So, even though I've been reading money saving/couponing blogs for a few weeks now, I only just realized the value of cooking based on the sales, as opposed to making a menu, and buying everything on it, even if it isn't on sale. My husband and I have really been having nothing but hamburger or chicken for the last year and a half, because as the general rule, those are the 2 cheapest meats. Well, as I was headed to buy my chicken for the week (as it was chicken's turn based on my rotation), I noticed the price of the pork. I had been excited to buy the chicken tenders, because they were only $1.99 a pound, which was a really good deal. Well, the pork which "is too fancy, so we don't really get to eat it because of the cost" was $1.49 a pound. Let's just say I didn't buy the chicken. I bought the same amount of meat, but I saved $2 from what I was planning on spending. So my sudden realization was that I need make a menu based on those sales, (unless I'm completely out of something) and shop from THAT menu.
So, aside from saving on the meat, and having that epiphany, here is how my shopping day went.
Not everything here was on sale, or had a coupon, but those that didn't , I needed.
-3 jumbo packages of coupons
-2 32oz All Laundry detergent
-2 500 sheet pkgs of Hammermill paper
-Special K cereal
-Special K granola
-4 Lean Cuisine meals
-2 French's yellow mustard (8 oz)
-Diaper Genie II refill
-4pk bow headbands for daughter
-2.5 lbs red seedless grapes
-2 30pk Pond's face wipes
-All You magazine
-4 lbs pork chops
-2 3pks Chap-Aid chapstick
-2 4pks Bic Comfort 3 Advance
-not pictured, 30 oz Mayonnaise
I did not get as many screamin' good deals as I have before, but for everything here I paid $80.66. That is more than I was hoping, but not by tons. The savings is where the cool number always is though. I saved $51.13 (not including the $2 from buying different meat). Aside from that I got a $5 Target gift card for buying 3 pkgs of diapers instead of my normal 2, I will be sending in for an $8 rebate for the paper, and I will be sending in for a free rolling cooler (rebate from the razors) All in all, it wasn't too bad of a day.
Congrats! Beginning the couponing lifestyle isn't easy, the key I have found it to start building your stockpile. By the things that are free or really cheap every week in addition to your weekly needs as time goes on your weekly needs will decrease because of your stockpile and you put that money towards the meat that is on sale and buy more to put in the freezer. My family eats great like, steak, shrimp, pork you name and I put it on the table but I don't spend a lot of money on them, I use overage and sales to get them cheap
ReplyDeleteJust FYI in case you didn't know - the Diaper Genie refills are on sale 2 for $11 at Babies R Us. You have to have a coupon but you can get it from the ad on their website.
ReplyDeleteSince i started couponing, i have realized we were paying WAY too much by shopping off of a menu. Now we figure meals based on what's in the freezer and food storage. Only once in 8 weeks have i had to run to the store for an ingredient we did not have!
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