Group Discussions

Learning to shop the ads

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  I am trying to learn to shop the grocery ads in order to save money on our grocery bill. Yesterday all the ads came. I went through them, and wrote down the ingredients that I would be interested in buying. Then I looked at that list and tried to come up with a menu. I'm still working on that portion, but it shouldn't be too difficult. Any expert ad shoppers with some great tips? And how do you know if what is advertised is a good price? I am going with the idea that after I do it for a while I will just start to learn the prices of things and be able to tell.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by mamajama on 7th February 2008
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  A lot of it is just learning what a good price for something is. I know some ads (like the Hen House one) tells the sale price and how much you're saving which I love about them. That's also something you can do at the store, if there is something on your list that you are buying because it is on sale (but you don't really need it) put a mark next to it. When you're at the store, look and see what the regular price is. If the "sale" doesn't seem so great anymore, don't get it. Also, check out other store ads. Lots of times a different stores will have the same stuff on sale so check to see if the sale prices are similar.
  
  When I first started shopping the ads I made an excel spreadsheet of the lowest price I had paid for my most commonly used items. Then if I see it on sale, I can go back and check it again the price in my list. If it's way higher, I don't buy it. If it is about the same, I do buy it. If it is lower, I definitely buy it and update my sheet. I don't use my sheet much anymore because it has gotten to where I remember a lot of it.
  
  Also, if you're always going to shop at the same store you can look at the regular prices of your commonly purchased items and keep a record of what their regular price is which will help you determine if a sale price is a good price.
  
  Most stores also run their ads in about 12 week cycles which means if something has been on sale for the best price ever just last week, it probably won't be close that price again for about 12 weeks.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Jenni on 7th February 2008
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  Oh, that's interesting about the 12 wk cycles. Did not know that.
  
  I always check out the ads and clip coupons on Sunday, but I try to limit myself to what I would be buying anyway. I think if you get sucked into buying stuff just because it's on sale, you end up spending way more. So that has been a more recent lesson for us since we switched to cash: even good deals have to be turned down sometimes.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Diane on 8th February 2008
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  I haven't gotten around to doing this but most people recommend using a price book which is basically what Jenni is talking about. The only best price I have memorized is that $2.50 is the best price I can find for Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Helpful, but not exactly what balanced diets are made of. Just keep some record of the prices you've paid for the items you most commonly purchase. The easiest way is to save your receipts after each shopping trip and record things from there. Some receipts contain lots of detail, others not so much. Expect to do this over time and fill in the gaps at the store.
  
  You could also develop a cycle menu. If we're having lentil soup, it must be Friday. It can be as easy as chicken on Monday, Soup on Tuesday, to Apricot Chicken on Monday, White Bean Chili on Tuesday. And for periods of 1 week to 4 weeks and beyond. Cycle menus can help you save money because they can be timed to the sale cycle, help you use up leftovers, eat a more balanced diet, and save on trips to the store. Plus you can tailor it to your schedule. We have activities until 5 on 2 nights each week so I always plan quick and easy stuff then. Otherwise we're too tempted to eat out or we don't eat until 7.
  
  Planned leftovers is also a great way to take advantage of the sales. Make a double batch of whatever you're cooking and freeze the extras. Or buy enough beef to make meatloaf, meatballs, and swiss steak and freeze. Or just cook it all with onions and garlic and freeze it in 2 cup portions. This one will cost you a bit more on the front end but will pay off down the road.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Jenns on 8th February 2008
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  I'm a big ad shopper, but I also buy in bulk, have a chest freezer in the basement (which I looooove), and keep an absurdly well-stocked pantry. So when I grocery shop, it's usually to buy the perishables (milk, fruit, veggies) and to restock the pantry and freezer.
  
  My favorite thing to do -- and I will admit here that I am a TOTAL geek -- is to combine an ad sale with a coupon and get the item for practically nothing.
  
  My name is Lylah, and I'm a bargain-a-holic....

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Lylah M. Alphonse on 8th February 2008
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  Lylah - it's okay, I do that too. I get excited by getting a box of cereal for less than a $1.
  
  Okay, I'm going to admit to my other shopping secret. I was a member of the Grocery Game. It is a website that helps you match up ads in grocery stores to coupons so that you can get things for free or at least really really cheap. Of course, like Diane said, if it is something you absolutely have no need for what-so-ever then paying any amount of money is too much. And the only reason I quit using the grocery game website is because the store that I shop at that they have a list for is going out of business. Now I'm back to compiling my lowest price list at a new store!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Jenni on 8th February 2008
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  I tried the grocery game and it didn't work for me and what and where I shop. The staples, like Barilla pasta, that I was really looking forward to stocking up on never seemed to make the list at either of the stores I subscribed to. Not that they didn't go on sale, they just never made the list. That said, a friend of mine really made it work for her. So keep that in mind if anyone here wants to check it out. And don't join until you have at least a month's worth of coupon fliers saved. Preferably 2-3. Also, plan to stay a member for at least 1 full 12 week cycle before deciding if it works for you. That's 2 months beyond the $1 trial. BTW, the boards on the website are very active and are open to non-subscribers.
  
  I remember reading somewhere that couponed items tend to go on sale about a month after the coupon is printed. You're better off saving them for a few weeks vs using them right away.
  
  Love, love, love my chest freezer!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Jenns on 9th February 2008
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  I didn't know that you could save coupons past the week that they were in the ad. I thought they expired. This is really cool, and I will be using this to my advantage.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by mamajama on 11th February 2008
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  Coupons have expiration dates on them, usually at the top. Some coupons - particularly store coupons - expire within a week or two, but most coupons last at least a month.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Jenni on 11th February 2008