Money Matters:  Grocery Savings 101.

We all are looking for ways to save a few bucks.  With growing familes and a struggling economy, a paycheck doesn’t seem to go very far.  With a little work, you can cut your grocery bill without cutting back.  For questions or more information about any topic, email rebecca@maryvillevineyard.com.
Know when to buy. There are specific reasons for every sale, coupon and promotion. Understanding how these events work can save you hundreds. Buy produce when it is on sale and in season and then freeze. Produce is 3 – 5 times more expensive when it is out of season. Holidays are another time for specials. Stock up on condiments and grilling items around Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day, canned goods around Thanksgiving, brownies and chocolate chips in February.
Know the cost to shop. Some discount warehouses have a small annual fee. If the warehouse stocks items you use regularly, the membership will pay for itself. A warehouse does not offer the same variety that most grocery stores offer. If you aren’t willing to switch brands of big ticket items like toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies and dog food, you might not save as much. Also, buying items in bulk is not always a good idea. If you have limited space in your freezer and pantry, consider finding a friend to shop with. Split the bulk items and you’ll still be able to maximize your savings. Remember, most warehouses do not take coupons. Another way to save is by using a discount grocer. ALDI is in Knoxville and is a great way to save money if you know how much items really cost (I’ll tell you more about a price book below). They operate like a regular grocery store instead of carrying discontinued or overstock items that vary each week. Most items in the store are ALDI brand. The store cuts overhead by charging a deposit for shopping carts (you get your deposit when you return the cart) and charging for shopping bags. You can bring your own bags, too. The closest ALDI store is in Knoxville. If you aren’t in Knoxville on a regular basis, the cost to drive might negate any savings unless you go with a friend.

Use coupons. This is where it gets tricky. You have to find, clip, organize and remember them! Is it really worth it? Yes. Finding coupons is the fun part. Some of my favorite sources: The Sunday edition of the Knoxville News Sentinel, coupons.com, couponsuzy.com, smartsource.com, and manufacturer websites such as Huggies.com and Pampers.com. When you are sorting through the coupons, don’t just clip the ones for products you use regularly. If you would ever consider using a product, clip the coupon. This will pay off later. Using coupons is a challenge and there is a bit of a learning curve. To make it all worth your time and effort, you’ve got to wait for items to go on sale before you use the coupon. Waiting for the store sale to go with your coupon has incredible rewards. You can actually GET PAID to leave the store with a product!

Take advantage of someone else’s hard work. A few sites I use regularly are STL Mommy and Southern Savers.  STL Mommy is a St. Louis based site but has a lot of great information. The site has links to free samples, a directory of free and discounted kid’s meals, and great money saving tips. STL Mommy is updated weekly to show what is on sale at major stores (even Walgreens) and makes it easy to spot a good deal. She even shows you how to combine the store sales with coupons to leave with the best deal possible. Southern Savers has most of the local grocery stores and tells you which store has the best deal on a particular item each week. Sites like these really take the guess work out of groceries.

Don’t fall for advertising gimmicks. Sometimes the sale price at one store will still be higher than the regular price at another store. To identify a good deal, don’t rely on the store sales flyer. You need a baseline of prices. Study the prices on items you buy regularly. You might consider starting an excel spreadsheet or making a price book to keep with you as you learn the game. It seems like a lot of work but shouldn’t take more than an hour to get started.  A price book is basically a record of the best price you have paid for an item, not necessarily the ‘regular price’. Just update the list after every grocery trip and you’ll be able to spot a good deal in no time. You can record items as you go or review your receipt when you get home. You will probably want to organize items the same way that you organize your coupons. You can even use weekly sale ads to update prices. You’ll start to memorize your book after only a few uses and you’ll be more aware of prices immediately.

Know the cost of convenience. Single servings of chips, Goldfish, Lunchables… you are paying for convenience. In order to save a few bucks, consider buying some sandwich bags and making your own! Divvy up a bag of chips and cartons of Goldfish when you get home from the store. Cut up some lunch meat and cheese to go with crackers instead of buying pre-packaged. This is a great way to control portions, keep snacks fresh and have quick snacks to grab-n-go.

Be a smart cook. Plan your meals according to what is on sale. Use produce that is in season to save money. Plan a menu before your shopping trip and really stick to it. Find new and creative ways to use leftovers or make double duty meals. If you plan on having chicken fettuccine on Monday, cook a double portion of chicken and use the rest to make casserole on Tuesday. Be mindful of the work it takes to make a dish. In some cases, you can make two dishes just as easily as you can make one. Soups, chili and casserole are a great example. For just a little more work, you can double the recipe and have enough to freeze. Having a few easy meals in the freezer can save you a lot of money. We all have days when we don’t feel like cooking. Instead of carry-out, heat up a pre-made dinner from your freezer!