Guest Post: Five Ways to Save With a Detailed Shopping Plan

by

Stephanie Nelson

Shopping list (Photo credit: Ex-Smith)

Research shows that efficient shoppers with detailed shopping plans do a much better job of sticking to their shopping lists and budgets.

1. Check to see what you already have on hand at home to turn ingredients in your kitchen into meals. This also keeps you from accidentally duplicating items you've purchased previously.

2. Check your stores’ featured sale items on CouponMom.com and coupon bargains before leaving home, so you'll know exactly where to find the best deals.

3. Plan specific daily menus around your on-hand ingredients and store bargains. Create bargain minded menu plans. Online recipe sites can help you tailor meals around deals.

4. When you have a menu plan, combine your current food inventory plus needed items bought on sale and with your coupons to create your shopping list.

5. Stick to your plan when you get to the grocery store, no impulse buying.

Stephanie Nelson is the Coupon Mom. With more than 6 million members, Coupon Mom gives members access to thousands ofprintable coupons for groceries, restaurants and more. As the nation’s top expert in couponing across the country, Stephanie has been on every major national television talk show and taught millions how to save money for the past 11 years. She has been called ‘”the rock star of the recession” by the Washington Post and her book, The Coupon Mom’s Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half, is a New York Times best seller.

Related articles

• Reduce Your Grocery Bill with a Printable Grocery Shopping List (foodonthetable.com)
• How to Make the Best Grocery Shopping List (foodonthetable.com)
• 5 Ways to Save Your Family Money at the Grocery Store (slideshare.net)

Guest Post: 5 Ways to Save... Using a Weekly Menu for Your Family

by 

Stephanie Nelson

Savvy coupon shoppers prefer to sketch out their weekly meal plans before they start creating their grocery lists. Here are some steps to go after bargains rather than waiting to stumble across them—and get ready to save over 50% or more on your groceries!

 

1. Scan the week’s calendar to figure out what the family’s plans are. Meals at the table aren’t the only time your family eats. Remember packed lunches, social outings, school events and guests, so that these meals don’t translate into extra trips to the store.

 

2. Keep an eye on your refrigerator’s perishable items. One study reported that a family of four ends up throwing away an average of $590 of perishable groceries per year such as meat, produce, dairy and grain products. Avoid overbuying perishable items.

 

3. Check the pantry and freezer for adequate staples on hand for easy convenient meals. Simple meals like pasta, soup, chili, or chicken pot pie, made with items you already have on hand, can save you the expense of that last-minute pizza delivery.

4. Don’t snack on dinner ingredients! Keep munchies around so your family doesn’t graze on the ingredients you plan to use for the main course. Stock up on popcorn, pretzels, fruit, popsicles or crackers.

5. Celebrate “Leftover Night “once a week. Keep any leftovers on one shelf of the refrigerator in clear containers, so you can see what you have to use up.

Stephanie Nelson is the Coupon Mom. Her web site, www.CouponMom.com, has over 5.6 million members, and she is established as the nation’s top expert in couponing across the country. Stephanie has been on every major national television talk show and taught millions how to save money for the past 11 years. She has been called ‘”the rock star of the recession” by the Washington Post and her book, The Coupon Mom’s Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half, is a New York Times best seller.

Guest Post: Using Strategic Shopping

by

Stephanie Nelson

CouponMom.com

Strategic Shopping is not about changing the way you eat, it’s about changing the way you buy the food you like. Create customized shopping approaches that save time, allow your family to have tasty and healthy meals—all while cutting your grocery bill in half.

1. Know your prices. Become familiar with the price range of the items you buy most regularly, and then you will know when an item is discounted. Over time you learn when you see a deal, and how to plan purchases for items on sale and using coupons!

2. Know your store savings programs. It’s up to you to educate yourself about stores' savings programs and policies. Go to CouponMom.com to find the weekly deals at a number of national and regional stores, and learn how you can use them to your best advantage.

3. Know your coupons. Coupons are really free money, use them wisely and they’re essentially legal currency. Coupon Mom combines coupons with special deals and offers in your store each week.

4. Stock up on Savings – An item you buy each week goes on sale. The store adds to the discounting possibilities by running a promotion, possibly greater savings if you buy three or more, and then adding coupons. To the Strategic Shopper, it’s time to celebrate! Celebrate by stocking up when off-price opportunities combine for ultimate savings. When prices return to normal, just “shop” from your freezer.

5. Plan to save – The most important element to cutting your grocery spending is planning ahead. An organized shopping list, combined with careful meal planning, and strategic shopping for deals and coupons can cut your grocery bill in half every week!

Stephanie Nelson is the Coupon Mom. Her web site, www.CouponMom.com, has over 5.6 million members, and she is established as the nation’s top expert in couponing across the country. Stephanie has been on every major national television talk show and taught millions how to save money for the past 11 years. Stephanie has been called ‘”the rock star of the recession” by the Washington Post and her book, The Coupon Mom’s Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half, is a New York Times best seller.