MAKE A LIST:
Start by making a list of NEEDS. The things that you need to get, even if it means no sale price or coupon. These would normally be your perishable items like fruits, veggies, bread, milk and eggs. Note on the list how much you would normally need for one week. (for example: milk - 2 gallons, eggs - 18)
Next make a list of WANTS. The things that your family likes, but they could manage without these items if need be. This would be things like snacks, chips, candy, and the like. Again, note how much you would normally like for a weeks time.
MAKE A PRCIE BOOK:
Know what you buy, and how much you need. It may seem silly, but go to your grocery store and make a list of what you normally buy (like milk, eggs, bread, etc) and their regular price at that store (for example bread = $1.00 per loaf at grocery store). If you shop at more than one store, take the same list and mark which store has the lowest original price. (for example, your grocery store may sell bread for 1.00 per loaf, but you can get the same loaf for 0.95 at WalMart). This is called a "price book".
Once you have the original prices marked, you would then want to start watching sale prices. You may see that although WalMart has the bread cheaper at the original price, your grocery store has a sale for 0.50 per loaf. Mark the lowest sale price that you find, and at what store on your price book. This may take some time to manage to find lower and lower prices on each item, but it is worth it. Why you may ask?
STOCKPILE:
If you have the room, stockpiling is a wonderful way to get things that you need for cheap, and get as many as you can so that you make the most of the sale and your coupons.
You are again grocery shopping, and you know from your price book that the lowest price you normally see on bread is 0.50 per loaf. Well, your grocery store is having a blowout sale, and the bread is now only 0.19 per loaf! You know that this is a WONDERFUL savings. You can now see that you should buy as many as you would use, and have room for, while this price lasts!
This can be hard with some perishable grocery items, but works very well with those shelf stable or items that you can freeze to use later. Good items to stockpile are your condiments, paper goods, personal needs, medications, and canned items. You can always freeze meat, bread, milk, fruit and veggies as well.
FINISH IT UP:
Now that you know what you need, and how much a good sale price is, go out and stockpile what you can. If you see an ad for a store that you wouldn't normally shop at, but it has a GREAT price, it may be worth it for you to take the time to visit that store. This is the beauty of knowing what you normally buy.
If you do stockpile items, make sure that you rotate your stock, and store them properly. Nothing is worse than items you stockpiled, that are ruined from their storage method. Keep them in a dry and safe place.
Coming next... using your coupons to the max!
