Extreme Couponing Tip: How to save money on groceries when the sales aren’t good

There are certain times of the year when the sales at the grocery stores just aren’t, well, spectacular. There are still ways you can save money on groceries if you are willing to spend a few extra minutes!

• Look for items on mark down – if you need yogurt, check to see if any other items have been marked down. You will save 50% or more this way. You will have to eat them quicker, but in most cases, they probably get eaten quickly anyways. 😉 This is the only way we get meat! We look for the managers specials, then separate and freeze them.
• Be willing to buy the less expensive brand. While I would like to say “generic” brand here, it is not always the case for the store brand to be less expensive. Especially at Wal-Mart! So before you just grab and go, compare prices and make sure you are getting the least expensive kind.
• Check for coupons.  If you shop at a store that offers a shoppers card, check to see if there are any digital coupons you can use. You may also get flyers in the mail and in the newspaper that you can use. If they accept competitors coupons, you can use those as well. Coupons like $5 of $50 purchase can add up! That’s $5 more dollars of groceries for FREE!
• Use your stockpile. This is one reason why it is important to have a stockpile. There will be times when the sales aren’t good, or you just don’t have a lot of money to spend, so you can use food from your stockpile to “supplement” your weekly grocery shopping. Then next time the sales are good, stock back up on that item! (this is the true secret to cutting your spending on groceries. Build up your stockpile with items that are at a stockpile price so you don’t pay full price anymore!)

Be sure to download and use our FREE Price Point Stockpile Sheet, and we also have a FREE Stockpile Tracking Sheet so you know what you are using and how much you need to stockpile!

What tips do you have for saving money on groceries when you can’t find a good sale?