How to save without using coupons

I saw this article on All You this morning and thought I’d share it with you, my readers, and give my thoughts on some of her points. I’ve taught a few classes recently on couponing and I’m constantly getting questions on how I coupon or how I save at the grocery store. But I know spending the amount of time I do clipping coupons is just not realistic for many people. Honestly, it’s not even realistic for me during the school year! Our grocery budget has skyrocketed since Christmas because I’ve been wrapping up nursing classes and applying to graduate schools. I’m really praying that this summer can be a time of getting back on track with grocery shopping and getting our budget back down to $200 a month. That’s where I’m most comfortable with our grocery finances :) So here’s some thoughts on saving at the grocery store by Crystal Paine (with some of my thoughts thrown in!).

10 Ways to save money on groceries without clipping coupons

by Crystal Paine, Money Saving Mom

Even the most diligent coupon-clippers should know the many other ways you can shave money off of your grocery budget. Here are my top 10 tips:

1. Create a Budget

The word “budget” evokes dread for some, but I promise it can change your entire financial outlook. Not only does a budget give you parameters to work within, it helps you clearly track your spending and saving. If you don’t know how much you’re spending in the first place, how can you know if  a “money-saving” tactic is working?

Samantha’s thoughts: I don’t think there is a lot to be added to this thought. I whole heartedly agree. Some people I know have found it best to pull grocery money out in cash. That way you don’t overspend with that debit or credit card (i.e. ME this week! I just couldn’t resist the Safeway store that was closing this week and had everything 50-75% off. I think we’ve spent our entire months grocery budget this week and it’s only June 7^th!).

2.  Plan a Menu and Grocery List

It seems like such no-brainer advice, but if you don’t make a grocery plan (and follow it!) you’re bound to spend more money at the store. (You’ll also eliminate the added stress  of not knowing what’s for dinner every night!)

Samantha’s thoughts: I’m pretty good about doing this on a regular basis. Not only does it keep me from buying prepared foods or stopping by Chipotle 3 times in a week, it keeps me motivated to eat the right types of foods.

3. Use Cash

I strongly suggest you use cash-only when shopping at the grocery store. My family and I have found it’s much easier to spend an extra $2 or $3 here and there when we’re swiping a card. Cash, on the other hand, forces you to stick with your budget: when the money’s gone, it’s gone!

Samantha’s thoughts: ‘nuff said :)

4. Buy in Bulk

Purchasing meat and staple ingredients in bulk can save you at least 20-30%. Check online or in the phone book for nearby food co-ops and bulk food stores, then compare their prices to the price-per-ounce of items at the grocery store. I’ve recently fallen in love with the regional bulk foods distributor Azure Standard. Many of their prices on organic staple foods match or beat what I’d pay locally for non-organic staples.

Samantha’s thoughts: Ok, this is the one point where I strongly encourage you to be careful with. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Costco and Sam’s are very very rarely your best bet for saving money. They lure you in with the thought that buying in bulk is the way to save money. It’s just not true. There has NEVER been a time where Costco has been cheaper than what I can get at a regular grocery store on sale (not even factoring in coupons! Just their regular sale prices!). Now, if you must have it right then and there and it’s not on sale at your local grocery store, then maybe it would be cheaper to buy it at Costco. But please be careful with this. These times should be very few and far between. And let me say it again, Costco is never the place to buy laundry detergent, paper products (like toilet paper), or bathroom items (like toothpaste). They are always a better price at Walmart. Trust me, I’ve checked on numerous occasions.

5. Have a Meatless Night Once a Week

Meatless doesn’t have to mean tasteless! In our family we often serve breakfast foods for dinner, or we’ll have soup and bread. I’ve also learned that you can completely skip the meat in some recipes, like lasagna, baked ziti or bean burritos. If you’re not ready to go totally meatless, try replacing a third of the meat in recipes such as tacos with beans.

Samantha’s thoughts: I love this idea! There are so many different recipes you could make without adding meat. Need ideas? Check Pinterest. I’m in love with that website.

6. Make Your Own Cleaning Products

You can spend hundreds of dollars each year on expensive cleaning products. Or, you can buy a bottle of vinegar, box of baking soda, some dish soap, and hydrogen peroxide and use them to tackle almost all of your household cleaning chores.

Samantha’s thoughts: Ok, I’m going to admit this doesn’t really apply to me. We splurge in this area and hire a housekeeper to come clean our house. Though I did see on Pinterest (see, told you I love that site!) about making your own laundry detergent. Might try that sometime.

7. Bake Your Own Bread (With a Bread Machine!)

Homemade bread is fresher, less expensive and so delicious. I can easily drop the ingredients into my bread machine in less than five minutes, then switch it on the dough cycle. Then, I just pop the dough into a loaf pan and bake.

Once you get the hang of making your own dough in a bread machine, you’ll be ready to make Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls or Bread Machine Buttery Rolls.

Samantha’s thoughts: I’m not sure this is less expensive than if you went to a bread outlet. We’ve got several in Colorado Springs and I get our bread there for $1 or less a loaf. But there is something wonderful and magical about the smell of fresh baked bread.

8. Order Groceries Online

There are good grocery deals online if you know where to look. Amazon often has great deals on natural, organic, and gluten-free products–prices you would likely never see at your local grocery store.

Type in your desired price on any item on the free Amazon price tracker CamelCamelCamel.com and they will send you an email alert if the price is discounted.

9. Price-Match at Walmart and Target

Take 15 minutes when planning your shopping list to look over your local grocery ads to see if there are any great deals. Instead of running to multiple stores to pick up the different deals, just bring the ads to Walmart or Target and they’ll match the competitor’s sale.

Samantha’s thoughts: This is something I talk about in my couponing class. It’s such a time saver for me. But watch out for one thing. Here in Colorado Springs, our local grocery stores will double the face value of a coupon up to $1. Walmart does not. So you might end up spending a bit more if you’ve got a $.50 oupon for an item that King Soopers will double to $1. You’ll be spending $.50 more on that item at Walmart because you’ll only be getting face value off that coupon.

10. Use Half the Recommended Amount

You don’t need to use the specified amount of laundry detergent, dish soap, or even shampoo. In most cases, much less will do. Train yourself to use two-thirds the amount you usually do and you’ll save 33 percent. Use half the amount, and you instantly save 50 percent!

Crystal Paine is a wife, homeschooling mom of 3, wannabe runner, minimalist, and lover of good coffee and thought-provoking books. Her personal finance blog, http://www.MoneySavingMom.com, garners hundreds of thousands of visitors each month. Crystal’s first book, The Money Saving Mom®’s Budget was released January 10, 2012 by Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.

May 29, 2012 by dailysavingsfromallyou