Budgets, Budgets, Budgets

Well yesterday I did my new grocery routine with some success!

This was my process:

1) Bought the Sunday paper, took out the coupon packets and filed them by date. What is cool about www.couponmom.com; they already organized the coupons for you. They have what they call the "coupon database", where they have listed the coupons by product & date. So instead of clipping coupons and trying to keep them organized yourself. You save the packets by date, go online look in the database for the coupons you need and then it tells you what packet to find it in!

2) Went online to find ideas for weekly dinner plans!

3) Used the sales circular for the grocery store to find deals on the items I needed in my home this week. Then went in the coupon database to find coupons to coinside with the sales items.

4) Made a detailed list of every item I needed, what it was on sale for and whether or not I had a coupon for it.

5) At the store I followed my list ONLY! Never stray! And compared the sales items to generic and decided whether the coupon actually saved me or not.

The result? I have groceries for the entire week (including household items) total bill before savings: $202.56 After coupons and sales savings: $143.85

I think that is a success, but still disappointed I couldnt do it for under $100. We usually spend about $800/month on food for this "always eating" family. I really want to cut that down to $600 or less if I can. So I did reach my savings goal if I can do this every week.

I think to bring it down even more; I am going to have to start bulk buying. Which could cost more upfront....but save in the long run.