• Date Started: Nov 15, 2008
• Entries: 13
• Comments: 84
• Total Visits: 20,091

I just got back

5 Responses to “I just got back”

1. creditcardfree Says:
   November 16th, 2008 at 03:02 pm
   I don't think the commissary is always the cheapest. Look at other grocery stores in your area for sales on foods you use often. Look at couponmom dot com for printable coupons you can use at the store on top of sales. Make your weekly menu based on items that are on sale. Good luck!!

2. gamecock43 Says:
   November 16th, 2008 at 05:36 pm
   Cut down on grocery cost?? Use this weeks grocery as a personal best. Next week starts a new challenge...come in under the previous weeks dollar spent. So next week aim for $140...eventually you will stall out, but dont look at $150 as too high- look at it as a bar that was set and now you know what number you need to come in UNDER to make progress.

3. Maismom Says:
   November 17th, 2008 at 09:46 am
   $150 a week? That sounds pretty high, but can't really tell without looking at items you bought. Does it include HBA (like shampoo & soap)?
   
   My recommendation is
   
   1. Do not shop at one store
   Drug stores often carry grocery cheaper than commissary. So, look around.
   
   2. Read weekly store ads
   Look for good deals.
   
   3. Keep price book
   So you can spot what really is a good price. Sale price often is not the bottom price.
   
   4. Check out HCW commissary forum.
   Hot Coupon World has a commissary forum and they often discuss good deals. Well, I hardly go to commissary anymore because I can find better deals at other stores, but it helps especially when you're just started to bargain hunt.
   
   www.hotcouponworld.com
   
   
   
   

4. lizajane Says:
   November 17th, 2008 at 03:16 pm
   Agree with other things posted so far, especially combining coupons with sale items, and planning meals from the week's sale items. Can you use coupons at the commissary? What other stores are you close to? I split my shopping among anywhere from 3-5 stores depending on the week and where I have other errands to run. I don't have my system down pat, but I find I'm saving anywhere from 20-40% each week. On some individual store trips, I've saved 80%, but I might only get a handful of items at that store, and it's averaged down lower by other store trips where I spend more & save less. But it really, really helps.
   
   Gamecock's challenge idea is a great one, especially if you like to compete against a goal.
   
   Stockpiling the sale & coupon items is also a good idea, but it takes a little bit of time to build up. If there is a great sale on cereal and I have coupons, and can get a box for $1 or less, sometimes I'll buy 8 boxes of it and just what I need for other groceries. The next week it might be a different item that's a great buy. I don't need the cereal that week, but if soup is cheap with the sale/coupon, I'll get a bunch of those. And so on. It really helps.

5. homebody Says:
   December 2nd, 2008 at 06:22 pm
   YD's commissary is great. They actually hang the coupons next to the items. Learn to cook is my best advice and plan, plan, plan. I know with little ones it is tempting to buy little individually packaged snacks, etc. Cold cereal is so expensive I would get the girls used to eating something else for breakfast. Make your own pancakes, french toast, muffins, etc. Hot cereal is good and cheap. One thing I will say is that I did not notice any bulk food at YD's commissary and I did find oatmeal more expensive than I can buy in bulk at home. Compare prices to other stores and like I said, plan, plan, plan!

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