Saving on your grocery bill can be difficult. It's super easy to find great deals on shampoo and toothpaste. It's much more challenging to find great deals on milk and bread. I usually can't score a 70-80% savings using coupons at grocery stores. I typically save somewhere between the 25-50% mark. However, all savings are good savings, so I'm happy with whatever I can get! Here are a few things I do to try to save on my grocery bill.
- Loyalty cards: Most grocery stores require you to have their store loyalty card in order to take advantage of advertised sale prices. It's free to enroll. You must present your card to the cashier at time of purchase for the discounts to apply to your total. Some stores even have fuel rewards programs where you can scan your card at the pump and receive a few cents off each gallon of gas. Be sure to sign up to receive emails from the store. You may get sneak previews of weekly ads, special discounts, and access to store coupons.
- Match coupons with advertised sales: Look at the weekly ads carefully. You'll save much more when you match a coupon with an advertised sales price. I always try to do this. I don't like paying regular price for anything, unless it's something I absolutely must have. If you don't want to travel to various grocery stores to find the lowest price on an item, take your ad to Walmart and price match.
- Shop at stores that double coupons: I love shopping at stores that double coupons! Problem? There aren't that many around here. Ingles will double a certain number of coupons based on the total amount of your purchase. For example, they'll double 3 coupons if your total is $10 or more, 6 coupons if your total is $20, and so on. My favorite store to double coupons at is Kroger. There's not one in my town, though. I visit the next town over about once a week, so if there's a really great sale, I'll stop by and do my grocery shopping for non-frozen and non-refrigerated items. Kroger doesn't require a minimum purchase to double coupons. I've heard that there are other stores in different parts of the country that double, and even triple, coupons. But for now, Ingles and Kroger are my only options around here.
- Take advantage of Buy One Get One Free promotions: Stores advertise Buy One Get One Free (BOGO) promotions often. Sometimes I think that BOGO sales are just used to increase the price on one item. However, that's not always the case! Many stores will ring up a BOGO promotion as half off per item. For example, if cereal is BOGO @ $3.00 a box, each box will ring up as $1.50. That means you can usually use two coupons on a BOGO sale. If you had two -$0.75 cereal coupons, you could use both coupons and pay a total of $1.50 for two boxes! Pretty cool, right?
- Check the clearance racks or tables: I love to find clearance at grocery stores. I've seen it in various locations--tables near the front of the store, end caps, carts parked in different departments, or just among the regular merchandise. You can score rock-bottom prices when you pair coupons with a clearance deals. Be sure to check the expiration dates on marked-down items! Sometimes stores only mark down items past or close to the expiration date.
- Use your overage to buy staples: Occasionally you might find a coupon that allows for overage--that is, the coupon value exceeds the cost of the item. Some stores will let you use your overage towards other items in your order. Overage is great when you're buying items that don't usually have coupons, such as meat or milk. However, not all stores will allow for overage. Some will adjust the price of the coupon down to match the price of the item. Be sure to check out the coupon policies of the stores you shop at.
- Buy groceries at drug stores, when possible: Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid all carry various groceries. Occasionally you can find some great deals at drug stores. You can also use your rewards (ExtraBucks, Register Rewards, +UP Rewards) to pay for most grocery items. I don't buy a whole lot of groceries at drug stores because prices tend to be a bit higher, but I have found wonderful deals on canned food and snacks.
- Buy non-food items at grocery stores: Sometimes you can find SUPER deals on bath and body, skin care, cosmetics, cleaning supplies, medicine, and pet items. Don't forget to look for those sales, too!
I usually shop at three different grocery stores: Ingles, Food Lion, and Kroger. Here's a short description of what I like about each store and an example of a shopping trip from there.
Ingles: Most of my recent grocery shopping has been at Ingles. They have the Advantage Card loyalty program. I also subscribe to their weekly Advantage Mail and receive exclusive sales. They'll double a certain number of coupons according to your total purchase amount. See their coupon acceptance policy for more details.
Here's an example of an Ingles shopping trip.
August 26, 2011
Ingles Total before coupons: $43.45 + tax = $46.84
My Out-of-Pocket: $32.10 + tax = $35.49
Savings: $11.35, 24%
My Out-of-Pocket: $32.10 + tax = $35.49
Savings: $11.35, 24%
4 boxes Pop Secret Popcorn @ $1.19 each = $4.76
Used (2) -$1.00/2 coupons
Used (2) -$1.00/2 coupons
Cost: $2.76 or $0.69 per box
2 boxes Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal @ $2.00 = $4.00
Used (2) -$0.50 coupons DOUBLED
Cost: $2.00 or $1.00 per box
Used (2) -$0.50 coupons DOUBLED
Cost: $2.00 or $1.00 per box
4 bottles Ken’s salad dressing @ $0.94 = $3.76
Used (2) -$1.00/2 coupons
Cost: $1.76 or $0.44 per bottle
2 packs Laura Lynn Swiss Cheese @ $2.00 = $4.00
2 gallons of milk @ $3.29 = $6.58
3 four-packs 9 Lives canned cat food @ $1.00 = $3.00
Used -$1.00/3 coupon
Cost: $2.00 or $0.17 per can
Cost: $2.00 or $0.17 per can
2 packs Milo’s Kitchen dog treats @ $1.50 = $3.00
Used (2) -$1.00 coupon
Cost: $1.00 or $0.50 each
2 boxes State Fair corn dogs 6-pack @ $3.18 = $6.36
Used -$1.00/2 coupon
Cost: $5.36 or $2.68 per box
2 bags 40-ct Totino pizza rolls $5.99
Used -$0.40/2 coupon DOUBLED
Cost: $5.19 or $2.59 per bag
Cost: $5.19 or $2.59 per bag
1 box Kraft Bagefuls $2.00
Used -$0.55 coupon
Food Lion: I also do quite a bit of grocery shopping at Food Lion. Their sales run Wednesday - Tuesday rather than the typical Sunday - Saturday cycle. Food Lion occasionally offers 3-day specials and meal deals on various products. You must have your MVP Rewards Card to take advantage of advertised specials. Food Lion does not double coupons, but they will accept most manufacturer coupons. See their coupon acceptance policy for more details. You can also load coupons to your MVP card electronically. These coupons should automatically deduct from the register if you purchase those items. You can sign up for Shoppers Companion Email to receive the latest deals, unadvertised specials, and additional coupons.
Here's an example of a Food Lion shopping trip.
July 6, 2011
This transaction shows an example of a "Meal Deal." You had to buy certain items to get other items free. Meal Deals aren't offered that frequently, so be sure to check the weekly ad to see if one is available.
Food Lion Total before coupons: $31.34 + tax = $32.80
My Out-of-Pocket: $12.87 + tax = $14.33
Savings: $18.47, 56%
Cocoa Puffs Brownie Crunch cereal $2.09
Used -$0.75 mfr coupon
Cost: $1.24
Mueller's Spaghetti $0.69
Used -$0.55 mfr coupon
Cost: $0.14
2 yogurts $0.91
2 Palermos Pizza $13.98
Used (2) -$1.00 mfr coupons
Cost: $11.98 or $5.99 each
(The pizzas were what you had to buy to get the rest of the Meal Deal free.)
Tyson's Anytizers Chicken Fingers $3.79
Used -$3.79 Meal Deal discount
Cost: FREE
Mrs. T's Potato and Cheddar Pierogies $2.50
Used -$2.50 Meal Deal discount
Used -$1.00 mfr coupon
Cost: $1.00 overage (moneymaker!)
Cole's Cheesesticks $3.39
Used -$3.39 Meal Deal discount
Used -$0.50 mfr coupon
Cost: $0.50 overage (moneymaker!)
Otis Spunkmeyer Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough $3.99
Used -$3.99 Meal Deal discount
Cost: FREE
Kroger: The last grocery store I shop at is Kroger. Like Food Lion and Ingles, Kroger also has a loyalty card program. You must use your Kroger Plus Card to receive special store pricing. Kroger will double coupons up to 50 cents. You do not have to meet a minimum purchase requirement to double coupons. It seems like the doubling policy varies greatly around the region, so ask about your local Kroger's coupon policy before checkout. You can also load digital coupons to your Kroger Plus Card that will automatically deduct at checkout. BEWARE, though: Digital coupons will NOT double and they can't be combined with a paper coupon. For example, if you load a -$0.50 coupon on your card, it will automatically deduct. If you have a paper -$0.50 coupon for that same item, you won't be able to use it even though it would double and save you more money. That's why I don't load digital coupons on my card unless they're for an item I know I won't have a paper coupon. See Kroger's Digital Coupon Policy and Kroger's Print-at-Home Coupon Acceptance Policy for more details. Click here to subscribe to Kroger's email list.
One thing I love about Kroger is their Mega Event savings. Occasionally they'll offer a promotion where if you buy a certain amount of items, you'll receive an additional discount of those participating items. An example of this is, "Buy 10 items, Save $5.00." Double coupons + Mega Event = great savings!
Here's an example of a Kroger shopping trip.
July 30, 2011
The shaving cream and toothbrushes were from a different store. They aren't included in the total. The cereal and granola bars were part of the General Mills Savings Event. You saved $6.00 when you bought 4 participating items.
Kroger Total before coupons: $30.46 + tax = $31.99
Mega Event discount: -$12.00
My Out-of-Pocket: $13.01 + tax = $14.54
Savings: $17.45, 55%
4 Ivory Body Wash @ $1.00 = $4.00
Used (4) -$0.50 mfr coupons DOUBLED
Cost: FREE
Used (4) -$0.50 mfr coupons DOUBLED
Cost: FREE
2 Sunchips @ $2.50 = $5.00
Cookie Crisp Cereal $3.09
-$1.50 event savings
-$0.85 mfr coupon
-$1.50 event savings
-$0.85 mfr coupon
Cost: $0.74
Cookie Crisp Cereal $3.09
-$1.50 event savings
-$0.75 mfr coupon
-$1.50 event savings
-$0.75 mfr coupon
Cost: $0.84
Honey Nut Cheerios $2.99
-$1.50 event savings
-$0.50 mfr coupon DOUBLED
Cost: $0.49
-$1.50 event savings
-$0.50 mfr coupon DOUBLED
Cost: $0.49
Honey Nut Cheerios $2.99
-$1.50 event savings
-$0.50 mfr coupon DOUBLED
Cost: $0.49
-$1.50 event savings
-$0.50 mfr coupon DOUBLED
Cost: $0.49
Lucky Charms $2.99
-$1.50 event savings
Cost: $1.49
-$1.50 event savings
Cost: $1.49
Cinnamon Toast Crunch $2.99
-$1.50 event savings
Cost: $1.49
-$1.50 event savings
Cost: $1.49
2 boxes Nature Valley Granola Bars @ $3.16 = $6.32
-$3.00 event savings
-$0.85/2 mfr coupon
-$3.00 event savings
-$0.85/2 mfr coupon
Cost: $2.47 for both or $1.24 each box
