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11-26-2007, 08:18 PM
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#11
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Mommysavers Addict
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,182
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I have between $160-200 a month to spend, depending on other bills. Previously, we would end up using the credit card at the end of the week for food. Once I began clipping coupons, shopping the store ads and planning menus, we have not used the credit card. This amount includes toilet paper, shampoo, etc. I use a lot of homemade cleaning products. Like supanerdstef, I got the stuffing and au gratin on sale, and used coupons, so they were less than 50 cents each.
You must build up a pantry. Eat from your pantry and shop the ads with your coupons, continually building up that pantry as you go. It's hard if you don't have the money to do it all at once, but if you try to just add a few things a week until you get built up, it really helps.
Keep a price book. I use a little fat notebook that I have divided in alphabetical order. I have slowly been adding how much things are at what store to that notebook. My town has two grocery stores and a dollar general, so I don't have much choice in how much I am going to pay for an item. Having limited stores makes it easier for me to do a little shopping at each store to get the best price.
Organize your coupons the way that works for you. I used to keep one of those fan fold coupon clutches. I've heard someone say she doesn't clip the coupons, she leaves them whole and goes from there. I have mine in a 3 hole punch folder, I keep them in those plastic pockets people use for baseball cards.
These are all things I've learned here at Mommysavers. And yes, it does take time, but the money I save is well worth the time I spend. Some people just don't have the time.
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"It's time to move from what we can do, to what we must do, to what we will do." ~Hillary Clinton
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Quote:
I was going every week and spending $150. Now I go twice a month and spend about $20 more each trip. I don't know how it works out that way, but it's fine with me.
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