Grocery Savings

If you are looking to save money, the grocery store supermarket is a great place to begin!  Grocery Savings is perhaps the number one spot where most people can improve their budget.

Without turning grocery shopping into anymore of a chore then it already is, we have prepared ways to save you money a the grocery store without turning it into a second job!

Using Grocery Store Cards

The first step toward grocery savings is to make sure you are signed up for each store’s savings card, also known commonly as Super Cards.  Most stores advertise coupon specials only available to card holders.  In addition, many stores print coupons on receipts based on a card holder’s purchase history.  This is a great way to save money without even trying!

Now that you have signed up for supermarket cards, the key to  grocery savings with coupons is to only focus on those items you would buy regardless of  whether you have a coupon for the product or not.  If you do not normally buy super sugar hyper snax, why would you now spend the money on it because there is a $2 coupon for it?
This is exactly the spending trap the grocery stores hope to lure you in to.

When used properly, coupons can be an amazing tool toward grocery savings.  But when used improperly, they can contribute to wasting money!  Do not fall into this trap.  To maximize your savings, buy only what you need, and stock up on the greatest deals, especially big ticket items, such as meats that can be frozen and non-perishable goods.

Target Shopping

Instead of going to the supermarket and traveling up and down each aisle, stocking up on every item on your list, gear your shopping to the sales.  You will find there are times certain stores have better deals on meats, or produce, while others may have better deals on cleaning supplies.  As long as you are not travelling an unreasonable distance to grocery shop, split up your shopping between multiple stores (see shopping strategies).  Go where the deals are for maximum grocery savings!

Before you go shopping, the first step is to gather the coupons.   You will find numerous manufacturer coupons in mailing fliers, newspapers, online and sent to your mailbox. You also do not have to wait for those weekly store fliers.  Most major grocery stores and supermarket advertise their specials and display their flyers online.
Many coupon sources also exist online and there are numerous manufacturers just asking for you to spend less money to use their product!

Once again though, only collect those coupons for items you normally buy.  Anything else is counter productive and is not helping you save
money.  Another helpful hint is use manufacturer coupons at grocery stores that double (even triple!) coupon values.

Get Organized
After you have collected your coupons, place the store branded coupons in their own envelopes, one envelope per store.  Place the manufacturer
coupons that can be used at any store into their own envelope.

The final grocery savings step is to actually use these coupons before they expire.  Put these envelopes into your car.  This way, if you forget the coupons when you walk into the store, you can simply go back to the car.  You definitely will not drive all the way home just to get your coupons!
My personal experience following this routine has been outstanding.

My Very Own Coupon Experience
I will confess, in the past I have been too lazy to sift through the fliers, clip coupons and actually use them before they expired.
I decided to try out my own advice before writing this article.  The first time I decided I was really going to use coupons, my grocery bill came to
$243 and my coupons and store savings (from store cards) totalling $85, bringing my actual grocery bill to $159. I saved 35% buying items I always use!  As a matter of fact, there were no substitutes nor alternatives used in my grocery list, so I think I can do even better next time.  I will post a follow up and let you know!

Summary

Coupons can be a very cost effective and valuable tool towards grocery savings, requiring only a small investment of time.
In my first experience, I saved $85 investing less then an hour of my time over a cup of coffee.  I look at it as someone just paid me $85 for my time clipping those coupons.
If you are looking to save money on groceries, any discount on your everyday purchases is money in the bank.  When coupons are used smartly, they can really help save a great deal of money.

Happy Savings!