Save By Following Sales & Using Coupons

     Going grocery shopping in our valley has it's limitations, for sure.  Barry and I watch Extreme Couponers on TLC thinking that we will one day figure out their trick (but we never do).  We have our notebooks, marker, pencil, sale papers, scissors, etc. but our pile never looks like theirs :(

     We once even subscribed to the local paper and even solicited friends for their papers, but, to our dismay, we discovered that our stores in our valley will NOT double coupons and will NOT allow you to clear their shelves in one sweep and if the ad says, "5 items per customer" don't think you're gonna fool the cashier into thinking that you are shopping for 10 friends and want to put the total cost on only one bank card.  Nope.  (But, some very friendly stores will allow you to buy as many cases as you want - Save-A-Lot is one of those wonderful stores and last month I bought 52 cans of Green Beans for .50 a can).

     So, stopped subscribing to the local paper (the monthly cost was NOT cost effective for the savings we'd get on just a few items).  I quit calling friends.  Instead, Barry bought me a laser black & white printer for dirt cheap on Ebay & one year later I only had to replace the toner cartridge ONE TIME @ a cost of $15.00!!!  So, I print my own coupons now & save the cost of ink (by-the-way, my printer paper was bought on sale with my rewards card at Walgreens last year for dirt cheap so I have a lot).

     When the sale papers arrive, Barry and I sit down with our black markers & circle only the items we use and that are dirt cheap.  If they don't meet that criteria, we don't buy.

    All in all, we do a pretty good job and shopping.  This week we got some pretty super-duper deals for our food storage.  

STATER BROTHERS:  Betty Crocker Cake Mixes are .89 a box.  We didn't really need more cake mixes because in September we bought Pillsbury cake mixes for .69 a box & stocked up.  But, with the average price of $1.00 + we thought we'd add more to our storage.

VONS  Vons doesn't always have the lowest prices in town, but now and then they havea few specials and when you combine them with your coupons you can really get a good deal.  For instance, this week:I have 2 coupons for Pillsbury Crescent Rolls for .40 off when you buy 2.  So, with 2 coupons, I can buy 4 cans and get .80 off.  Vons is offering buy 1 at $2.99 and get 2 free, so if I guy 4 @ $2.99 my price will be $11.96, but if I take off .80 for my coupons my cost will be $11.16, BUT I will get 8 free!!!!  FINAL COST .93 each.  Also at Vons, Campbells Cream of Mushroom Soup is on sale for .80 ea (buy 5) minus my coupon for $1.00 off on 5 = Final Cost .60 a can. 

                                       


SMART AND FINAL  Ground beef is $1.89 lb sold in 5 lb chubs.  This is really a good deal.  We take it home, divide each chub 4 times, lay it on foil, flatten with the palm of our hand, wrap it up & store 3 packages each into one zip freezer bag.  Chicken at Smart & Final is .75 a pound and they are sold in a package of 2 leg quarters each.  

CARDENAS Canned corn is .39 a can.  This is really a good deal and time to stock up since our corn prices are going to skyrocket by 2013.  

So, don't forget to buy a case (or 2) of whatever is on sale dirt cheap.  Date it & store it, use it & replace it!!  Soon, you'll have your very own little grocery store right at your fingertips :)