Grocery Store Couponing Strategy

 

As opposed to my CVS couponing - I do things a tad different here.  I get two grocery store circulars and one I need to pull up online. I just check really quick for meat and produce since typically you aren't going to get coupons for this stuff.  I'm pretty good at knowing what my "buy price" for meat is and I'm learning about produce (I hate fruits and vegetables, but I'm REALLY trying) So I make myself a quick small list.  For example this week - Boneless Skinless Chicken breasts & thighs were on sale for $1.99/lb at Stop & Shop,  so I wanted to make sure I had that. Shaws had baby carrots and grape tomatoes on sale for $1.00/each and I wanted to make sure I had that. Also I like to comb through and get a general idea of the sales or if there are coupons or gas point incentives. I make my notes, but I don't spend a ton of time on it because the coupon match up is primarily done online.

              

             

Before I do any match ups I log on to Mygrocerydeals.com and I take my short list and I add browse the deals for those items on my list and I add them to my grocery list.  Then I start browsing the deals for this week's coupons.  Again, the sales and the current week's coupons typically have a good match up rate, so I don't bother putting anything in the binder till I've done this part.  I just stack the coupons I'll use to the side and the ones I won't use I'll put in another pile for filing.

I typically only place items on my shopping list that are sale + coupon.  By searching for the brand name you will pull up if all the stores have that item on sale.  For example: Newman's Own Frozen Pizza was on sale at Shaws as a BOGO and Stop & Shop had it on sale for 2/$10.00.  Having a $1.00 off one, I put shaws on my shopping list so I could see the per unit price when I got there, I would up getting 2 of the pizzas for 6.99 as opposed to 2 for $9.00.  Being about to comparitively shop and maximize savings is why I go straight to the website, as well as being able to build and print a grocery list.

I keep my stash organized by category and then I try to keep like brands together.  This cuts down on the browsing time.  I also take advantage of this time to toss expired coupons. I keep all my coupons in a three ring binder with plastic baseball card pages.  I love my binder - it's just so much easier to see all my coupons. 

Eventually I have a list.  Also on mygrocerydeals.com you can add items to your list that you just know you need to get.  I am running low on Coffeemate - which simply can't happen.  Since I didn't see any on sale I just added it in this section.

I file away this weeks unused coupons and then the coupons I intend to use I separate the coupons by store and paperclip together for the shopping trip.  I don't typically go Sundays anymore.  I like to be able to take my time and my schedule allows me to go during the week. 

All of this gives me the ability to just stock up and make a meal plan from my pantry, fridge & freezer.  Occasionally I'll need to get some additional items during the week, but I like to put myself in a good position to have as much stuff on hand for meals and especially for snacks.  If I don't have stuff on hand to put a meal together quickly - it's a sure bet I'll call for pizza - which adds up and it's particularly healthy.  

What are your couponing strategies?

Drugstore Couponing Strategy

Sundays I get the paper delivered.  I gather up my grocery circulars that typically arrive Wednesday or Thursday (our sales start Fridays) and the CVS Circular in my sunday paper and the coupon inserts. Also scissors and a cup of coffee - I guess the coffee isn't necessary - but it is to me and it's my blog so...whatever!

 I subscribe to Sunday Coupon Preview which I always take a look at during the week to get a sense on weather there will be anything worthwhile in the coupon inserts.  Also this is almost always a preview as to what will be on sale.

Then I get out my trusty scissors and I clip anything I might use either regularly or want to try out.  Clipping the coupons is free and I have space in my binder so I'd rather clip and toss than not clip and regret it!

I have two piles.  One is my drugstore pile (CVS for me) and one is my grocery pile (Stop & Shop, Shaw's & Roche Bros)


Then I start with CVS.  The reason I start with CVS is because I don't do as much comparitive shopping as I do for food.  Basically at CVS, I am just looking for good deals for stuff to stock up around the house for.  I match up any of this week's coupons against the circular.   If something winds up being free (example below) I get it (I even go back to clip if need be) because it can always be donated to a shelter or something if not used in the house.

                 



My next part is that I search for anything that will get me extrabucks back that I have coupons for.  For example below.  I had a $3.00 off Maybelline purchase and CVS will give me $3.00 Extrabucks (EB) so that's how I stock up my makeup collection - maybe try a new shade of eyeshadow with little regret.

         
Then I'll go to my stash of coupons and match up the same thing.  If I'm in need of something, I'll shoot for a sale + coupon (for example - I needed dish soap and CVS had Palmolive for $.98 for 10oz bottle and I had a $1.00 off 2.  So I got 20 ozs of dish soap for $.96 cents!

You never know what you'll find in the stash.  Though most sales and offers are designed to match up with the current week's coupons, if I see something that isn't quite as low as I like it, I'll just hold on to the coupon and wait for the price I want.


I keep all my extrabucks and in store coupons filed in the back of my binder - these need to typically be cleaned out for expired coupons pretty quickly, but the Extra Bucks typically are good for about 4 weeks.  I don't go to CVS every week, but if I find a deal I'll clip my extrabucks to my coupons and head on over to CVS.  If I have expiring Extra Bucks, I'll just go grab some items just around the value of my extrabucks..so they don't go to waste.  That's the biggest key is not to let the extrabucks go to waste.  For example I used $5.00 this week and I earned $10.00.  I'll use them for my next visit!

My friend Caitlin is a real champ when it comes to this and made me see the light - I'd always been good at the grocery store, but I never kept up with it at CVS - just had picked up shampoo when I needed it or worse - I'd get it at Target because it was cheaper but I would walk out with $50 worth of random stuff!

Do you have any good tips to share about your drugstore couponing?