If you didn’t catch my post yesterday here check it out, I wanted to share the great news!
I am working on my first book to be released in early 2010! I really want to include some of your stories, so over the next two days I will post one question on certain topics. If your story gets picked it will be included in my book!
So… tell me your story!
When do you do your grocery planning? Do you have a special day that you set aside each week for scouring the ads and matching up your coupons? A special drink or treat that goes along with it? Share your weekly ritual with me, and it just might make it for inclusion in my new book!
You can answer in the comments below, or feel free to email me your story to kelly (at) faithfulprovisions (dot) com.
For the main stores I shop, their ad comes out on Sunday. I use my daughter’s nap time on Sunday afternoon to do my main prep. I look over the ads and match them up with coupons, clip those coupons and then load my shopping card with any corresponding ecoupons. Since I do it while she is napping, she never misses any mommy time!
My weekly ads come out on Wednesday. I usually use Wednesday evenings after the children are in bed to flip through my coupon binder to match up the deals that I will get when I go shopping on Sunday. I also get the paper on Sunday and quickly flip through the weekly coupons to see if there are any that I can use for that weeks shopping visit.
I absolutely love going to the grocery store. I don’t even take coupons…too much troube. I just find the best deals while I am there and look for hidden treasures along the way. I love finding those hidden treasures at the end of the isle that the grocery store considers expired but they still have some worth to them. I know when my bakery, deli, and the meat department begin to mark down there items to move out what they consider expired (which it’s not) to move in the new and those are the days I shop. I have purchased some very fine peices of meat at huge discounts, I always buy the prepared chickens in the deli because it makes all types of meals for my family and they are alway reasonably priced, they want to move those out as quickly as possible since they are alread prepared. I also love when they have the “taste testers” out because you can usually have lunch by just tasting all the samples. It’s a treat to go to the grocery store especially when it’s one appealing to the eye, clean, and stocked with lots of wonderful finds. My favorites to shop are Publix, Trader Joes, Harris Teeter and Whole Foods. They have the best selections around.
I cheat I use thegrocerygame.com but I come here for other deals. So by using the grocery game method I don’t have to spend a lot of time putting my list together.
I rarely ever use coupons unless they are for free items.
I buy the store brand which is always cheaper than name brands and are just as good. I also look for sale items in the store and shop at dollar stores a lot.
You can get some really good deals at the dollar stores.
Normally I plan my grocery trip on Sunday in junction with my meal planning for the week. However, I do look through the ads for my stores on Wednesdays when the new sales start. This enables me to combine coupons, meals, and my weekly budget for one big trip. I refer to many websites in search for deals and online coupons before heading to the store.
My husband and son have guy time on Saturdays, so I start planning my meals and grocery list then. I get up early on Sunday to finish it up before church. After church, my son and I hit the stores and do all our shopping for the week. We then treat ourselves to some yummy Zaxby’s as a reward. Nothing better than ending the day with a big sweet tea with lemon!