So now that you have some coupons to work with you need to get to the store! The next step is a game plan for your shopping trip. Grabbing your coupons and hitting your favorite store and buying every item you have with a coupon is not the way to go if, you want to cut your grocery bill by 60% or more.
Sure this way you may score a couple decent deals, but the question is are you really getting the best bargain?
You must have a plan. This is what works for me and having a shopping plan and going in with my coupons has equated into a substantial amount of savings on items. You can see the proof in my shopping trip posts here, here, and here( The last is a video of couponing with KIDS!).
So if you read STEP 1 you know that with couponing comes a change in the way you think about groceries. You can’t just make a week’s menu and then hit the store for the items you need and use the coupons you have for some of those items. Nope, you need to hit the store and buy things that are on sale and paired with a coupon. PERIOD. Ouch. Yep, it is not easy at first. And you may not be able to do this the first couple of shopping trips but by the end of your perseverance with couponing you will be able to cut your grocery bill in half at the least.
The thing with Extreme Couponing is to beat the system. And you do this by shopping at different stores and stockpiling on bargain prices!
The best way to save time for couponing is to use the Store Coupon Matchup Lists. I have those all here for you updated weekly. Stores include: Tops Markets, Walmart, Target, Save a Lot, Aldi, Rite Aid, CVS, Dollar Tree,Dollar General and MORE! The lists also have a customized printable shopping list that you can use from store to store. So if you only want two things from Walmart and then 5 from Target you can add that all onto one list all right here on Batavia’s Best Bargains. These lists are how you can coupon in 15 minutes a week for prep time.
- My Favorite Coupon Blogs
- Hip2Save
- FreebieShark
- MoneySavingMom
So pick a store. When selecting your store think about the coupon doubling it may or may not offer, the gas it will cost to get there and their coupon policy in general. If you live in the Batavia area I highly suggest Tops as your first extreme couponing store.
Than pick your store from the coupon match ups. Look through the post and be sure to look at the final price.
Once you have looked through the list take mental notes of the items that seem like a good price to you. Think about any items on the list that your family needs/wants. Note the difference between a deal having a paper coupon and a printable coupon. Do you have those inserts? Do you have access to a printer? (If you are saying no you must read step 1)
Now do what I love doing. Pick another store in your area and compare lists. Use the same blog, or different blog just find another coupon match up for that store.
Which store has the better deal for your family’s needs/budget?
Now that you know which store has the better bargain you are going to make your list!
Start slow. That’s the key to not getting overwhelmed with couponing. Pick 5 items from your coupon match up site.
Write a list with the following included for those 5 items:
- Specific name/variety of each item. (Don’t just write frozen waffles, you can easily get distracted at the store. Write down Kellogg’s Frozen Waffles Blueberry only, etc.)
- The coupon you will be using
- The amount each product will be after coupon
- The quantity of each item.
When you are printing coupons online the usual number you can print is 2 per site. If you have additional computers than you can print more. You should always print 2 coupons! This will help you in stockpiling and not running out to the store to buy another chicken stock when you have one more in your pantry that you bought at 60% off or more!
When you are looking over match ups start by picking items that are 60% off the original price. For example this week at Tops Sargento Cheese is on sale for $2. This is normally priced at $2.99. There is a $0.75/1 printable coupon that will be doubled in value at Tops making the cheese $0.50. That is an 83% savings. That my friend’s is a stock up price!
Looking over the match ups and starting with just a few items at a time will give you the chance to watch the sale cycles and see prices. One week there may be an item on sale and an available coupon but the next week it will be on sale for Buy 1 Get 1 Free with the same coupon from last week and you will start to know which sales are better. This takes time and you will get there. Just focus on your 5 items for today.
Once you have your list made grab your coupons and head to the store and snatch up those deals.
ONLY BUY WHAT IS ON YOUR LIST. This is good practice for how each shopping trip needs to be from here on out. Marketing is everywhere encouraging you that their product is a good deal. But remember we need to beat the system here and do a little bit of research to find the best price! We are in control of the amount of money we spend.
Now when you get to the checkout lane do not panic! Be confident! Be proud! You are saving your family money which can be used for something other than groceries. Before you get to the lane double check that your coupons match the quantities you have in your cart.
WATCH YOUR COUPONS BEING SCANNED. When you hand them over now is the time for the kids to be quiet. Many times there are errors or a cashier may miss one of the printable coupons stuck to another. Be friendly and courteous if they miss one. Ok be friendly and courteous no matter what! And don’t let any eye rolling or sighs from the person behind you bring you down! There is nothing wrong with planning each week to save your family money with coupons that are readily available for EVERYONE!
I was shaking the first time I bought 10 boxes of cereal at one time. I thought that everyone was looking at me like why is she buying so many boxes. It felt awkward. I started saying do I really need 10 boxes of cereal. I got 4 boxes for FREE and 6 boxes for $0.50 each. I didn’t have to have cereal on my grocery list for a few weeks! It was heaven! And I spent less than one box of cereal at full price!
I have been in line at Tops and people behind me are rolling their eyes or just staring at me. It will happen. But please do not let it change this new way of spending your money. This can be life changing to your family’s’ budget by just taking some time each week to plan. We really have it made in our world of technology because there are endless amount of money saving blogs.
Just keep checking my blog for local Batavia area savings and deals but do not be limited to one blog! As you progress in this new way of life you will be flipping from one blog to the next scouting out the best deals yourself!
When you get home hang onto your receipt and calculate your savings! Don’t get discouraged if you are not able to save 60% on everything right away. The key is starting small and watching for the sales.
And if you have a really successful first time post in in the Batavia’s Best Bargains Facebook group here!
SUMMARY
- Know which stores you have available to you. If you want to just shop in the Batavia area than I have match ups for you with Tops, BJ’s, Aldi, and Save a lot. I know some people prefer Wegman’s which is great for couponing as well but I will save just as much maybe more because of the gas points from Tops right here in Batavia.
- Follow coupon match up lists. That’s the key to find the amount of savings on each item- fast.
- Make your list from the coupon match ups on items.
- Start small with only 5 items on your list.
- Get your coupons organized.
- Take a deep breathe and relax and watch the cashier scan your coupons at the checkout lane!
- Come home pour yourself a glass of wine and celebrate while looking at your receipt and seeing the amount of money you saved today! ( And if you shopped at Tops the $ you save off gas as well!)
Ready to head to Part Three of this Couponing for Beginners series?