photo by roadside pictures
Guest Post by Jessie from VanderbuiltWife.com
Not too many months ago, I was spending $80 to $100 a week on groceries. For two people. I knew that wasn't quite right, that I didn’t need to spend so much; yet, how would I get to cook the things I wanted if I tried to pinch pennies? Wouldn’t we end up eating macaroni and cheese and cereal for every meal?
I read many blogs on saving money and using coupons, but I could not get it to click in my head very well. I thrived on trying new recipes, exciting and exotic meals from the pages of Cooking Light and Southern Living. I planned my meals, made out a list of ingredients I needed, and zipped off to the store each week.
Then, in October, I had my first child. Suddenly the cost of daycare, pediatrician visits, diapers, wipes, and other baby paraphernalia was eating at our loosely planned budget. In January, once I was back at work and more in the swing of things, I decided it was time to tackle my grocery spending. I thought surely the two of us could eat for $40 a week if I were more careful.
It’s not been nearly as difficult as I imagined. Mostly I just flipped around my way of doing things: instead of choosing meals and then making my list, I make the list and then choose meals. First, I cut out the coupons from that week’s circular that I might use at some point. I flip back through my coupon box to remind myself what I have. Then, I scour the ads of my two local grocery stores to find the great deals for the week, and match up items for which I have coupons.
After that, I use my list of items I can get for a steal to plan my menu. I’ve found that doing it this way, I can still make many meals from those magazines I love. Some of my recent favorites have been Gnocchi with Italian Sausage and Swiss Chard, Pork Tenderloin with Shallot-Cider Sauce, and Grilled Chicken Burritos with Jalapeno Sauce. I use healthy, whole ingredients to make our dinners—with an occasional side of frozen veggies or Rice-a-Roni.
I never thought I would be the kind of person to go through the grocery store with a calculator, but I do now, every week. I get everything on my list, then use any extra money I have for the week for unadvertised deals, manager’s specials, or treats for my husband.
Some weeks I still groan at the idea of laboring through the coupons and ads; but truly, it is just an hour of my time each Sunday while the baby naps, and it saves a great deal of money. Some day I would like to stay home with my daughter, and having these habits now is great practice for the future, when I might be on an ever tighter budget!
Right now my $40 budget is just for the week’s groceries, but I hope as I get more and more used to it I’ll be able to squeeze my household items in there as well. And I desperately want to get over my fear of CVSing…anyone know where I could get some tips on that? 😉
Jessie is wife to Adam and mom to baby Libbie. She lives in Nashville, TN, where she works as an editor for a Christian publishing house. She blogs about trying to keep up her household while being a full-time working mom at VanderbiltWife.com.
Any other working moms out there? I work full-time and have just started dabbling in couponing, but I simply do not have the time to run to 5 or 6 different stores every week to buy what’s on sale at each one! I would rather be spending quality time with DS than stuffing him in a buggy all the time! I also don’t have time to match up all these deals which is why I am excited that I have found moneysavingmom; so much of the work is done for you, but I have still not had the time or energy to print coupons, pull out coupons, and go to the stores listed. I am going to try to do the best I can at the grocery store (which we only do once every other weekend along with Sams) and CVS because I pass it everyday and run in if we just need 1 or 2 things and it sounds like we can get some great deals at CVS if I can figure out CVSing! I don’t know how Jessie does it; just wondering if any other working moms have suggestions for how to fit in couponing; I’ve been a mom for 2 years and I still haven’t figured out how do everything I need to do (clean, cook, more work–I teach so I bring home work, etc. betweeen 8:00 and 11:00 p.m. and naptimes on weekends!).
I enjoyed reading this post. I too have joined the masses of the coupon game. At first my hubby and I thought it was a gimmick, but I have a friend who has been couponing for few years now and have learned a tremendous amount of good tips from her. I’ve been really couponing since August of last year after the birth of our 2nd baby. And I still get excited when I save more than I spend at the grocery store. My goal is to walk out of the grocery store with items that I didn’t have to pay for…not from stealing them of course!…but from utilizing the coupons and deals offered. It will happen one day…
I feed a family of 4 on $60, it was $50 a few weeks ago, but I increased it because I could to get more fruits and veggies. I didn’t think it was possible since I was spending mroe than double that a few months ago. But learning to budget a lot better has helped us so much as well. It seems daunting at first but look at what you spend and just try cutting it by $5 or $10 every week.
As for CVS it took me almost 6 weeks to think it was worth it and now I don’t go every week. I have a ton of CVS near me but I only visit 1 on a regular basis. Remeber to get rainchecks for the items you can’t get!
Keeping the Kingdom First Blog has the CVS $5 challenge every week and this makes it sooo easy to learn the process! You can shop at one store and only go once a week and end up being very successful! Walgreens is also a fantastic store to learn if you are looking for a ton of free stuff!!!
We are a family of 6. Two adults, 10, 9, 6, 1. I have been able to get our budget to about $50.00 a week. That includes diapers, formula, food, and household supplies. I think that is very good. We also give away about 5 or 6 paper bags of food and supplies to my sister in law a month as well, so really that 50.00 is not just for us. I have a rule, if it is not on sale and I don’t have a coupon, then I can’t buy. I would say that for about 99% of the things we get I keep that rule.
It does take time looking through the ads and matching coupons, but I figure if I save at least $100.00 a week I have done very well. Just think how many hours I would have to work to make that much. I am sure I don’t spend more than 2-3 hours a week extra to save a lot. As for getting others to use coupons and save I have had mixed reviews. My husband colleges are mostly on board once I showed them just a few simple changes that have saved them a bundle. My extended familys on the other hand is not so willing to change. Maybe it is becasue they know I will pick up good deals for them so why should they have to invest the time.
Once people walk into my panty they are amazed. Then when I tell them how much I paid for it all they are always interested.
Cutting the coupons is a drag at times, but I normally do when the kids are watching a movie, then I can enjoy the movie and cut while I watch.
I agree! I used to plan meals (interesting ones a least once a week with a few tried and true favorites) then shop. I have found that scouring the adds then planning my meals has helped tremendously — cut about $50 a week so far.
Also, when I just don’t know what to make (any of you ever get in a slump??), the ads help me out. What is on sale triggers a recipe and… no more racking my brain about what to make this week!
With CVSing, I would recommend waiting to get started until there’s a week that a couple of things that you would actually use are free after ECB. It sounds common sense but after learning about the “system” I was so eager to get started that I bought some wrinkle cream I would never use just because it was free after ECBs and I had a $1/1 coupon. It isn’t very encouraging to start off by spending money and not getting anything useful out of it.
Since an ECB slip has to be used all at once, I’d also recommend staying away from the higher priced items to start out with. It’s a lot easier to roll $2-3 than $10-12.
Remember that the ECBs don’t expire for a month, so you don’t have to run to CVS and roll your Bucks every week. Now that I only go when there are deals I’m excited about it feels a lot less time consuming.
Learn to be flexible in what brands you use. My husband is very brand specific so he spends his free money on Crest toothpaste, for example, when there are a dozen tubes of Colgate in the cupboard that were free. I understand being loyal with certain things but in general personal care products are disposable goods which means even if they’re not quite as good as your favorite they’ll soon be gone.
Most of all, be patient. I remember thinking it wasn’t worth it for the first month or two (mostly because of the mistakes above) but all of a sudden I realized that I have a comfortable stock pile of all the products I use, diapers, wipes, lotion and wash for the baby due in a couple months and a nice basket for guests that cost me next to nothing, which frees up a lot of money for more interesting things.
I gave up on CVS because we only have one in town, and it’s across town–not near our home, or anything else on my normal errand trips. Can you be successful at CVS by going only once a week, or do you have to have several stores that you can run to several times a week? It seems like those who CVS a lot have one on every corner–like Wags are here. Any advice greatly appreciated! 🙂
Great post!
To the person who wondered if it’s worth it to explain and plead to get your coupons to work at Target — to me it isn’t but it was worth it to find out which stores in your area are coupon friendly! This made a big difference to me. Yes, I miss out on some deals, but I don’t have the irritated felling of having to do battle to get my deals.
my budget for my family of 2 adults and one 2 year old is down to $40 for groceries a week. the last few weeks i’ve gotten it down to $30, which i found awesome, especially with clearance prices on meat, which i freeze, and coupons. my freezer is packed now, ready for baby number 2.
the blog couponing101 taught me how to CVS. It was a lot easier than I thought. I have gotten some great products that I never would have bought before I worked the drugstore system, such as colgate visibly white (which really works) and some expensive razors. Just make nice with them emloyees. They will remeber you, and it seams like they never leave!! (at least at my drugstores!)
I really appreciate this post too! We’re trying to cut our grocery budget and this offers some great steps to start. You are doing a great job! 🙂
CVSing scares me a little too – I’m going to try to start it a little this summer. We’ll see!
I spend about 130 on groceries and that includes everything but I would love to cut back. My husband is on a diet because he has a lot of weight to lose and I don’t know how to cut it back to eat healther without eating chicken every night and I just don’t want to do that. i do buy in season but good grief eating healthy is expensive! most of the coupons are for stuff that I don’t even use and we don’t have stores that double coupons here!
I would recommend trying couponmom.com, If your city is listed, that is. It works great for me, but not my sister who lives in another state.
It’s a free website, and they do all the work for you. You’ll find out which items are on sale that also have a coupon, and it will tell you how much you’re saving. It’s helped me cut our grocery bill in half, and it takes much less time than sorting through circulars and coupon piles.
Rebecca – always ask the store for rainchecks if they are out of an item that you wanted. Occasionally, your coupon may expire before you get to use the raincheck, but more times than not the store restocks and you can still use your coupon and get the sale price.
I actually like getting rainchecks because then I can get the item when I REALLY want/need it instead of when the store puts it on sale. I just wait until the next time I am shopping at that store again and redeem a raincheck too!
HTH!
CVSing can seem overwhelming – but just start slow, with just one or two items until you get the hang of things. Usually a good rule of thumb is not to buy items unless you get Extra bucks back – that’s the whole key. Without those, it doesn’t work. Then when you’re a little more comfortable, start adding in your Sunday paper coupons and the other coupons that print out on your receipt or from the magic coupon machine located inside most stores.
http://www.kingdomfirstmom.com (Keeping the Kingdom first)
http://www.savingourcents.blogspot.com (Saving our Cents)
both have good CVS tutorials, too.
Of course, Money Saving Mom has a good tutorial as well – but I would imagine you already know that!
Thanks for the post. I’m just trying to get the hang of couponing but I was fairly frugal before and made a lot from scratch. So far, I’m finding coupons but mostly for things we don’t really use or just have as an occasional treat. Is it really saving to spend even $.25 for something you wouldn’t have bought before? I guess maybe if it saves you take-out. 🙂 Any tips are helpful. I don’t have a CVS here in WA state so I’ve got to figure out household goods some other way and frankly I’m overwhelmed. I have 2 active small boys and carrying a calculator while shopping and reining them in just makes me want to stay home. But I’m trying to keep trying.
I live in Utah and I’ve really been getting into couponing and shopping the grocery ads. The only problem is that every other family in the state of Utah is doing the exact same thing! I went to Albertson’s on Tuesday morning and every item that I wanted to purchase with coupons was sold out!!! COMPLETELY GONE! Any suggestions on outsmarting everyone else? 🙂
Thanks so much for posting this! I felt like I was reading my own words. My husband and I are having our first child this coming October and are trying to figure out how cut down everywhere we can. I am on a mission to cut down our grocery costs before the little one arrives. We just got a membership to Costco and are hoping that will help along with couponing. I’m not very good at looking at the local grocery store ads, but you have inspired me to get my act together. Thanks again!
You’re doing a great job, Jessie! I have yet to trim our grocery budget down that low. But I’ve got the CVSing down to a science now! I’m getting most of our personal care items free there. You can see my how-to post on CVSing here: http://savingandgiving.blogspot.com/2009/04/start-saving-part-5-shopping-at-cvs.html
I also highly recommend Keeping the Kingdom First’s weekly CVS $5 Challenge (http://www.kingdomfirstmom.com/search/label/The%20CVS%20%245%20Challenge). Each week people link in with their scenarios that cost $5 or less out-of-pocket. That would be a great way to get started without spending much. Good luck!
Good post. First, I am impressed with the $40/week budget. I have a husband and a three year old. And I’ve been trimming and tweaking our grocery budget for years (7? 8?), and I can’t get ours down to $40/week. Even discounting the CSA (which is pre-paid). I can do $40/week for about a month, then I have to switch to $75/week for a month.
CVS scares me. I dabble in it. But really, I don’t use a lot of personal care products, so it hasn’t been terrifically useful.
We don’t have any CVS stores near my home, but I find couponing – more specifically, stacking store and manufacturer coupons – in general to be a bit nervewracking. I was at Target today trying to get some cheap Ritz crackers with a store coupon and manufacturer’s coupon and the cashier said, “Wait. How many Ritz crackers do you have?” She then started digging through my stuff, puzzled as to why I had two coupons for one product. She scanned both coupons but said one of them didn’t work. I scored some free trial-size Coppertone sunscreen with a $1 coupon and she was puzzled again and started pawing through my stuff trying to find the sunscreen, as if in disbelief that I had actually gotten any. I know just being polite and explaining things to the cashier, or asking for a manager, or writing to the company, is the solution. But sometimes I wonder if it’s worth the hassle of confronting people every time I go shopping.
Anyone else feel the same?
CVSing is great. I have a 16 month boy at home and I have NEVER paid for his diapers. I combin the deals at CVS when they have them, together with coupons and ExtraBucks. The diapers, the wipes and the formula has been on CVS for the last 16 months. Also, when I see great coupons that you can print, I print as many as I can at home at friendd. You can really save a lot of money by doing that! Look at this site.. they do a lot of work for you:
http://iheartcvs.com/
This is a great post! Thank you!
CVSing doesn’t have to be scary. I started out buying a few things (Free after ECBs) that I knew I’d use and just making sure I spent the ECBs on something else useful before they expired. I didn’t worry about rolling, combining too many coupons or anything like that at first. With time, I started also getting things I knew I could donate locally to roll my ECBs and help others out — but I worked my way up to it gradually. It’s been fun!
Great post & ideas!! I have a CVS fear too!!! If you master it, maybe you could teach me:)
She is doing great.
About CVSing, once you do it, it will get easier. Just start with one item that’s free after Extra Bucks. Then use those Extra Bucks to “buy” the next item (or two) that is free with Extra Bucks. If you also have a manufacturer’s coupon, make sure you have another item to “fill” you order. My CVS has a small clearance section that I check every time I go. Sometimes they have some steals, others times there isn’t anything that I want. Try it and you will like it!
I enjoyed this article. I have two tips to add:
1. Don’t be discouraged if you aren’t saving so much at first. It takes a while to get a coupon stash built up and get the hang of what you’re doing.
2. I use allrecipes.com to help plan my meals. If you click ingredients at the top of the page, you can enter the things you have and it will give suggestions on what to make with them. I got some kale from a friend and had way to much corn meal, so I wound up making a Pan-fried Polenta. It was awesome!
I was afraid nervous about CVSing, but because of a few run ins with badly trained cashiers. I didn’t want to fight with anyone to use two coupons, or more than one transaction. Anyway, I started small and got familiar with the cashiers who now point out things I miss and help me save a little more. Hope this helps:) Always bring all your coupons with you though, I have had to make several trips because of clearnance items that I had coupons for and didn’t bring. Just a tip:)
I’m doing a weeklong series on how I did the same thing in the past year for my family of me, my DH and DD and our two cats, and my $40 includes household and pet needs.
Thank you! Great read! I too was just planning what I wanted to eat and then shopping. I find that eventually what I want to eat goes on sale. Patience.. Patience… Patience! I have two children and we have saved thousands of dollars for the last two years by just doing our homework. My kids grab coupons for me at the grocery stores and we have fun looking for deals. Keep up the good work! I have ideas on CVSing.. but do you have any ideas how to convince other women to use coupons and save money for their families? 😉
Thank you for writing this post. I am a stay at home mom and spend about $120 a week in groceries. I REALLY have got to start doing a better job at couponing and staying on a budget.
I’m right there with you. I haven’t mastered CVS either. I guess I am a scared about going in there and spending money on things that I don’t really need. I could use some advice too!:)