How to Pay Twenty Dollars for a Hundred Dollars of Groceries

Coupon Clipping is Cool Again

As the cost of food continues to rise, many families feel a distinct pinch in their wallets. Can you continue to buy the foods you enjoy without bankrupting your budget? Yes, if you are willing to put a little time into exploring the tricks savvy shippers use to save money on groceries.

Things You'll Need

• Sunday paper
• Scissors
• Your local grocery ads

Instructions

1. 

   Clip coupons. Shoppers have clipped coupons for decades, but recently have become more savvy about using them wisely. Teri Gault, founder of the website "The Grocery Game" realized that grocery sales ran in cycles, and in tracking those cycles, she could save her coupons to coincide with sales for the greatest discount.

2. 

   Explore buying in bulk. Coupons aren't the only way to save big on groceries. Buying in bulk, even having your groceries shipped directly to you can save money. Amazon.com offers a grocery service where you can order non-perishable items online and have them shipped to you in regular intervals. If you subscribe to a product, you get free shipping as well as a 15% discount in addition to the already discounted price. If a certain brand is offering a sale, it gets even lower.

3. 

   Don't be a brand snob. Many brand name items can cost 30% higher than grocery store brands, but we continue to reach for the name brand. But here's the surprise--many grocery store brands are actually from the same main supplier as the name brand.

4. 

   Shop your local Farmer's Market. Local farmers sometimes offer a much lower price for fresh, in season produce than you would pay at a chain store. You can save money, and help support the local economy all at once.

5. Buy more than one copy of the Sunday paper. The extra dollar for the paper could net you $50 in extra coupons.

Tips & Warnings

• When buying in bulk, offer to split the cost and products with friends if your family can't use the full amount.

• Watch for unadvertised sales in your local store.

• If there is a store coupon and a manufacturers coupon, use both unless it specifically states you can't.

• Join a coupon club where people trade coupons they won't use for things they will.

• Join the Grocery Game.

• Don't ever go to the grocery store without a written list and coupons.

Resources

• The Grocery Game
• Coupons.com - Printable at home
• Link to Grocery Store Specials
• Amazon.com Subscribe and Save