Shop Right

Are you someone who wants to save money and give to the needy? I constantly seek ways to cut my grocery bill—in half.

Those of you familiar with my website, couponmom.com, know I save thousands of dollars a year mostly with coupons. It has helped my family weather hard times. Just as important, it frees up cash so we can continue to give to our church and to charity. There is no excuse to be wasteful when so many need help. My advice:

Put what’s on sale on your menu.
Each week supermarkets discount a variety of items. Plan a week of dinners around them.

Shop long term.
Say skirt steak is on sale. Buy enough for the next three weeks, till it’s on sale again. Store the extra steaks in the freezer. Over the course of a year, you’ll save hundreds of dollars on this item alone. Helpful hint: For four weeks, track the price of the 10 most common items on your shopping list. You’ll know the lowest price for each and how often it goes on sale.

Get creative.
Ask if the store offers a discount card, special promotions, buy-one-get-one-free deals, store coupons and a double or triple return on manufacturers’ coupons. Get creative and combine them to maximize your savings.

Have a coupon strategy.
Clip coupons for every item you typically purchase, but reserve them till the item you want goes on sale for extra savings. Some supermarkets offer coupons on their websites that you can transfer to your store discount card. Visit couponmom.com and print out the manufacturers’ coupons we run each week.

Try new (and cheaper) things.
Why shop at your regular store if the competitor down the street is having a sale? Why buy your usual brand of OJ if another one is on sale? Be flexible; find the best deal. You might even discover a brand you like more!

Save more to give more.
I watch for supermarket deals on nonperishable items—like canned goods or toiletries. I buy them with a manufacturer’s coupon for almost nothing, and drop them in the “charity bin” in my garage that goes to a local food bank. In the Bible, Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give.” Here’s a way of saving and giving at the same time.