The September challenge is to keep a price book. If you already have one than make sure it's updated. This trick will help you in saving at the grocery store.

1. Take a spiral notebook that is small enough to fit into your purse.
2. At the top of each page write down an item that you purchase regularly. Then beneath it write down the stores you shop at the most, and to the right of that (in pencil because we all know prices change) write the price and the oz size.

Miracle Whip

Target.........price
Walmart.......price
HyVee.........price

3. This will give you a reference point to find where items are cheapest at. Also you will be able to look at the sale ads, and compare sale prices at one store to regular prices at another to see if it's truely the best deal.

Who is all in for the Sept. challenge?

Tip: try and shop without the kids and write down prices as you go down the aisles, or you can write them down from your receipt.

I have never done a price book. So I am going to try.. I have two grocery stores, target and once a month Walmart.-20 miles away-

Thank you for detailing out what is in the price book!

I never had one of these things- with the prices of food seemingly staying at one price (for now!)- I think this would be a good idea.

I will start one with what I typically need in my stockpile, I will also pay attention to what is going on sale and take note of it (some of our stores seem to run special sales the same time of year (10 for $10 sales, etc.).

I have been wanting to start a price book, always had it be a daunting task. This is simplified and I like it. I will try this month, though I just did my shopping so I guess I'll wait 2 weeks to start...

I always keep everything in my head. I tend to do that with just about everything. Someday my head my explode!

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~Happiness is a large family~

The image from one of the Monty Python movies popped into my head.

me too! i can go to the store and look at the shelves and tell you if another store is cheaper its just how i do it.

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fALL SEVEN TIMES STAND UP EIGHT!

I made a price book/list about 3 years ago when we were really financially struggling - first I typed up all my recipes I liked to use the most and the ingredients used, then I listed how much each ingredient was, and added the total for the recipe, so I knew how much each meal would cost.
I also didn't spend a lot of time standing in the store getting prices - I just made my grocery list with the ingredients for the meals I was preparing, and then after I had bought what I needed, I got the prices from my reciepts. It took me about a month to prepare all the meals on my list, so I had purchased all the ingredients on my list, but it worked for me. (Walmart's prices are always the best of the 3 stores in town, so I don't have to "compare")

But I definately need to update my list, since prices have changed so dramatically in just this last year.
Great Challenge. I know Sept is almost over, so I had better get going, huh?

I have never done this before. I have always just remembered what store had the best price when not on sale. I will have to give this a try.

I know it's the end of the month, but this is a great idea. I've got a few days left and one more grocery trip for the month.