[ budget ] :: how to shop for groceries on a budget

This is a re-post from August - I am still using those giant bottles of laundry detergent and have the marinade and dressings in my stockpile. Good thing they don't expire until 2016! By shopping this way and "stocking up" on items when they are cheap, I have more money leftover in my grocery budget to buy meat and fresh produce.

I use the site SouthernSavers to help plan my weekly shopping trip. This site is amazing - you choose your store and the site has all of the items in that store's weekly ad with the coupons already matched! This saves so much time, I cannot even explain.

Although I am cheap sometimes, I don't like to sacrifice quality for quantity. That being said, I am not an "extreme couponer" and I don't buy things I don't need. I try to keep the prepackaged, process foods to a minimum (like cookies, snack crackers, box mac n' cheese), but I will stock up on healthier convenience items like canned veggies, salad dressings, whole wheat pasta, and tomato sauce. Oh, and condiments. The Hubs loves his mustard.

Clip coupons for items you use, and get a few things at a time when they are on sale.

My sister, LaSay (yes, that's her real nickname), came to visit a few weeks ago and I took her shopping at Kroger with me. She was a bit dumbfounded when I got over $70 worth of groceries and household items for $26. I realized that if I'm going to share my grocery shopping, then I should explain it in a way that anyone could use coupons for their shopping and even score the same deals!

If you are new to using coupons, I have two pieces of advice: First, save your coupon inserts from your Sunday & Thursday newspapers, and learn how to print online coupons. Second, start small. Don't make a big haul all at once.

It's perfectly fine to use a few coupons at a time.

Here's what I got at Publix tonight:

 

Grocery: $12.21. Retail price: $40.03. These items were already on sale in the Publix weekly ad and I had coupons for them. By combining a store deal with a coupon you save even more money.

2 5 pack belVita Breakfast Biscuits: $3.69 - $1.00 off coupon = $1.34 each ($0.27 per breakfast!)

4 Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Pasta: $2.98 - (2) $1.00 off coupon = $0.25 each ($0.04 per serving)
2 Ken's Steakhouse Dressing: $3.55 - (2) $0.50 off coupon - (2) $0.50 doubled coupon = $0.78 each
2 Ken's Steakhouse Marinades: $2.99 - (2) $1.00 off coupon = $0.49 each
   Otria Greek Dip: $1.60 - $0.75 off coupon = $0.85
21 Publix Yogurts: $5.25 = $0.25 each (These will only last us 2 weeks or so)

Note that at Publix, some stores will double coupons that are $0.50 or less! Check with your store for their policy.

Home Supplies: $17.75. Retail Value: $32.89. Again, these items were already on sale so I just matched a coupon to them. Publix is having a deal this week where you buy a particular name brand item and get their item for FREE. That's a price I like!

1 Downy Fabric Softener, 51 oz: $5.99
1 Publix Fabric Softener, 51 oz: Free (that's like $2.99 per bottle)
1 Bounce Dryer Sheets, 40 ct: $2.79 - $1.50 off coupon = $1.29
1 Publix Dryer Sheets, 40 ct: Free (that's like $0.65 per box)
1 Purex Laundry Detergent, 100 oz: $8.99
1 Publix Laundry Detergent, 100 oz: Free
3 Publix Coffee Filters, 200 ct: $3.00
2 Chinet Beverage Napkins: $0.99 each - (2) $1.00 off coupons = -$0.01 each

Finally, Publix has gift card deals every few weeks. This week, it was a $50 American Express gift card for $40. There was an activation fee of $4.95, but luckily I had a $5 off coupon to cover the difference. I plan on using it to purchase groceries in September, and possibly more canning (mason) jars.

I'll be done some more shopping later this week at Aldi. Hopefully the next grocery post is shorter!

- Maggie White