How much do you NFLers coupon?

[Hazelnut]

I am thinking I need to start paying attention to sales more, and to coupon. I realize it sounds a bit silly here to not even do this, but I have aimed to spend less on groceries simply by comparing prices, buying in bulk when cheaper, doing co ops, making as much as I can from scratch, cleaning with vinegar and baking soda, etc.

Half the coupons I notice in the paper are for products I don't even buy: harsh cleaners, tampons, disposable diapers, and junk food, so I have always kind of dismissed them. I get a decent amount of stuff at Trader Joe's too, where I think the prices are pretty good and I don't really see sales there.

But I know I must be missing some good sales this way! What do you guys do? And where would I start?? The mailers I get? The paper? Does organic produce go on sale much? I periodically hit TJs, Whole Foods, Costco, and even Dominicks (the priciest, but some organic brands, decent produce selection).

I got this book the "grocery game" from the library that got really into this. Again, she mentions things I do not want to stock up on, but some I do. She also indicates that sometimes the more expensive grocery stores have the biggest sales, which I didn't know.

Any suggestions? Care to share your tips?

TIA.

[BetsyS]

This is a controversial topic around here.

For some people, couponing works. Big city papers have better coupons. SOme areas of the country double coupons. Some families eat more "regular" food than other families. If you fall into those categories, couponing might work for you. Once you are in a rhythm, it takes about 30 minutes a week to do it.

For other people, they don't buy much at the regular grocery store. Sure, they may come across a coupon for their favorite whatever every now and then, and they may save a dollar. But, it's an unusual treat, not a way of life. These families figure out other ways (the ones you've mentioned--buying in bulk, watching sales, co ops, choosing to buy cheaper things, gardening, etc) to save money on groceries.

You have to do what works for you.

For us, I do use some coupons. I use them mostly on sour cream, butter (we like regular ole' Land of Lakes), peanut butter (I have no problem with natural Skippy), pickles, mayo (I'm brand specific on this one--gotta be Duke's), toilet paper, rice, cereal, yogurt (there is a $1 off Stoneyfield right now), and frozen veggies. But, we eat all these things normally. I'm not buying them special because we have a coupon. So, for me, it works. If it stopped working, or if it was too much trouble, I'd do other stuff. I rarely find coupons for meat or for produce, which makes up the majority of my grocery bill. But, by saving on the other stuff, I have more money for the produce that I like.

[celestialdreamer]

Couponing does not work for me in my area. We buy similar things as your list and there are rarely (if ever) any coupons for those items. Even if I was into eating the mainstream processed stuff, etc the coupons here are really crappy and aren't what you hear about in other locations.

I think you are on the right track with buying in bulk, Trader Joe's and the like. I would suggest you compare prices at those places because sometimes I've found that my bulk supplier has a much higher price for something that I can find in the natural section of my local grocery store or Trader Joe's. If you have a grocery store with a good natural section, they do tend to have sale cycles for discounts that you can watch for. For example, the Earth Balance vegan margarine that we buy is drastically less expensive at Trader Joes, except for the sale at the grocery store about every 3-4 months.

Also another great way to save is buying direct from farmers if you are not doing this already. I am amazed by how much I save on produce with our CSA share and organic, pastured meat by buying bulk packs direct from the farmer. I don't even want to think about how much I would spend on organic produce and meat at a regular store, not to mention the huge quality difference!

[rebeccalynn]

Good suggestions from pp. I would look at the sales fliers for the places that you do shop. Sign up for their email specials and for emails from the makers of the products that you do buy. Keep a sales book to track when the prices are really good for the things that you do buy.

[Hazelnut]

I am getting a lot better at comparing prices of individual items. I just recently noticed that some things were more expensive at costco than at TJs, as you say. TJs packages are smallish though, (like pasta) so sometimes I think it is deceiving, but yeah, in general I find them pretty cheap for a lot of things.

I keep waffling on the CSA for the summer but I HAVE to. I just spent 4.50 for two organic peppers at TJs. We used to get a cheap delivery of organic produce, but it wasn't local.

I went to Dominicks last night and they had mangos (not organic, but I think they're low on the pesticide residue list) and they were on sale, 2 for $1. That's the kind of stuff I feel like I am periodically missing. I do buy toilet paper (usually costco), and I still buy bread sometimes, yogurt if I hadn't made it, dried fruit, some snakcs, etc.

I'm also afraid if I'm not saavy I'll get duped by some of the sales that are not really good, yk? I'm just not sure how to do it halfway other than to scan the things for produce or egg sales or something. Grocery game was talking about sale cycles in stores. I don't know how to figure that stuff out b/c I wont' be in Dominicks every week.

[Norasmomma]

Well Dominicks is a Safeway company and currently there is a great promo going on called Living well, Feeling great, you purchase $30 of selected products and get a $10 coupon back at the checkout. for me it has worked great and many of the products are environmentally friendly cleaning products, laundry soap, toilet paper and some of the O organics line(there are over 3,000 products). I use sposies, so for me that alone has been a major saving point.

There are people who have been saving hundreds and hundreds on this promo.

I find that for me couponing works, but it can be a bit time consuming(and brain consuming). Many times there are coupons out there for organic items. Cascadian farm, Organic Valley and Horizon all offer coupons pretty often. There is also a site dedicated to organic grocery couponing, I think it is called organicgrocerycoupons.com-not sure though. I find for us it works very well, but there is a system to it.

For me we buy mostly whatever is on sale, but I also combine them with coupons. I still am using my 2 cases of Muir glen tomatoes I got last year at a smokin sale at my local store.

[Hazelnut]

Does TJs have sales? Am I missing them?

I do somehow get the Dominicks emails. I guess I will start reading them.

So at least I'm not totally off then. I was starting to think that I was really wrong and the good stuff went on sale too, but my time might be better spent making the chile so I don't pick up the canned chile on sale.

[lanamommyphd07]

I feel ya, o.p. I used to Looooove clipping coupons, sorting them, all that. And then it dawned on me. Even with 50 cents or whatever off, the brand name stuff isn't even with the generic. While there's been some brief bargains, I found it wasn't worth my time and effort. I used to use huggies coupons, but as it turns out, the generics work fine for those too...and they're about half as expensive. Our local stores put out fliers, so sometimes I go bargain hunting that way for produce. It's always so bizarre--cucumbers at 33 cents one place, 1.99 another. drives me nuts.

[Drummer's Wife]

I don't cut coupons, mostly b/c I don't get a newspaper but I've also found that the majority of coupons are for stuff we would never use or eat. And yeah, you can usually find the generic equivalent for even cheaper.

Also, I'm too lazy and unorganized for coupons. I'd have to cut them out, keep them somewhere, remember to bring them to the store, find those specific items at the store, then remember to give them to the cashier while checking out.

[Ellien C]

FTR - I just don't coupon. My house is pretty chaotic as it is, time, rather than money is my limiting factor, DH does the shopping and I'm not sure we buy much that has a coupon. So no advice from me. Just wanted to be the voice of the other side. DH does shop sales and totally stocks up when it's on sale. Did I mention my house is pretty chaotic?

[formerluddite]

Originally Posted by Hazelnut

I am getting a lot better at comparing prices of individual items. I just recently noticed that some things were more expensive at costco than at TJs, as you say. TJs packages are smallish though, (like pasta) so sometimes I think it is deceiving, but yeah, in general I find them pretty cheap for a lot of things.

i hear you on this. i was buying tinkyada bulk rice pasta (the twirly ones, ?fusilli) at the health food store big bulk bin, at $3/#. then i noticed TJ's exact same looking organic rice pasta (also made in canada hint hint) was $1.99 for a 1# bag. i had just assumed bulk would be cheaper.