[MountainMomma]

With the price of gas today and the economy the way it is, everyone is looking to save a buck here and there. Tell us the best ways you know of to try to save money while you are grocery shopping!

[MamaAnna]

I have a couple of tricks to help out with grocery shopping. The first thing I do is enter my list into an Excel sheet. Not only does it give me an easily printed list when grocery day comes, but I put an estimated cost next to each item. At the bottom it gives me an estimated total to show how close I am to the limit we set each week for groceries. After I get home I also enter the actual price so I have something to base my estimates off of which helps. When I do the estimate I always round up to the nearest dollar, so an item that costs $1.09 is estimated as $2. The extra change really helps! It covers the tax on non-edibles such as diapers, gives a little extra in case you forget something cheap, and I always come in $10-$20 under budget which is then saved for things like school supplies and clothes.

The other trick I have is watching quantity. Take diapers for example. It's $20 for a pack of 30 or $22 for a pack of 50. I spend the extra $2 and every 3 weeks I don't need to buy diapers at all. It makes a nice reduction on what we spend each month. We do the same with things like toilet paper, dishwasher soap, hot chocolate, etc.

[boysmama]

1. Cereal: I buy the bagged bulk ones, which are cheaper than the boxed brands. The kids can't tell the difference (they actually loved them).
2. Salad: No more cut-up salad mixes. Now I buy lettuce and whatever I want in the salad and cut and mix at home. The same applies to all kinds of fruits and vegetables (no more cut-up or packaged stuff).
3. Salad dressing. I started making my own.
4. Coupons probably help, when I remember to take them with me, LOL.
5. Have a list of what you need, and NEVER shop while hungry!!

[mjtamjj]

We have started shopping at Sam's, and I will buy what the store has on special they have really good deals sometimes and they have store coupons that I use.

[MountainMomma]

I definitely agree that you cannot shop when you are hungry! I make a list, and then *when I do my big shopping* I check the sales for each store and decided where to purchase each item. Keep in mind that big shopping means I'm driving to the city about 1hour 15 minutes away, and can find bigger sales. It really pays to do this, and to shop around and see who has the lowest prices and best deals. Checking online sites helps me plan my trip in advance. This is usually an all day ordeal!

I make a list and I stick to it. Because I break it down by store, I only take in my list for that particular store. I get in, get the things on my list, and get out. Less temptation to spend extra that way.

Buy extra if there is a big sale. No, you might not really need 25 cans of corn this week, but if you can get it on sale and with a coupon for .10 a can where it's normally .79 cents a can, you are saving money in the long run and now you won't have to buy more for a while. (Just an example. I made up those amounts. lol)

If possible, leave the kids home with Dad or at a sitters. It much less stressful that way, and you are less likely to buy extra. (I'm sure we've all experienced the "Momma can I PUH-LEASE just have one thing?!" that grates on our nerves while shopping with kids. And if not, trust me.....YOU WILL! lol) Besides, you can be more focused on comparing prices and getting the best deal if you aren't saying "stand still" "sit still" "don't touch that" "stop hitting your brother/sister" type things every 2 seconds.

[boysmama]

Stephanie: Have you been shopping with me and my kids?? LOL. You are describing our grocery shopping soooo accurately !!

[MamaAnna]

I established early on that if my kids behave they get to pick something when we get to the check-out lane. Usually it's crackers or something, but it's enough that they usually don't give me any trouble. Most weeks it's just me and the kids at the store. Now if I take DH along they don't behave at all. It's like they feel the need to show off just how naughty they can be for daddy!

[MountainMomma]

Stephanie: Have you been shopping with me and my kids?? LOL. You are describing our grocery shopping soooo accurately !![/b]

Must just be the age! Mine are 7 and 10, so pretty much the same age as your's and that's how most of our trips go.

I established early on that if my kids behave they get to pick something when we get to the check-out lane. Usually it's crackers or something, but it's enough that they usually don't give me any trouble. Most weeks it's just me and the kids at the store. Now if I take DH along they don't behave at all. It's like they feel the need to show off just how naughty they can be for daddy![/b]

I really hope it continues to work for you, but I should warn you.....that USE to be how it worked for us. With age, comes rebellion and then you want to swear they aren't your kids even if they do look just like you and refer to you as Mom one thousand times a second while jerking on your arm trying to get your attention.

[MamaAnna]

The day they start that they get to stay home with Daddy. DH knows I have that plan waiting and he's dreading it! He's not a good grocery shopper though so it isn't like I could send him.