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Angela e-mailed me a great question this afternoon and I thought it would be a great one to open up to all you expreienced couponers for discussion:
I have been browsing your website and am trying to cut way back on spending this year. What I don’t understand, and you probably get this a lot, is all the coupons I see and rebates and deals are for things I never buy. I rarely go to the middle aisles of the store (cereal, crackers and canned beans/tom sauce mainly) so the bulk of my grocery bills are on fresh produce, dairy items and deli meat. I also don’t have a ton of freezer space. What would you suggest I start with to reduce my bill?!
Please use the comment section below to share your wisdom or to ask a related quesiton!
Hannah says
If you live where there is a Sunflower Market, you can save a lot on that produce budget! I reallllllllly miss not living near one anymore, as they always had good deals on at least some fruits and veggies, and the savings really added up over time!
I would also consider saving up to buy a chest freezer, even a very small one, or try to find one cheap on craigslist. The initial expense is quickly paid for when you consider that you will be able to freeze strawberries, blueberries, apples and other fruits when they are so cheap in the summer; and also fill it with meat that is marked down. With the extra space you can also take advantage of sales that make 20 lb hams .99/lb – very cheap for ham! – which you can then package small. You can also freeze sale priced flour, tortillas, breads, beaten eggs frozen in icecube trays, leftover pasta sauces…
You can make homemade chicken stock for pennies using chicken from the clearance section – think wings or thighs for .55/lb; and it will freeze for a few months. Marked down yogurt or orange juice can be frozen to use smoothies or slushies, as can milk for use in recipes.
The first poster was right on in her suggestion to freeze food in freezer bags flat, it maximizes space and keeps food in meal size portions.
If you eat a lot of lunch meat, consider buying chicken or ham in bulk and slicing it really thin to make your own lunch meat. You can even glaze it with honey or other sauces and cook in the oven for a bit for that store bought honey ham taste.
Often coupons along with a sale makes for free margarine or butter from a brand that I don’t usually buy. However since its free I’ll stock up – they will last for a very long time in the back of the fridge – and use it for baking.
Most cheese comes in 8oz, whether it is shredded or block, so when it goes on sale, buy the shredded, it saves you time and doesn’t waste any of the cheese. This cheese will last for months in the fridge also, just check the exp. date when purchasing – or can be frozen for use in tacos, pizza, or other recipes.
The MOST important thing I have learned is to change my mindset from “shopping for the week’s menu” to shopping to build my stockpile ( pantry, freezer and fridge) at the lowest prices available, and eating out of that.
This has saved a considerable amount of money, the only challenge now is what Jennie’s post is about – how to save money on things we have to buy every week!
Stacy says
I felt the same way when I first started couponing, but I have learned a few things over the years that may help you. I try to plan my meals for the week with the food that is on sale for the week or with the food I have stocked up on. I google recipies with the main items I have and I have found some great recipies.
Another thing I do is that I get 4 papers a week so I am stocked up on razors, toothpaste, deoderante, hand soap, floss, ect. It is so much than my family of 5 can use so I invite my family and friends to come shop at my house for those things. I make it worth there while and mine too. So I use that extra money on the fresh fruit and veggies we love.
Last and not least I broke down and bought a cheep deepfreeze out of the paper and it was well worth it. Good Luck to you,,,
Nicole says
If you have a Sprouts Market in your area I’d check it out – it is my new favorite place for produce! I just went to it for the first time 2 weeks ago (they opened a new store and sent me a $5 off your next purchase coupon). HEAVEN!
I usually shopped produce at Kings Soopers, and sporadically shopped the local farmer’s market – but Sprouts I have to say had way better veggies and fruits and were 1/2 the price I paid at KS before. Check their flyers, they have great deals.
I’m right with you about the freezer space – and buying in bulk didn’t make that much sense to me before starting to use coupons. We mainly eat out of our pantry and freezer so our food is freshest (my hubby has a big problem with “re-heats” and grew up in Ireland where you bought food almost daily). I think we’ll eventually invest in a deep freezer – I just recently bought 8 whole chickens at Whole Foods when they dropped the price crazy low for organic!
Good Luck – and stay positive! you’ll figure out what works best for you and your family!
Andrea - The Greenbacks Gal says
I’m with Jessica. I buy things I don’t need if it produces overage or a catalina that will pay for my produce. Also, scour your produce area for coupons. Both King Soopers and Safeway put out healthy/produce coupons there.
I budget at least $20/week for produce alone. I only buy what is in season and I only buy what is on sale. We haven’t eaten grapes in months. But, we’re loving all the cheap citrus.
Finally, write to the companies that you really love and sometimes they will send you coupons – often times for FREE products.
Jessica says
We don’t eat much processed food in our house either. You just have to look for the deals that fit your lifestyle. While their might not be as many deals for the healthier food options, there are still plenty of them. The trick is to really stock up when there’s a sale.
Also, if there is an item that we don’t use, and it is a “money maker,” I buy it anyway. Use the savings to apply towards the rest of my grocery bill, then donate the item we aren’t going to use.
Hope that makes sense!
kate says
Although you may not be able to use a lot of coupons on food items, I would encourage you to think about the money you could save if you used coupons on other things such as toiletries and dining out. Thanks to coupons, I have not had to pay for toothpaste, deodrant, hand soap, or toothbrushes in the past two years. I also stock up on toilet paper when it is on sale and use a coupon as well. Using coupons for “non food items” saves my family about $60/month.
Also, If you eat out, use a coupon! We never go out to eat with out a coupon. We also purchase gift certificates from restaurant.com. If you get creative, there are many ways to save with coupons….and not just on food! Good Luck!
Laurel says
Stock up on canned goods at rock bottom prices. The trick is to buy what you will eventually use, and not what you immediately need. You can get 5 cans of beans if you buy them at $1.50, but you can get 10 cans if you stock up when they are on sale for $0.88.
Buy seasonal produce and plan your weekly menu based on what’s in season and cheap. Stock up on meat when it’s on sale and freeze it flat (chicken and ground beef/turkey) in ziploc bags. Buy deli meat on sale and plan a lunchmeat-free lunch once a week. My hubby eats a ton of lunchmeat, so I feel your pain. I try to find at least one leftover meal a week he can take with him or send him with PB&J once in a while. Lunchmeat could easily be 20% of my weekly grocery budget. Cereal coupons are available all the time – and for the good stuff. Use your coupons and stock up when the cereal is on sale. Dairy items like cheese and butter freeze well and go on sale frequently. I buy only enough to get me through a couple weeks. I don’t have a lot of freezer space either!
Start by watching the weekly circular, planning a weekly menu based on what is on sale and allocating some of your budget to stock-up items. Then add coupon match-ups when you’ve got a good idea of sales patterns. Good Luck and happy saving!