Grocery Game

I get SO many questions about the grocery game...is it worth it? how does it work? I already clip coupons each Sunday and use them for my grocery list will this help me save more? yeah but to you buy lots of stuff you wouldn't otherwise??
I just buy generics, can I do any better using coupons? etc etc etc....Well I just came across this video and thought I'd share it shows you how grocery game works:



I know that you think I'm a walking advertisement for this site and I am I guess -somebody tell them they can pay me to do that...I wouldn't mind a BIT!!!!

I never thought I could spend so little on groceries.

So here's the scoop:
pre grocery game I bought largely generics - I'm a truly cheap person, don't have huge requirements, am not super picky and was SURE I was saving more than I ever could with coupons...HA! I also shopped from a menu I made out for that week....oh yeah and when I looked at coupons I'd think "I never use any of that stuff" (oh you know you've thought the same)

our grocery budget was about $25o every 2 weeks...more if we were having company, I cooked a meal for someone else or I had a potluck or party, etc etc...
Now after Grocery game...I have more namebrand stuff in my pantry than I have EVER seen in one place...ha ha (since we homeschool I pass on the boxtops to local schools)! Still get to have a blast cooking (I LOVE to cook!!)
Presently I spend about $50-$60 a week....sometimes less sometimes a bit more (the more usually depends on produce and meat). But if it's more I'm able to balance it out the next week. This includes by the way all of our toiletries too, not just food. I also can go weeks without buying anything but milk because of my stockpile.

Stockpile...it's the key to huge savings!!! Buy as much as you can of the sale items when they are rock bottom and you have a coupon...eventually you get to where your pantry is your grocery store and you make your menu based on what you have available...which is a LOT...I also buy the pieces for certain menu items...for instance we have a favorite tortellini soup recipe...one week the italian sausage was on a great sale...bought it and put it in the freezer, another week the canned tomatoes I needed for it, another the tortellini, and so on until I had the ingredients for one of our favorites. It sounds like more work than it is, but it's SO worth it!

Feel free to ask me any questions. I get lots of emails and calls I'm pretty used to it plus I really really enjoy saving money and putting it toward something that really means something to my family, not giving all our money to retailers!

still coupon crazy here!

okay sorry for the lack of posts...just been a crazy few weeks and didn't figure anyone really cared to hear about it...not even me...ha ha!!

So today I went to Publix. I didn't take a picture of my loot. I need to start taking the camera to the store so you can see how full the buggy is...for some reason that helps me feel better but when I post a picture of it all on here it looks like less to me.

So today my stats were: SPENT: $55.60 SAVED: $86.60

7 cans of Hunt's natural diced tomatoes
2 16 oz Breakstone Sour Cream
2 boxes velveeta (printable Q $1/1)
6 boxes quacker granola bars
2 boxes gallon sized ziplock bags
2 boxes quart sized ziplock bags
1 gallon organic milk
2 tubs Dean's light french onion dip
1 bag chex mix
6 boxes keebler crackers (printable Q $1/1)
4 boxes nabisco crackers
2 tubs Sabra hummus
4 Stacy's natural pita chips
1 folgers hazelnut decaf
1 box hefty cinch sack trash bags
2 bags lays chips

The only things I didn't have a coupon for were the milk (on sale) and the potato chips (BOGO)

again if you want to save check out http://www.thegrocerygame.com/ and if you sign up please put me down as your referral thadandrachelb@msn.com I would greatly appreciate it as when 3 people sign up with my email address I get 12 weeks FREE...and we love FREE!! But even if you don't do that...sign up! It will save you tons of money - why on earth give it to the retailers when you don't have to?!

You asked....

Okay so many have asked to see how I file my coupons. I said I'd get this up last week, but you see I'm a truly unorganized person and a real slacker and just didn't do it....forgive me! Also, I feel as if I'm stealing...it wasn't my idea. Every single bit of it came from an organized couponer, I'm only so organized because of her...and I've never even met her!

If anyone wants to get the file I used to create my categories and labels if you know my email, email me. If not leave a comment with your email and I'll be happy to get it to you! It's very detailed and wonderfully done, but again I can NOT take credit for it...a friend of my sister's who also does Grocery Game did it..and if she ever happens to read my blog, THANK YOU RACHEL!!!!!!!

if you are just getting started and want the links and info of what I do, go Here

So here's my book...another gift from my sister's friend Rachel (wow...never met you but you so ROCK!) she passed on what she did and we just did the exact same...why mess with a good thing, right?

You can find it at Office Max ($12.99) There's only this cover and one with a sports theme. I went with this as my saved money helps me relax and afford the more fun things in life...like a few days on Roatan in Honduras this summer and it looks JUST like this!







Here are the tabs....the main categories (sticky file tabs from Office Max, I think the package was $2)









and why this picture is sideways....it wasn't taken that way nor is the file that way...arrgh!

but this is an example of it opened.

The sub topics are very specific and detailed which helps you find your coupons quickly.

these categories are great...have those weekly 40% off Michael's coupons?? Or the Publix Penny coupon (love those!) Or when you checked out were you given a coupon to get $5 off your next purchase or something...no problem...file them in the stores section! A big time saver!

There is also a receipts section, which is really important when doing Wal-Greens rebates!

Well, Happy Savings! Not sure it is, but hopefully this is helpful to someone!

"Cookie"/"she who shall not be named"

Picture is tonight...Tuesday night. My daughter doesn't make it through the night with a single pillow on her bed...she has several, but never in the morning FYI. I promise I do provide pillows

"So what's going on with the doggie" answer:

we don't know.

She's still here.

hubby still maintains "We don't need another dog!"

I have taken her to the vet for an exam and we do know someone who MIGHT be interested..we shall see. We've posted found reports, checked for a microchip, etc. We're told she is most likely the result of a foreclosure or economy in general...apparently people are leaving their dogs behind when they lose their homes, etc........I just won't go there....she's safe, warm and gets tons of attention and lots of suggly places to sleep...her favorite!

Scholastic Dollar days

HOORAY for Dollar Days at Scholastic!! Click here

to see the list of great teaching aids for homeschoolers, classrooms and churches all for only $1. And shipping is cheap too. I got $14 of stuff and paid just over $2 for shipping, better than 6-7 for this cheapwad. So excited about some fun History supplements I got and some test practice books, etc Since this is the year that my oldest is required to take a standardized test.

But FYI any homeschoolers out there, I'm guessing this is follow up to their annual warehouse sale...just what's left...many are already out of stock so act fast if you are interested!!