My Couponing System- At the Grocery Store

Yesterday I showed you my coupon binder where I organize my coupon inserts. 

Today I’ll show you what I take with me to the grocery stores and drugstores. 

After making my shopping list and matching my coupons to store’s deals using Southern Savers, I cut out the coupons I need and put them in my expandable coupon organizer.  I take only the coupons I need for that trip and any that I want to check on a price with. 

I added a couple of tabs for the stores I shop at the most.  I usually shop at multiple stores and that helps me keep my deal coupons for each store separate. 

I keep a small calculator in the very back pocket to use in figuring up the total cost of my items while at the store or the cost of an item with a doubled coupon, etc.

The most critical item I take with me to the grocery store is my list notebook.  I purchased this notebook at Ollie’s a year ago and got two in a pack for $5.  It is a hard folder that easily sits up in the grocery cart and helps me stay on track in the stores.     

In it I usually keep my store specific grocery list, my menu plan, and any Southern Savers matchup printables.

Because we have a very tight grocery budget for the month (currently $170 a month)  I have to know exactly how much I am going to spend before I even get into the store.  I use my price sheets that I have previously gathered to write down the price of each item .  While we were living on one salary, we needed to stay on a budget of about $150 a month to make sure we had enough money to cover all our expenses.  Now that we are on two incomes again, we have decided to only slightly raise our budget and continue putting our extra money towards our savings and paying off all debt.  (We’re on the Dave Ramsey plan!)

It is hard to do sometimes, but we usually get out with spending between $25-$50 a week.  To do that I am intentional in planning our menu and using coupons wisely as well as buying at the store with the rock bottom price. 

I have learned through out the past couple of years that couponing has a lot of benefits, but it can be dangerous.  When you’re on a budget, sometimes you just have to let some deals go.  I try to only purchase deals that I can use to make meals for the week or stockpile on personal care items (toothpaste, shampoo, etc)  I also am mindful of not purchasing so many processed foods, even if they are great deals. 

I hope you have enjoyed seeing how I coupon and grocery shop, and hope that it has given you some ideas for yourself.  I’d love for you to share a link in the comments if you have shown your own couponing system on your blog before or share any tips for saving money while grocery shopping!