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Several readers have asked me to post my couponing and money-saving tips. Actually one person suggested that I start a blog of them.
I’m not sure that I have enough tips to populate an entire blog, but I do think that I have enough tips to share them one day a week. That is why I’ve decided to participate in Frugal Fridays. Each week I will be sharing one frugal tip and linking to the main Frugal Friday project over at Biblical Womanhood.
My tip for this week deals with how to slash your grocery bills by using an Internet service that helps you find grocery deals using published newspaper coupons.
I use such a service and am able to save over 60% on my grocery bill each week. In real terms, this means that my weekly grocery bill for a family of four averages $85 a week. This includes incidentals such as shampoo, detergent, toilet paper, and cosmetics. We don’t skimp either. We eat quite well.
People assume that I spend hours each week looking for the best bargains and clipping coupons. They imagine that I travel from store to store hunting for deals. They are wrong! I don’t have that kind of extra time. All it takes me is about 1/2 hour each week to create my shopping list and less than an hour to cut coupons. My actual shopping time (I go to two stores) is about two hours. So, in 3 1/2 hours every week I save my family over $90!
There are at least three programs on the Internet to help you find grocery deals that I am aware of and I have tried all three programs. Here is my review of the three AND the service that I prefer to use.
1. The Coupon Mom. The Coupon Mom offers a lot of options including (but not limited to) the ability to print grocery coupons, find grocery deals at selected stores in your state, and links to free samples. What I like best about this site is the Virtual Coupon Organizer. With this tool you can find a coupon for nearly everything that you need. Let’s say that you are out of kleenex. Before you go to the store to pick up more you can go to the Virtual Coupon Organizer, type in the word “kleenex” and a list of newspaper coupons for kleenex and the dates on which they were published appears. This service is free, but you must log in.
2. Coupon Database at Families.com. This database is similar to the virtual coupon organizer, except that you can add your own coupon finds to it. As far as I know, this database is maintained by volunteers. In my opinion, the best thing about the deals part of families.com are the active forums on coupons here. Are you looking to get the best deal on the latest video or hot toy? Post a question here and let the community members help you find the best deal. This service is free, but you must log in.
3. The Grocery Game.com. This is actually the service that I use most often. I find the customized lists that they produce each week to be just what I need to find the best deals. The “game rules” at this site taught me more about couponing than I would learn after several years on my own. They also have excellent message boards where you can discuss savings tips. There is a small cost for the list part of this service (less than $2 a week), but the weekly savings more than make up for the charge. There is a trial period in which you get a month of the service for $1. (If you wish to sign up under me, put ljs199 [at symbol] yahoo.com in the “Who Referred Me” box.)
That’s my Frugal Friday tip, I hope that you found it useful.
Here’s Biblical Womanhood’s Frugal Friday Tip: Kefir Smoothies.
Contents (c) Copyright 2007, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved.
13 responses so far ↓
1 Melissa R. Garrett // Jul 7, 2007 at 12:38 pm
WOW! I wish I could spend just $85 a week on groceries. We spend around $200-$250.
Have you come across any coupons for environmentally-friendly cleaning products and organic food items? I don’t buy exclusively organic, but my milk and produce are. And it’s expensive!!
2 Angel Mama ( Pearls of Wisdom) // Jul 7, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Great job Laura. I love to save on groceries too. I am doing an article . Love yours and you do so well.
Smiles and Blessings,
Angel ( Angel Mama )
3 Angel Mama ( Pearls of Wisdom) // Jul 7, 2007 at 2:11 pm
I also forgot if you have a chance check out the carnival I am hosting for Monday . I would love if you would join you do such lovely posts and have such a great blog.
Smiles,
Angel ( Angel Mama )
4 Laura // Jul 7, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Hi Melissa, I don’t buy exclusively organic. However, there sometimes are deals for organic products. I have a whole lot of free cans of organic tomatoes in my pantry from a deal a few months ago.
When there’s a a choice between an organic and a non-organic version of a product, I choose the organic. Likewise, if there’s a choice between a light, healthy version of a product and the regular version, I choose the light version.
If you have certain items that you only buy organic for, then you may not save as much on those items, but you should still be able to save.
5 Laura // Jul 7, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Thanks for the compliment Angel Mama! I’ll certainly check your blog about the carnival.
6 Angel Mama ( Pearls of Wisdom) // Jul 9, 2007 at 2:33 pm
I am so glad you entered this one as saving money , budgeting and grocery deals really help families stretch their budgets. You will really bless others with your knowledge. Thanks for participating it is my first time in this group also.
Angel ( ):)
7 Debbie // Jul 9, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Thanks for the tips. My local paper usually has lots of coupons on Sunday. I enjoy getting these.
Blessings!
8 Melanie // Jul 9, 2007 at 4:44 pm
I am here from the All for Women Carnival. I am enjoying your blog and it is wonderful to meet you!
I certainly needed this post. I always spend more than I plan to when I do my shopping. Thanks for the great tips.
9 Laura // Jul 9, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Hi Debbie and Melanie! I’m off to check out your blogs. I hope that this helps. I’ve been using these services for about four years.
10 Joyce // Jul 23, 2007 at 2:02 am
This is the first time I have ever came across F.
This was the first time I came across F.F. and this site. I just love it. I want to thank you for posting your info on the coupons and the info. I will be back for sure for new tips.
GOD BLESS
11 Joyce // Jul 23, 2007 at 2:06 am
This was the first time I came across F.F. and this site. I just love it. I want to thank you for posting your info on the coupons and the info. I will be back for sure for new tips.
GOD BLESS
12 Laura // Jul 23, 2007 at 11:52 am
Hi Joyce! I’m glad that you enjoyed the tips!
13 julie // Oct 16, 2007 at 9:34 am
If you want to find a good coupon database, there is the one at Hotcouponworld.com.
As to saving money on organics, it is entirely possible to cut your bill down significantly on organics. While the coupons aren’t out there in the sunday paper per se, they are out there – you just have to know where to find them.
http://www.organicgrocerydeals.com has a great resource for where you can find organic coupons and printable coupons.
Thanks for letting me read your post and share with you.