source: farmgirl paints etsy shop
source: home and harmony etsy shop
source: pretties and posies etsy shop
I have literally had coupons on the brain for what seems like years.
It's one of those things that I want to learn to do that hangs over my head like a dark cloud.
My mom did it growing up, but she wasn't like these rockstars that you read about today.
Seriously. There are people who get $200 worth of groceries for $16.
People have said that Southern Savers and Coupon Mom and I heart Publix are amazing sites, but honestly...I can't figure it out.
Here's my big dilemma with becoming a coupon rockstar.
I buy raw fruits and vegetables and I try to stay away from most processed foods.
We still eat some of the processed stuff, but it bothers me and so I try.
How can you be a coupon rockstar if you don't want processed foods and frozen or canned fruits and veggies?
I'm pretty sure we spend way too much money on groceries.
I'd love to save money, but I'm not sure how.
See all of those amazing goodies from
Farmgirl Paints, Home and Harmony and Pretties and Posies?
Those are some of the things I'd buy...
if I could learn to save money in my grocery budget!!
I know this is the most
got any?
I want to start doing this as well. I have been looking at Southern Savers, etc, but I haven't started. Do share any info you get!
ReplyDeleteI have the same dilema. I shop the outer isles at the grocery where all the "real" food is and there are rarely coupons for that. I've also found that for some canned things like kidney beans and crushed tomoatoes (for chili, etc...) and pasta that the generic store brand is cheaper than a regular brand with a coupon. Plus the most popular brands don't often run coupons anyway because they don't have to. people will buy them anyway (think Kraft Mac'n cheese...ahem, not that I buy that or anything).
ReplyDeleteWhere you might be able to save is with your paper products, sandwich bags, foil, cleaning products, shampoo, toothpaste, etc... But of course you don't buy those as often as you do food.
The key is to match up a good coupon with a great sale, then stock up with a 6 month supply or so, so you can shop from your pantry (you also need space LOL). Sometimes with a good deal like that, it can be better than the store brand prices. Coupons.com has coupons you can print like that so you don't need to pay for the Sunday paper.
Another place I've found is good to shop at is Aldi. Do you have one of those down there? I buy their tubs of old-fashioned Oats for oatmeal, cream cheese, sour cream, canned beans and cream of soups, flour, sugar, spices and apple juice. I haven't found any difference in flavor/quality and they are less expensive than the generic store brands. Eggs and milk and butter I also buy there, but I don't go there just for those since my store usually has those on sale anyway. You have to have cash when you shop there, they don't accept debit cards, one way they keep their prices low. And you need a quarter to get a cart out (you get is back when you return it). I like that the store is small and I can get in and out quickly with kids, even though they only have one cashier most of the time.
Ok, sorry for the book, but coupons have been a big challenge for me too. I keep wanting to find ways to save tons, but just don't buy the kind of food that coupons are for. The thing that's helped me the most is to shop with cash and a list and not to deviate from it and no buying pop or convenience foods.
my husband is a coupon rockstar but i will admit, most of what we save is on processed foods, toiletries, paper products, and household items. there are GREAT deals to be had for things like name brand items where canned soups, veggies, fruits, pastas, sauces, etc. are concerned. we ONLY shop at publix and cvs. we buy 4 sunday papers a week just for the circulars (we recycle the rest). we stock up on things when they are on sale. my kids LOVE fruit snacks, pop tarts, and cereal (please don't let me lose a friend here!) :o). publix will stack 3 coupons at a time- one of theirs, a manufacturer's coupon, and a competitor's coupon. they will also price match from other stores. the idea of shopping solely at publix was laughable to me until we started doing it. we literally save hundreds a month. you'll find that they do put outer isle (fresh) items on sale all the time. you just kind of have to be willing to buy what is on sale that week- may not be your very favorite kind of lettuce, you might rather have red apples than green one week, may have tangerines cheaper than naval oranges. you get the idea. we save HUGE amounts of money on sour cream, cream cheese, kraft slices, kraft cheddar, etc. we use hotcouponworld.com redplum.com and southernsavers.com (on facebook and by looking on the site). hope this helps- even if just a little. it is SO worth it. unfortunately, we aren't saving for cute etsy things (i wish we could do that, too...maybe when i'm working as a nurse someday). we're saving for diapers and wipes in a few months. ;o) love you and excited about your new couponing adventure! ask if you have questions- i'll pass them along to my superhero (sans cape, of course). ;o)
ReplyDeleteI'm so not the person to ask about this. I fail miserably at coupon cutting. I do try to pay attn to certain coupon's for restaurants we frequent or Michael's. But grocery store ones usually are for brands I don't buy etc... Eating healthy is just more expensive. Not sure but maybe farmer's markets and Aldi's could be cheaper. Thanks for the shout out girl:)
ReplyDeleteI'm a follower too:)
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain - we don't do much of the processed stuff at all - maybe cereals - but even then, not enough to warrant the coupons. However - i did see enough of a savings to stop buying my produce from Publix. We garden, and what our garden doesn't supply - i get from Harville's on SR 436. MUCH BETTER and MUCH CHEAPER. We also get our chicken and pork there - they don't carry beef. The thing with Harville's is they supply the produce to Publix Walmart and many many restaurants so i had no problem going there. Plus it's next to City Bargains and i'm always junking there.
ReplyDeleteoh well I am all ears!! I need to do this too, so I will be back to read the comments! hope you had a good weekend Tara!
ReplyDeleteGirl, I am in the same boat as you...when I get off work I am going to have to come back and read these comments and get some tips. Hope your having a wonderful Monday! xoxo
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I LOVE the items you chose, especially those pillows-gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteAs far as coupons go, I'm all about deals and my friends lovingly refer to me as the Coupon Queen. So much so that I'm currently writing a second book on money saving for the modern day woman. As you mentioned, couponing today is a whole other thing than it was many years ago.
There are a lot of amazing ways to save and even more websites to be found. Some other commenters already left you some great advice. It IS more challenging when buying produce. We are big on Organic and raw, live foods like fruits & veggies in our home and there aren't nearly as many coupons for that.
One tip is that Publix and other stores take competitor's coupons and some stores that we don't have here in Orlando, like Food Lion, often have $5 off produce coupons online, or meat, etc. Those are great if you are able to print off a couple. Other suggestions are to by frozen fruit when there is an amazing sale since it's nutritionally equivalent to fresh (canned is not). Many times organic is actually cheaper than regular produce. Aldi was mentioned already-their prices are great. Sometimes farmer's markets are cheaper too, and you're always getting what's in season.
I hear you though, I saved 78% at Target the other day. Be sure to use their coupons on food, clothing, etc. Target.com/coupons. If you get them when they first publish (2nd Sunday of every month it seems-midmonth, you can get great clothing coupons, after the 1st & 2nd day they take them down.
Always pair a store coupon with a manufacture's coupon and then use on top of an existing sale where you can. Publix BOGO deals get me lots of stuff next to free! Target's clearance is my favorite deal spot. :)
Warmly,
Karla
Hey Tara,
ReplyDeleteIt seems like you've gotten a lot of good advice already. I always run into the same problem with groceries. I have no problem getting great deals on toiletries, paper products, and other 'misc' items. But when it comes produce and meat, I really have to hunt to find the best price. I suggest a local farmer's market or warehouse store like, Costco. If something is on BIG sale, stock up and freeze it. Hopefully you'll be able to start saving soon!
Simply,
Katy
HI Tara, love the eye candy!! Will be visiting those Etsy stores this afternoon! :)
ReplyDeleteWe are the same way, BIG organic and non processed foods. Much more of a challenge to save money. One of my ways to save is to use EVERYTHING. If something looks like its going to go bad soon, it is made into something else ex: apples into homemade applesauce, ripe bananas, strawberries, bluberries and etc into smoothies. That sort of thing. I buy alot of organic veggies, salad and that sort of thing. But I have been buying organic frozen veggies as well so I don't have the fear of them going bad.
I also shop farmers markets and have our own organic garden and whatever doesn't get eaten immediately gets blanched and frozen for another time. HTH :)
Kristi
Oh another thing that I've done is make a price book. That way when I go to Costo/Sam's I can tell if buying something in bulk is really a better deal or not. I just made columns in excel and wrote down what a regular price was and what a sale price was at the grocery store and what the price was at the warehouse store. Then I figured out what the price per oz was too, so I could really compare them. Some things like cereal are a lot less expensive if I just buy it on sale at the grocery store. But detergent is almost always a better deal at Sam's Club.
ReplyDeleteAnd I second having a garden! :)
I have dealt with the coupon thing too over the years. My best suggestions are:
ReplyDeleteMeal plan...I know it sounds boring or a lot of work, but it really pays off. You purchase less impluse buys and you are completely incontrol of what goes into those precious tummies!
I do a weeks worth of shopping at one time this also saves money because we waste less.
I do my weekly shopping at Winco, an amazing money saver. I opp. on a cash budget, and save 40-60% by shopping at Winco.
I try to purchase my non-parishables, ie household supplies, cleaners, meds, paper products, etc on a discount online store, or with coupons.
Everything helps! Good luck with you decisions.
Awww, thanks for including my pillow on your wish list. Ever since I've been selling on Etsy, I am now drooling daily over something there that I see. Budgets stink. But necessary. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for including my pillow, Tara!
ReplyDeleteI run into the same problem with coupons. I don't buy canned foods.. we prefer fresh over here too. It is much easier in the summer because we hit the farmer's market. The rest of the year.. I just buy what I need. I plan our meals out for the week and that seems to help.
I wish you lots and lots of savings!!!:-)
xo,
Melanie
Oh girl, I am a coupon clipper...I admit it. But I am with you on the "how do I save if I don't eat processed foods thing". I try to eat mostly fresh, too. There are no coupons for peaches, broccoli and lettuce! ;o) But I do what I can, where I can and that is all we can ask for, right? I use Coupon Mom, mostly for soap, toiletpaper..stuff like that. It is AMAZING how much I save! Here is my simple tip, because I REFUSE to spend half my life clipping coupons and searching ads for the best deal. I want to do it quick and get on to living life.
ReplyDeleteGo to Target.com and find their "coupons" section. Usually, Coupon Mom will have the same coupon. Target lets you use both (meaning their coupon and a manufacturer coupon) and it really adds up! Oh, and it is great for cereal, too. That is about all I take time for, but the money I save is quite surprising! Good luck and don't sweat it. There is so much more to life than the grocery bill. Ha! ;o)
~mary~
i am such a wee little voice among the many. i only have one mouth to feed but i find that time is money. it's easier for me to go to one store where i know where things are than to take the time to search ads etc. if i see a coupon for something i use terrific. but i don't want to spend $3 for $300 worth of stuff i'm not going to eat.
ReplyDeleteit helps me to just stay on budget and i think feeding your family the good stuff, the real stuff will pay off in the long run! i sometimes am appalled at the cost of produce, i just try and eat what's in season and on sale.
i think you're on the right track in that you're thinking in the vein. hope you get some of your wishes soon!
* in the right vein (no clue why i picked that word)
ReplyDeletethe thing that helped me the most was using cash for food, i quickly discovered how much i truly ate when i switched to cash! i'm done!
For all those that have an Albertson's near them, you could use this coupon there OR use it as a competitor's coupons elsewhere like at Publix where they accept them. $2 off any produce (skip the part that asks for a loyal card number and enter PRODUCe in the promo code box )
ReplyDeletehttp://www.fatwallet.com/forums/grocery-coupons/1016876/
It's good until July.26th. Enjoy!
~Karla