More on Coupons

I have had a few requests for more information about using grocerysmarts.com. Unfortunately, the site is only good for people who live in Utah or Nevada. (The last I checked, they were working on more states so you can contact the webmaster if you're interested.) If you don't live in Utah or Nevada, there is also a website that does the same thing for a subscription fee. The site is thegrocerygame.com. They have a 4 week trial available for $1 so you can see if you save enough for the subscription fee to be worth it. I think you will find it is. Anyway, I typed up a walk-through of the grocerysmarts webpage for a friend in Nevada. I thought I'd post it here for anyone who is interested. The Utah site works the same but has even more stores and features! Here it is:

First of all, I know what you mean about the Sunday papers not having any "good" coupons. I used to feel the same way. To really save money, you need to completely change your perception of what is a "good" coupon. All brand loyalty must be completely forgotten. Instead of buying what you're used to, you buy what is cheap!! Keep in mind that that is sometimes the generic brand, but couponing usually allows you to buy brand names for even less. (However, I did have a $3 off coupon for Oil of Olay face cream and the generic was still cheaper...)

This method will change the way you grocery shop. Most people make a list of what they will eat for the week and then go out and buy the ingredients, no matter what they cost. With grocerysmarts.com, you stock up on the items that are the cheapest. Then, you have a mini-grocery store in your house. (Great for food storage!!) You make dinner out of the items you have on hand because you got them all for really cheap! The grocerysmarts recommendation is that you have 1 newspaper subscription for every person in the household. If you want to have a perpetual food storage, get 2 subscriptions per person. We have 2 subscriptions total for my husband, me, and our baby. It is enough for daily needs, but we don't have a lot of extra on hand.

So maybe the best way to do this is to have you open up another browser and go to grocerysmarts.com so you can see what I'm talking about as I explain it. I live and shop in Utah, so I have a different "passport" for grocerysmarts.com. I like the Utah site a lot better than the Nevada one - it has a lot more features like an alphabetical coupon index and a TON more grocery stores. It looks like Nevada only has the lists for Albertson's and Smith's - bummer. But, one of the things I really like about couponing is that it allows me to shop at generally more expensive stores and still spend way less than I would at Wal-Mart. (I HATE Wal-Mart!!) I still go there for non-grocery items, but now it's about once a month instead of once a week - hooray!

The Nevada passport is g89ccb - all lowercase. (If you're curious, the Utah one is g84ro1.) Notice to the left of the screen, there is a little ad for the Amazon grocery list. Amazon groceries are really good for stocking up - free shipping too! Under the Amazon ad, you will see a button for people just getting started. This brings up a one-page description of how to use the site. I think it's a little confusing, so I'll walk you through it. However, it does have a number to call to get additional Sunday papers for only .75 each, so I would call and see what that is about. Also, to the right of the screen you will find a little tool for saving money at Wal-Mart.

In the middle of the screen, you will see where is says "printable grocery coupons - Group A Group B Singles." The site makes its money off of people printing coupons from groups A and B. The Singles coupons are coupons found on different manufacturer's websites.

Scroll down the screen and you will see in red print "Best Method - A hanging file box!" I use a big three-ring binder, but the method is the same. Create a file for "SmartSource," "RedPlum," and "P&G." These are the different types of coupons that you will find regularly in your Sunday papers. Each week, take out the coupons, write the date on the front of each packet, and then stick the coupons in their corresponding files. (Make sure to keep the dates in order.) You don't even need to look at the coupons. To the right of the screen is a list of the schedule for coupons for 2008. Those are the packets you should expect to find each week. (P&G comes once a month.)

Now, scroll back up the screen and you will see a drop-down menu with "Select Your Store" highlighted. You can choose "All in One" to see Albertson's and Smith's at the same time. I usually just go to Albertson's because I don't like the hassle of more than one store and they usually have better sales. After choosing your store, you will see a spreadsheet of the items on sale for the week. (Both Albertson's and Smith's sales run from Wednesday to Wednesday each week.)

At the very top of the screen you will see "Mini list buttons!" Click on the Start button. This will turn everything gray. Now go through and highlight the items that you'd like to buy. Be sure to highlight the instructions for each sale too, or they won't print out on your list. The left-hand column has stars in it according to how good of a deal the item is. ("stock-up scale") The more stars, the better. The second column tells you the item description. The third column is how much the item is on sale for, without any coupons.

The fourth column refers you to coupons available for that particular item. It starts out with the brand the coupon is good for. Then, it tells you how much the coupon is worth (e.g. $1/2 means $1.00 off every 2 items purchased). The date in parenthesis is the expiration date. The last information tells you how to find the coupon. If it's a printable coupon, it will give you the link. (I like to do all Group As at the same time and all Group Bs at the same time. The first time you print coupons you will need to download a coupon printer to enable you to print the barcodes. A lot of times the "Singles" coupons lead you to manufacturer's websites that require you to answer a few questions or create an account in order to print the coupon. I created a junk mail email address so I don't clog up my inbox. It's a valid address, but I never check it. Also, keep the same password for all the accounts you create - I use "coupons." There are a few sites that are used frequently - General Mills, Nestle, etc. - so you will end up going back to the same ones often. Most sites, including grocerysmarts.com, have a limit of two prints per month on each coupon.) If it's a Sunday paper coupon, you will see RP for RedPlum, SS for SmartSource, and PG for P&G. Also, the date the coupon came out. The right-hand column tells you how much the item will cost with the coupon.

After you select all of the items you want to buy, click the "shrink" button at the very top of the screen. Now, you can print out your shopping list. I go through and find all the coupons I need after printing out my list. This does take a little time, but everything else is so easy it's worth it! I also write on my list how many coupons I have and how many items I need to buy. (For example - 2 $1.00/3 coupons means I need to pick up 6 items.) Now you're ready to shop!!

So there are the basics - click around the site to find some of their other suggestions and features. I know I said you don't need to look through the coupons when you get them, but I usually do. I will clip out right then the coupons for things I know I'm going to buy even if they're not on sale. (For example, baby food and diapers.) Then, if I run out of the item before it goes on sale, I still don't have to pay full price for it because I've got my coupon ready. I try to save the coupons for sales though. We also have WIC which really helps, particularly with formula. Their maximum income level is relatively high so you might qualify if you don't do it already. Like I said in my blog, there are definitely ways to get a lot more into couponing, but it would take a lot more time. This is just enough for me to feel like I'm helping my family's financial situation without being entirely consumed by it. I hope this helps out your family! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Our Story So Far...

Today is our 2nd anniversary. Two years have gone by so fast. Jason made me a little movie about our life together so far. He says there are a few things he still wants to edit, but I think it's perfect! I'm posting it for your viewing pleasure - it's long, but lovely.

Grocery Smarts

I think I have hinted on this blog before that I have a "secret weapon" when it comes to grocery shopping. I am very enthusiastic about it, but have never done a blog on it because I feel like I kind of need to show people in person how I organize for them to really get it. Anyway, I will just tell a little bit about it here, and if anybody is interested, I am more than happy to sit down and show you the ropes the next time I see you. I use a free website called grocerysmarts.com. The purpose of the site is to match weekly store sales with recent coupons. I know, I know, coupon clipping has a bad wrap. A lot of people get REALLY into it. You can buy coupons on eBay, get together coupon trades with your friends, go to the store at 6:00 in the morning on triple coupon days, etc. I think if I wasn't working, I would be more into it too. However, I only spend about 30-45 minutes a week on couponing and I would guess I've saved AT LEAST $1,000 this year.

So here goes: I subscribe to the weekend editions of two different newspapers so I get two sets of Sunday coupons every week. Then, each Wednesday I go to the website to see what is on sale at my favorite/nearby grocery store(s). (I mostly just go to Albertson's.) I print out what I am interested in buying, find the corresponding coupons in my collection (this is where I spend my 30 minutes, but I've got it organized so it's easy), and go shopping!! If you are not interested yet, let me tell you about Saturday's grocery trip: I filled up a cart with everything from laundry detergent, to cheese, to Bertolli frozen dinners. My total came to $77. I paid $17. I always feel so good about how much money I save, and we only buy stuff that we can eat on Weight Watcher's. If you aren't on a diet, you can save even more. I often pass up pizza rolls, Chex mix, juice, etc. that I could have gotten for FREE!! So yeah, if you want to know more about it, let me know and I'll help you out. I love to save!

P.S. If you shop at Albertson's, but aren't interested in clipping coupons, you can save an easy 10% by buying a gift card. For example, we bought a $300 gift card and they put $330 on the card. It does have a $300 minimum, but we shop there enough that it was worth it. Just a little tip.

Mission Accomplished

First of all, I apologize for the pictureless blogs lately. I guess I've gotten out of the habit of taking out the camera. I need to start that soon. I just wanted to share the good news: As of Saturday, I am back to my pre-pregnancy weight!! It is very bittersweet. Of course, I am thrilled to have lost 22 pounds in 2008. I definitely feel more confident and more myself. I enjoy feeling healthier too. The bitter part is that, even though I weigh the same as I did before the pregnancy, I still don't fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes!!! The baby did a number on my tummy, I guess. So that was kind of a letdown. I guess my next goal is to get back to what I weighed when we got married. I'm embarassed to say that that means there are 10 more pounds to go... No excuses for that one except that I guess we just had a really fattening "honeymoon period." So wish me luck with my next endeavor!!

Shoot. Me. Now.

Do you remember this post? The one where a guy tried to come into my house and I was freaked out because I was in my pajamas? He said I had "an attitude?" I have been embarassed to see him around the complex ever since.

Well, Brooklyn and I went grocery shopping while Jason was at home studying for his last final. He left to take his test before we got home. I didn't realize until I was pulling into the parking lot that I didn't have my house key! I thought about taking Brooklyn over to the Wendy's by our house and waiting in the air conditioning until Jason got home. But, I didn't want our groceries to sit in the hot car for that long. So, I went over to the office to see if somebody could let me in. Office hours are from 12 to 3, and I got there at about 3:02. Just my luck, the office was already closed. I wandered around the complex until I saw somebody mowing the lawn. Of course, it was the same guy from my previous blog!! I swallowed my pride and asked him if he could let us in. He turned off the lawn mower, went into the office to get the key, and opened the door for us. I didn't even have to tell him what apartment we lived in because apparently he remembers the girl with "the attitude." I was so embarassed.

Of course, the story doesn't end there... I unloaded the car, put all the groceries away, checked my email, and then put Brooklyn in her high chair with some snacks. I then grabbed the mail key and went to get the mail, which is just across the hall from our apartment. When I went to go back inside, THE DOOR WAS LOCKED!!! I couldn't believe it. I guess I must have locked the door out of habit when I left! I still don't remember doing it, but there I was locked out for the second time in 30 minutes. I was absolutely NOT going to ask the guy to let me in again. I could see Brooklyn through the window, happily eating her raisins and cheese. We had gotten a magazine in the mail and I just kind of stood there flipping through it and waiting for Jason to come home, however long that might be. In the meantime, the maintenance guy was going around blowing the grass off the sidewalks. My natural mother's instincts began to tell me I was being irresponsible. Yeah, I could see the baby, but what if she started choking or something and I couldn't get to her? When the guy got around to blowing off the grass by our apartment, I got up the nerve to ask him to let me in again. He had to turn off the machine and go back to the office again to get the key. Talk about HUMILIATION!!! It was bad enough the first time, but the second time I was mortified. Let's just say that I learned to be grateful the complex keeps a key to our apartment, even if that means they might come in when we're not expecting them.

Lettuce all Rejoice

So far, the only word that Brooklyn says frequently and well is "Dada." She will repeat it back to you if you say it to her, and she is always calling out for Jason when he is home. She has said a soft "tick tock" a few times, but she doesn't do her tick-tock motion as much anymore so she also doesn't say it much. We've been waiting for her to add to her word repertoire, and she did tonight! We had lettuce wraps for dinner so I gave Brooklyn her own piece. She chowed down on it and really liked it. After Jason was done eating, he went over to her and picked up a piece of it and said "Lettuce. Lettuce." Then, to our shock, Brooklyn repeated "Yettuce." We laughed and thought is was a fluke so he tried it again. Again, "Yettuce." And a third time. By then we were laughing and clapping and telling her how smart she was. She grinned and picked up the lettuce, held it up in the air and proclaimed: "YETTUCE!!"


I admit it was cute, but I don't know how I feel about the fact that my child learned to say "lettuce" before "mama." Hooray.

Stuff We Eat

My sister-in-law, Lashelle, started a blog all about the recipes she tries out with her family and how they like them. Great idea, Lashelle! I've kind of been doing that with our family blog and all of our Weight Watchers escapades. I like posting our ideas because I know some of my readers use them, and it also makes it easy for me to find them again. However, I don't really want them printed in our family blog when I finally get around to making our blog into a book. Rather than editing them out then, I thought I'd make a separate blog full of Weight Watcher's ideas and recipes. So, if you're interested - check it out! There's a link at the side of our blog, or you can go to manercookbook.blogspot.com. I just copied some of my old posts over and also added a few mores ideas. I plan on adding more soon. Enjoy!