The Grocery Game, Part II

If you haven't read it yet, please read yesterday's post about The Grocery Game, because I'm continuing on that topic today.

I find that this system really does feel like a game, and I want to win. Every week I come home with a car load of groceries. Usually I haven't spent over $75, and I love to show Dear Hubby how well I did. You know how easy it is to walk out of the store with just a couple of bags for $50 or more! So it's really fulfilling to beat the system. Sometimes even the cashiers marvel at how well I've done. I'm not just talking about food, but also toiletries, razors, paper goods, and all the other things we need around the house.

There are a few things you need to know. The lists for each store are not published until either Saturday night or Sunday morning, and the coupons come out on Sunday. Therefore, in order to take advantage of this system, you have to do your shopping on Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday, before the next sale starts. It's not a perfect system. Sometimes I can't find the coupon that's listed, and sometimes I get to the store to see that the item I'm looking for has been wiped off the shelves. In that case I usually ask for a rain check so I can get it later for the same sale price. But, again, even with the few drawbacks, it's well worth the effort. It's also fun to run into other Grocery Gamers in the store. There's an instant camaraderie as you help each other find the item on the shelf that's on sale. (You can recognize them by their printed list.)

There are several ways to organize your coupons, as described on the website. But here is the way that is working best for me, after trying different things. First, use a Sharpie marker to mark the date and brand on the front cover of each coupon booklet. For example, this week there were 2 coupon books in the Sunday paper. I marked on the front of one: S 4-27 (for SmartSource April 27), and on the other R 4-27 (for Red Plum April 27). I then stand each week's coupons in a hanging folder in a standing file bin. That makes it easiest for me to find the coupons I need each week. You could clip them all, but I found that it took too much time to clip, sort, and file and then retrieve the coupons. You won't use all of them, but save them all, because you might be surprised what you're willing to get if it's completely free.

The advantages:

• We have tried new brands and new foods that we didn't think we'd like, because they're cheap this way. We've found all kinds of new things we like. You don't mind trying something new if it's not too expensive. (Note: don't go crazy and buy everything that's on sale. Try new things, but not all at one time. Concentrate on the things you know you will use. It's easy to get carried away at first and spend MORE than you normally would.)
  
• We have a big stock of the items we use all the time. I won't have to buy them again until they're at the rock-bottom price again.
  
• I am also able to buy things to share with a needy family that we know, and still not go above my grocery budget. You could also donate to a food pantry.
  
• We feast on whatever fresh produce is on sale: one week fresh pineapple, or fresh corn-on-the-cob, or pears -- yum!
  
• It makes me disciplined in my grocery shopping. I used to hate it, and put if off so long that it was a real chore, so it made me hate it more. Now I shop weekly and it's not so distasteful.
  
• There's always something in the house to eat.
  

In summary, we're eating better than ever and I feel really good about squeezing the most out of my grocery budget. I hope, if you have the time and enthusiasm, you'll give it a try also. I'd love to hear how you make it work.