One of the most common questions I hear from new couponers is “why aren’t I saving more on food?” The thrill of free toothpaste and deodorant–while still fun–loses a bit of luster the moment we realize we still have to eat.
It is super important, especially at the beginning, not to fall into the trap of unrealistic expectations. Shows like TLC’s Extreme Couponing make it seem like there are people out there who never pay more than $5 anytime they go to the grocery store, and that is simply not true. While there are a lot of things that you can get for free, there will always be a lot more things you have to pay for. The best you can do is save what you can, where you can. Any savings is better than none!
That said, as long as you consistently work on shopping the sales & building your stockpile, you will see your food bills continue to drop (until they level out–sorry, but no one ever makes it to zero.) But give it TIME! It can take up to 4 months to build up a really well-varied stockpile.
Since my shopping trip was heavy on food purchases today, I thought I’d make a little video:
And here is what I got:
At Publix I spent $39.15 on $164.69 worth of groceries, a savings of 77%.
Grocery Breakdown Scotties Facial Tissues, BOGO @ – $1.25 $1/1 Scotties Facial Tissues Printable (NLA) Final price: FREE + Profit 8 Advil Pain Medicine, 50ct – $4.49 (8) $2/1 Advil Product (Peelie on Product!) (4) $5/2 Advil or Thermacare Product, exp. 8/26/11 (Publix Green Advantage Flyer) Final price: FREE 2 Land O Lakes Pure & Creamy Margarine or Buttery Taste Spread, BOGO @ – $2.67 (2) $0.50/1 Land O Lakes Fresh Buttery Taste Spread printable Final price: $0.83 each 4 Keebler Chips Deluxe or Vienna Fingers Sandwich Cookies, BOGO @ – $3.59 (2) $1/2 Keebler Cookies, exp. 10/2/11 (RP 08/07/11) (1) B3G1 Keebler Cookies Target Printable Final price: $0.65 each 4 Aunt Jemima Waffles, BOGO @ – $2.39 (1) $1/2 Aunt Jemima Frozen Waffles or Pancakes @Publix (MQ) exp. 9/30/11 (SS 08/14/11 R) (2) $1/1 Aunt Jemima Frozen Waffles or Pancakes printable Final price: $0.44 each 2 Whole Fruit Sorbet, 1 pint, BOGO @ – $2.99 (2) $0.50/1 Whole Fruit Fruit Bars or Sorbet Product(RP 06/26/11) or (RP 07/24/11 R) or(RP 06/26/11) Final price: $0.99 each 1 Capri Sun Beverage Juice Drink Blend, 10ct – $1.79 (1) $0.50/1 Capri Sun Beverage Target printable Final price: $1.29 2 Nature’s Own Butterbread, 20oz, BOGO @ – $2.77 (2) $0.75/1 Nature’s Own Bread Printable (NLA) Final price: $1.38 each 1 Daisy Sour Cream, 16oz – $1.67 4 Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Lunchmeat, 7-9oz – $3.33 (1) B3G1 Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Lunchmeat Target printable (2) $1/2 Oscar Mayer Product printable (NLA) Final price: $2.00 each 3 Ore-Ida Frozen Potatoes, 16- 32 oz @ $3.75 (1) $2/2 Ore Ida Products Target Printable Coupon (1) B2G1 Ore-Ida Frozen Potatoes or Onion Rings (Publix Yellow Advantage Flyer) Final price: $1.83 2 Kellogg’s Fruit Flavored Snacks, 8- 10.8 oz @ – $2.00 (1) $1/2 Kellogg’s Fruit Flavored Snack, exp. 10/2/11 (RP 08/07/11) Final Price: $1.50 each wyb 2 1-2% Milk, 1 Gallon – $3.79 (1) $1/1 Dairy Item (Publix Baby Club Mailer) Final price: $2.79 1-Large Eggs, 1 Dozen – $1.99 * * *Altogether, this week I spent $39.81 on $249.42 worth of groceries and office supplies, an average savings of 84% for the week.
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And now it’s your turn! Seeing others’ examples is one of the best ways to learn new couponing strategies, hints, and hot deals. If you have a blog, please link up your coupon savings here. If you don’t have a blog, feel free to share your shopping experiences in a comment below.
P.S. Today is the LAST DAY to enter to win $40 of handcrafted hair accessories from Audry & Ulric. As you can see from the video, the gorgeous flowers are not just for kids. I will pick a winner tomorrow!
Shopping list prepared at:
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Melissa August 25, 2011 at 9:34 pm
Oh no I forgot about the sorbet and wont be near a Publix until Saturday. It would have been nice to sooth my sore throat.
Great Job today!!!!!!
Kristen August 25, 2011 at 10:45 pm
Ruth,
I LOVE your websites!! I look forward to reading about your shopping trips on sunday and thursday!! And I love watching you video’s on you tube! Keep up the great work!! I am totally hooked to couponing because of you!!
Thanks!
Kristen
Wendy August 25, 2011 at 10:48 pm
I just love to watch your videos and to see your savings… you are my hero, lol! Great job and also love your websites…I don’t know how you do it all!!!
Shelley August 26, 2011 at 12:55 am
Hey Ruth! I’m sure you’ve explained this before, but before hitting Publix tomorrow, I’m wondering exactly how many of the Keebler cookie packs would I get? You need 3 for the Target coupon, so I know I would need 4 packs. But, what about the free one you get with the Target coupon? Would I get 5 packs all together since the Target one is b2g1 free? Or would I just get 4 packs, and it would be like paying for 1 pack and getting 3 free? Thanks for your help!
Abigail August 26, 2011 at 1:31 am
You would get four.
Shelley August 26, 2011 at 4:46 am
So when I buy 4, I pay for 2 and get two free…but with the b3g1 free Target coupon, I really just pay for one and it takes the other cost off, so it’s like paying for one and getting 3 for free? Sorry for the confusion, I just want to be sure I get this right! Thanks!
Carol August 26, 2011 at 2:53 pm
Yes, you get 4 total but it’s like you’re just paying for 1 think of cookies.
I love those Target B3G1 coupons!!! I used mine yesterday for the Nabisco Ritz crackers (B1G1 $2.81), I had the Target Q and 2- .75/2. I got 4 boxes of Ritz crackers for $1.31 
Yay! Hope I helped you 
Shelley August 26, 2011 at 5:16 pm
Yup, you helped! Just did my shopping at Publix this morning. I got $93 worth of groceries (including those 4 packs of cookies), but only paid $50! The savings aren’t quite as big as Ruth’s, but I’m pretty stoked at the results! Every since I found this website, I’ve been saving about 50% every week. I wish I would have found this place sooner!!
denise August 26, 2011 at 1:47 am
I love your blog! But I liked the old pictures where you can actually see what you bought…not the blurry background pictures…
Kim August 26, 2011 at 3:02 am
Thank you so much for the video
JRFrugalMom August 26, 2011 at 1:34 pm
I sure wish that Aunt Jemina coupon would reset:) You did great on your savings Ruth, and look at how much you got for so little.
I would like to invite you to link up your savings at the Weekly Savings Linky @ Frugality Is Free .
Carol August 26, 2011 at 2:54 pm
Great job Ruth! Thanks for the video!!
debi August 26, 2011 at 9:38 pm
Fantastic job shopping and you don’t even get double coupons! Love your videos plus you look great. It’s so funny how Trouble keeps showing you different thinks she likes.
Gaudy August 28, 2011 at 12:56 am
I love your blog and videos, thank you!!!:)
Alissa August 30, 2011 at 8:11 am
Hello,
For publix flyer Qs (green/yellow advantage), I’m confused on the fine print. It states one deal per customer per Item; doesn’t that mean I can’t get the qtys I want to purchase on one transaction? i.e. the advil