra"...I bought pleny of bread (5 loaves and I eat only Schwabels, spoiled there, but it freezes most excellant! I have bought other brands tho when it's not on the shelf) so I wouldn't have to make that long haul to the grocery just for it..there's a waste of gas. I always buy extra milk...and yes..I FREEZE it! I think coupons can be a good thing, but for me, I think I trick myself into thinking I'm doing such a great job at saving, but what am I saving if I'm not really using it on the things we REALLY need.
You'll have to excuse my rambling once again...I just drank a pot of coffee in about 45 minutes...didn't realize how many times I was "freshening" my cup LOL!

[Edited by Mouse7088 on 01-06-2001 at 01:12 AM]

[bwsmom]

I was a serious coupon shopper when we lived in Southern California. I shopped at Vons (a Safeway subsidiary). They doubled coupons AND had a club card which gave you extra discounts on different items every week. With those two gems alone, I routinely saved over 50% of my grocery total, which helped stem the financial undertow the cost of living down there was creating.

Now, however, I live in Oregon, where almost NONE of the stores double coupons! The ones that do limit you to four or five double coupons per trip, and some of those places further limit you by only doubling up to 50 cents! Some of you probably know that Oregon has no sales tax. This certainly helps when you're buying a car, a house, computer or what have you. Doesn't help too much on the groceries, though! And I think the fact that there is no sales tax is the whole reason why the stores here don't double coupons... they probably wouldn't be able to turn much of a profit!

So my advice is this: if possible, find a store in your area that will double coupons, with no limit on the number of coupons doubled. If it's a store such as Safeway or Vons that has a club card, GET IT! They're free and offer additional savings. (Some people take issue with these, saying that the stores collect information as to what you buy so they can market to you more, but I say bring on the marketing! If it's something I like, I'm going to buy it anyway!) Lastly, BE FAITHFUL TO YOUR COUPONING! By this, I mean to get the paper every week, clip only the coupons you know you will use, get a coupon holder of some kind to sort and keep them in (personally, I use a cancelled check file - they hold up better and have more sections, plus you can personalize the sections) and, by all means, "prune" your coupon holder - go through it at the end of each month and pull out all the expired ones. This saves time (and embarassment) at the store!

Oh one more thing....scout around and see if you can find a store that will take expired coupons. (Yes, you heard me correctly)! Some military wives I know say that the Px on their base accepts expired coupons. This is worth checking into, as some manufacturers/food companies only issue coupons for certain products every few months, leaving you to pay full price in-between those times for your favorite things! Happy bargain hunting! (Hee hee...I've had a pot of coffee too....can you tell?!)

[karenpe]

Mouse~~

OPERA???? LMBO

[Mouse7088]

Ok...now it's obvious that caffeine maks mi speling totily attroshes...LMBO w/ you Karen...OPRAH OPRAH OPRAH!!!! I'm going to do some creative editting now...as if you didn't know

[sweetcindy]

OK, I have coupon question...I got the Physique Styling Stick free (first 500 one day got them) and I looked all over the place and could not find it in any stores...it is a new product so they may not have it in yet...problem is, it expired on Dec 31 and it is worth up to 9.99 for the full size product...now, would you send it to P&G explaining this and ask them to exchange it with a coupon for a Physique product in my area?

Cindy

[cata5]

After reading some posts I realize I'm doing almost all I can although I do need more coupons- especially for free items like the Pace I received not too long ago. There isn't alot of coupon doubling where I live and those that do seem to have higher prices to begin with. I shop at the lowest priced grocery store in the area plus Sam's club where a gallon of milk here is $1.99.(I buy 12 at a time and use an extra fridge.So that's a $12 savings!) We have a freezer where we stock alot of bread! Bread that I buy from 2 different outlets.That good old world or european style unsliced bread has cost me as little as 15 cents/loaf!It is an over run so it is fresh. Day old bread is great for lots of things too.I also buy veggies by the case and meat in 10 lb packs etc. My habits are money saving I guess!

I almost always hate grocery shopping so many of the things I do are designed to limit trips. I have friends who go every other day or when they need an ingredient. My philosophy is if you haven't planned well enough make something else!Or borrow it. Or substitute. Or leave it out! Planning can save you a ton of $$.I don't plan every meal and buy my ingredients like some people do.(I admire them)I do save money by using my slow cooker alot.Starting early in the day works well for me and I have the advantage of being home,but even stay at home moms like to order pizza!
I don't buy alot of convenience foods either. For some working people this is a better route I think.
Anyway, I could write a book...I guess I have

Oh yeah-confession time-I'm really looking for coupons to reduce my grocery delivery bill! I signed on with Simon Delivers a few weeks ago and it is soooo nice.About 2 times a month between Sam's runs I'm ordering online-at least during the winter. The prices are higher (milk $3.09?)but convenience is great!I try to order their specials,salt for the water softener,and things we REALLY need.My husband loves the salt delivery!Anyway it is a luxury that I can almost afford after finding DOD.Still looking for more coupons tho........

[kells3]

Cata5 would you (or anyone else) like to share some of your crock pot recipes? I love to use the crock pot but don't have very many things I make in it. Kelly [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]

[ifitsfreeitsmine]

I have been doing coupns and rebates for years..//////

one things i learned with the way they do things now with rebates , is to save you're reciepts for 1 month and the upc's , they often have offers for rebates you get later on in the month, for which i have already saved reciepts and upcs , i usually save my reciepts for 2 mos and then trash em...hope this helps...good luck


a long time ago you just use to send in the upc's without reciepts so it was easier......

[SkyeJaz]

Between using double coupons and valuepage, and watching my sales flyers, I usually save about $15-20 per week on an $85-90 bill. I wait for sale items like Rice-a-Roni at .50 each, and use my coupons for .25/doubled, and get them for free. While I can't ever get an entire shopping trip for free this way, I get about four trips free over the course of a year. Also, we buy bread and snack goods at a local Wonder Bread thrift store. I freeze the bread, (with two 17 year old boys a loaf of bread last about 30 seconds in my house LOL). And...whoever heard of a twinkie going bad?? At the end of the world there will only be the roaches and twinkies left...Ha Ha...anyway, I plan meals around sales, seasonal items, and very rarely buy frozen convenience food....