How to Save on Groceries?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know Costco does coupons too right. Do you not use Costco coupons?

Coupons aren't always for junk food. And please give me a break about always doing things from scratch. Do you squeeze your own juices and never give your children snacks?

I think the problem is that the anti-coupon tone is coming off as very condescending toward coupon users.

Only the in-store coupons.

BJ's accepts manufacturers' AND their in-store coupons

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's amusing that there are so many anti-couponers. Too low-class for you?

I don't use cupons b/c I cook mainly from scratch and buy most items I need at Costo (like the toothpaste and & battery example). I have never seen a cupon for a "from scratch" item, such as eggs, flour, fresh veggies, real butter, or milk. The only real processed food we eat is cereal, but we get that at Costco as well.

Everytime I've looked at the coupons I see a lot of Toll House stuff and other such junk food.


The way we save money is to shop at Costco and cook from scratch. I do mainly simple meals 5 days and do a fun meal one night (such as pizza or tacos) and then do an elaborate meal on one other evening.

Horizon.com gives you dollar off coupons for milk
I always see butter (not margarine) coupons
Around any major holiday there are tons of sugar, flour, baking type coupons - organic not just regular
Veggies? I guess you don't buy frozen. Always coupons for frozen veggies
Eggs? Every week there are eggland best coupons

You may not be using the brands of the "from scratch" items but they are there. You are not looking hard enough if you dont see them.

[Anonymous]

I use coupons and stock up on good sales.

Safeway recently had a coupon to get a 6 pack of Dove soap for $2.99 (vs. $6.99). I had 6 $1 off manuf. coupons. I paid $1.99 for each 6 pack of Dove. CVS always runs good promotions when you buy something, they give you bonus dollars to use on anything you purchase the next time. They had a sale of Huggies and by the time I was done using my coupons and getting their bonus bucks back, on top of the slae price, I spent $6.50 for a 35 pack of diapers that normally were 10.99.
I also use coupons for diapers, wipes, toiletries, frozen foods, cleaning products, batteries, etc. I have a good organization system to keep track of them. It is easy if you only clip on items you normally use.

I probably spend about 15 minutes a week going thru the sales flyers and pulling and filing coupons. Well worth it to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's amusing that there are so many anti-couponers. Too low-class for you?

It takes a total of maybe 10 minutes to sort through the coupons that come with the Sunday paper on Saturdays. I actually find it fun, and if you have any wits about you, it is not too difficult to clip only the coupons you will use for things you need and/or will definitely use.

For example, like one pp mentioned, there are always coupons floating around for toothpaste and batteries. Not 35 cent coupons, but $1 coupons. In my opinion, if you ever buy toothpaste or batteries without a coupon (unless you're going to Costco, maybe) you are wasting an easily saved dollar. There are many other items that this rule applies to.

Additionally, I think that everyone has a tendency to splurge every once in a while on things that are not needed. It's fun to splurge. So why not allow yourself to splurge when there is a coupon involved? At least that way you don't splurge the full amount. There are often restaurant coupons in the Sunday section or in the local Clipper magazines that will save you the price of a whole entree.

I don't use cupons b/c I cook mainly from scratch and buy most items I need at Costo (like the toothpaste and & battery example). I have never seen a cupon for a "from scratch" item, such as eggs, flour, fresh veggies, real butter, or milk. The only real processed food we eat is cereal, but we get that at Costco as well.

Everytime I've looked at the coupons I see a lot of Toll House stuff and other such junk food.


The way we save money is to shop at Costco and cook from scratch. I do mainly simple meals 5 days and do a fun meal one night (such as pizza or tacos) and then do an elaborate meal on one other evening.

i can get toothpaste for free at CVS using coupons! In fact, I refuse to pay more than .49 for a tube of toothpaste. How does that stack up woth Costco?
I also get my batteries at 1/4 the price of costco. My in-laws swore tht Costco had low proces, but I gave them several examples on how I can significantly beat any Costco prices by just planning a little bit. For some, it isn't worth it, but if you are serious about saving money at the grocery store, you have to put a little effort into it. Just like you put effort into planning your meals. Now, for someone who cooks fromscratch - do you mind sharing some of your entree recipes? I find it hard to believe that you can have a sane diet without some cheese, spices, pasta, etc.(by the way - coupons do exist for these tyoes of staples).

[Anonymous]

Oh for crying out loud, is there now going to be a DCUM war over COUPONS?

Use coupons if you want! You are a WONDERFUL COUPON USING PERSON!

Some people don't choose to use coupons. In my experience it hasn't been worth it FOR MY FAMILY for the most part. If I happen to see a coupon for the food I want to buy and was planning to buy, I might use it, but I'm really not that into the strategy. But GOOD FOR YOU If you find a strategy, coupon wise, that works for you. YAY YOU!!!!!

[Anonymous]

defensive much?

[Anonymous]

"I don't use cupons b/c I cook mainly from scratch and buy most items I need at Costo (like the toothpaste and & battery example). I have never seen a cupon for a "from scratch" item, such as eggs, flour, fresh veggies, real butter, or milk. The only real processed food we eat is cereal, but we get that at Costco as well.

Everytime I've looked at the coupons I see a lot of Toll House stuff and other such junk food.


The way we save money is to shop at Costco and cook from scratch. I do mainly simple meals 5 days and do a fun meal one night (such as pizza or tacos) and then do an elaborate meal on one other evening."

It's coupon. You spelled it correctly 2 times out of 3.

I go through the grocery store ads and coupons during my lunch hour on Monday. It's a matter of organization and memory.

You cook mainly from "scratch" ? Do you grow and harvest your own organic wheat. Do you grind your own flour? Do you bake your own bread? Do you grow your own fruits and vegetables? Do you grow your own coffee? Do you raise and slaughter livestock?

Do you beat your clothes in the river with a rock?

[Anonymous]

These threads are so funny. People vehemently disagree and ridicule over things like coupons. Who knew. Who has the time? I guess a lot us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I don't use cupons b/c I cook mainly from scratch and buy most items I need at Costo (like the toothpaste and & battery example). I have never seen a cupon for a "from scratch" item, such as eggs, flour, fresh veggies, real butter, or milk. The only real processed food we eat is cereal, but we get that at Costco as well.

Everytime I've looked at the coupons I see a lot of Toll House stuff and other such junk food.


The way we save money is to shop at Costco and cook from scratch. I do mainly simple meals 5 days and do a fun meal one night (such as pizza or tacos) and then do an elaborate meal on one other evening."

It's coupon. You spelled it correctly 2 times out of 3.

I go through the grocery store ads and coupons during my lunch hour on Monday. It's a matter of organization and memory.

You cook mainly from "scratch" ? Do you grow and harvest your own organic wheat. Do you grind your own flour? Do you bake your own bread? Do you grow your own fruits and vegetables? Do you grow your own coffee? Do you raise and slaughter livestock?

Do you beat your clothes in the river with a rock?

Funny you ask...I actually purchase wheat grown locally, milled locally and I do bake my own bread, one loaf a week is pleanty and it takes no time at all in the bread maker, which even mixes the ingredients for me, all I do it pour it in. As matter of fact, I do have a very large garden, it supplies just about all of my fresh produce in season and what I can't use I can or freeze. I don't drink coffee, but I do grow bee balm, which I dry and use for tea. And, no I do not raise my own livestock, but again get that locally too, in bulk, so close enough.

About laundry, I line dry all of my clothes when I can. I'm a working mom, I guess I have more time, as I'm not spending time scouring Sunday coupons.

Sorry that coupons (or cupons as I prefer) don't work well for me. I might be able to save a dollar a week with my shopping habits, it is not worth it. Again, I save money on groceries by eating at home and cooking from scratch. Anyone intersted in this type of eating should read Animal Vegetable Miracle by Kingsolver or check out the westin Price Foundation. Someone asked about spices...I get my spices at the international grocery stores-they are dirt cheap and of great quality. There is a lot you can get at international grocery stores that are really cheap. I shop at Grand Mart frequently for fresh herbs.

[Anonymous]

The statement that MOST coupons are for junk food is accurate. Just check out the printable coupons on www.thegrocerygame.com

If you click into the coupons, just looking at the first 2 pages of 7 you will find Frosted Flakes, Dr Pepper, Chewey Granola Bars, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Chex, Cookie Crisp Cereal, and Yoplait yogurt. All other items are household stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The statement that MOST coupons are for junk food is accurate. Just check out the printable coupons on www.thegrocerygame.com

If you click into the coupons, just looking at the first 2 pages of 7 you will find Frosted Flakes, Dr Pepper, Chewey Granola Bars, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Chex, Cookie Crisp Cereal, and Yoplait yogurt. All other items are household stuff.

2/7 = most? i believe that is less than half and therefore not most.

[Anonymous]

"Funny you ask...I actually purchase wheat grown locally, milled locally and I do bake my own bread, one loaf a week is pleanty and it takes no time at all in the bread maker, which even mixes the ingredients for me, all I do it pour it in."

It's plenty? Can you see spell check working on this blog?

A bread maker is cheating. You are hereby tossed out of the "made from scratch" club.

"I'm a working mom, I guess I have more time, as I'm not spending time scouring Sunday coupons. "

Teach your kids how to clip coupons. Clip the coupons on your lunch break at work. You must be a riot at work. Why would it take a lot of time? Are you a slow reader? I know you are a poor speller.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"I don't use cupons b/c I cook mainly from scratch and buy most items I need at Costo (like the toothpaste and & battery example). I have never seen a cupon for a "from scratch" item, such as eggs, flour, fresh veggies, real butter, or milk. The only real processed food we eat is cereal, but we get that at Costco as well.

Everytime I've looked at the coupons I see a lot of Toll House stuff and other such junk food.


The way we save money is to shop at Costco and cook from scratch. I do mainly simple meals 5 days and do a fun meal one night (such as pizza or tacos) and then do an elaborate meal on one other evening."

It's coupon. You spelled it correctly 2 times out of 3.

I go through the grocery store ads and coupons during my lunch hour on Monday. It's a matter of organization and memory.

You cook mainly from "scratch" ? Do you grow and harvest your own organic wheat. Do you grind your own flour? Do you bake your own bread? Do you grow your own fruits and vegetables? Do you grow your own coffee? Do you raise and slaughter livestock?

Do you beat your clothes in the river with a rock?

Funny you ask...I actually purchase wheat grown locally, milled locally and I do bake my own bread, one loaf a week is pleanty and it takes no time at all in the bread maker, which even mixes the ingredients for me, all I do it pour it in. As matter of fact, I do have a very large garden, it supplies just about all of my fresh produce in season and what I can't use I can or freeze. I don't drink coffee, but I do grow bee balm, which I dry and use for tea. And, no I do not raise my own livestock, but again get that locally too, in bulk, so close enough.

About laundry, I line dry all of my clothes when I can. I'm a working mom, I guess I have more time, as I'm not spending time scouring Sunday coupons.

Sorry that coupons (or cupons as I prefer) don't work well for me. I might be able to save a dollar a week with my shopping habits, it is not worth it. Again, I save money on groceries by eating at home and cooking from scratch. Anyone intersted in this type of eating should read Animal Vegetable Miracle by Kingsolver or check out the westin Price Foundation. Someone asked about spices...I get my spices at the international grocery stores-they are dirt cheap and of great quality. There is a lot you can get at international grocery stores that are really cheap. I shop at Grand Mart frequently for fresh herbs.

That is one of the funniest things I have read in a long time!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The statement that MOST coupons are for junk food is accurate. Just check out the printable coupons on www.thegrocerygame.com

If you click into the coupons, just looking at the first 2 pages of 7 you will find Frosted Flakes, Dr Pepper, Chewey Granola Bars, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Chex, Cookie Crisp Cereal, and Yoplait yogurt. All other items are household stuff.

2/7 = most? i believe that is less than half and therefore not most.

Not most, ALL food products were junk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:defensive much?

no, just cranky. It is AMAZING what people will find to take offense at.