First I check to see what food I have at home already and make a menu plan for the upcoming week. I also check to see what I am low on so if an item comes on sale I can stock up.
After making my shopping lists I then pull out my coupon box and search for coupons for those items. I bought the box at IKEA a few years ago and made the index cards myself from old file folders with labels purchased at Dollarama.
Next I file each list with the coupons in my coupon organizer which is labeled with different store names. This organizer has 13 slots and I always keep any Free Product Coupons and Restaurant coupons in it. This was purchased at Top Dollar.
I also write the estimated total on each shopping list so I know I'm staying on track with my budget. We budget $90.00/week on groceries to feed 4 people (sometimes 5 if Jenna my stepdaughter is here) and its very rare we go over budget. I do keep my coupon box in my van when I go shopping so that if I come across a REALLY good deal I can go fetch a coupon but generally I stick to my list. Now I'm off to make my grocery lists!
4 comments:
Thanks for sharing your system. I love this. I also love your little box all labelled and organized. Oh man.... your getting the Martha Stewart tendancies to come out over here ;) Now where's my label maker?
And I'm blown away by your weekly grocery budget. We budget about $100 a week for 2 adults and 1 toddler. We don't max out all the time but I'm sure we could reduce it a bit.
You have a label maker? Ah, I am so jealous! I want one but I think I would drive my husband nuts labeling everything, LOL!
$90.00/week is strictly food and things like baby wipes & training pants (Health & Beauty products and Cleaning products not included in this budget.)I've stocked up on these items to last me for at least a year if not longer.
Typically I am buying perishables and stocking up on everything else I need on sale. For example, Sobey's regularly has sales on roasts about $5.00 or $6.00 each so I will buy $30.00 worth of roasts and freeze them. I have 2 pantries that hold all my "food stockpile" and I post lists on the doors so I know when we are running low so I keep an eye for sales.
Yes, I have a label maker. I bought it years ago because they had some deal at Staples (saw it on RedFlagDeals) so it cost me $1! LOL. I actually haven't used it in years because I don't know what to start labelling.
Oh ok. This makes sense now. We include health and beauty and cleaning products in here although even then we don't buy those things weekly.
Wow. I need to shop at Sobeys more! There is one near us but I always thought people were paying a premium for stores that were open 24/7. Maybe I should look at their flyers more closely.
That's some good advice. Making a list of what is in the pantry. I never know and I rarely look in there becuase it's super messy and makes me have a headache just thinking about cleaning it. HA. One day I will do it!
Yes Sobey's is very expensive but they do have good sales sometimes. Generally I will buy their sale items and complete my shopping at a less expensive store.
Post a Comment