In my last post, I started talking about how getting really prepared for a big trip at the local warehouse grocery store can save money. Of course, it can also save time, too. I consider a big warehouse grocery trip to be a project. If I do my prep work, I can save 40-50% off even the bulk prices!
As mentioned in that first post, the weeks leading up to a big warehouse trip, I also evaluate what stock we currently have left. What items can I use up right now and incorporate into meals? This not only ensures that we can buy fresh items to replace the old, but it also gives us a savings. When we shop from the pantry stockpile, we don’t incur a grocery bill for those months (with the exception of some fresh dairy and produce), so we can use the savings for the future warehouse shopping trip. As I am going through the stock, I take note of items that were used up more quickly than I expected as well as items that didn’t get used much. This way, I can adjust quantities as needed. I keep in mind our favorite meals plus any seasonal changes. Once school starts we use up a lot more peanut butter, in the summer I need more pizza sauce, and winter calls for more hearty casseroles.
Next, after I get my list, I go about matching the items with as many coupons as possible. We get store coupons in the mail, and the store will also allow us to use manufacturer coupons. I look for coupons from Sunday inserts as well as printable coupons. Just searching for the name of the manufacturer online can yield a lot of coupons. I also check the list of printable coupons at FreeCoupons.com.
Do you shop the warehouse stores?
Happy shopping!
You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here!
Favorite Deal Websites:
Related Articles:
Things to Do with Expired Coupons