The Wonderful World of Couponing (Part 1)

The Grocery Game

A few days ago, I had decided to use some coupons for a purchase I made at the local commissary (military grocery market)...which was a rare move for me. I had always felt that clipping coupons was a waste of time, and since more often than not the coupons are worth mere pennies it never seemed worth it. Until I remembered a website I stumbled across last year, called The Grocery Game. The site's owner claims that you can cut your grocery bill in half or more following her simple techniques and "Teri's List", which is a list of sale items at various stores in your region.

The list does all of the work for you. It shows you the sales for each store, even deals that were not advertised in the weekly circular. Each item is color coded on the list: green for free products (normally free after sale+coupon), blue for great deals that you should stockpile, and black for on sale but wait until the price drops if you don't absolutely need it right away.

I rejoined the website, which offers a $1 trial that lasts for a month. When your membership has "graduated" to paid, the cost is $10 for your first store list and $5 for each additional store. I joined up for the only two stores in my area that have a list handy, Albertsons and Smith's...both of which are grocers I hardly visit on any normal basis as they tend to be pricier than the commissary or Super Walmart. I am hoping that in the not-so-distant future there will be lists available for Super Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens (opening soon), which are the other national stores in the area.

The game play is simple: the first step is to stockpile. Print out your list(s), get ahold of as many coupons you possibly can, and then go to your local supermarkets and hoard all items that are green or blue on your list like a squirrel going into hibernation. You won't see substantial savings just yet. In fact, you may find that over enthusiasm may lead you to spend more than you normally do in one shopping trip. Even if this is so, you will be coming away with much more than you used to, since all items you'll be purchasing are discounted, mega discounted, or even free. The thing to keep in mind is that the point is to build a large supply of items you use often, at a greatly discounted price.

A quick example could be deodorant on sale for $1.49 per stick. You happen to have 5 coupons for that product for $1 off. So, you would want to buy five sticks for a total of $0.49 each. Who needs five sticks of deodorant at once? Well, not most people...but if you use one stick a month you've just bought yourself a five month supply and saved a good amount of cash too.

This technique can be applied to mostly anything that is non-perishable, has a long shelf life, or can be frozen (unless you can use 20 cartons of milk before it expires!). Once you've got yourself stocked with foods and goods that you use often (the website recommends at least a 12 week supply), you will begin to see a dramatic difference in your grocery bill as you will only be shopping for things that cannot be stored for long periods of time, or items that you buy on a whim.

I personally have been referring to the list, but having been using it seriously just yet as I am concentrating on building up my coupon collection first. Most of the best deals on the list require coupons from the Sunday paper (Smart Source and Valassis) or grocer specific coupons. Many of the deals require coupons from weeks or even months back...and so I recommend you begin with a good selection of coupons before you begin. Start saving those Sunday paper inserts, grab coupons from those little red dispensers in the store aisles, and save manufacturer coupons you receive in the mail.