Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Off to a good start...

Even though today is March 31st, I'm counting it as my first official day of couponing/saving my way to spending $400 or less per month on groceries, toiletries and household items. Sprouts in Coppell is now my new favorite place to buy produce! Their weekly specials are amazing!!


Here is what I purchased today for a grand total of $7.17...

Blackberries $0.88
3 Apples $0.92
4 Kiwi $1.00
2 Oranges $1.48
2 Bunches of Strawberries $1.98
Choc. Covered Almonds $0.84 (a girl needs her chocolate!)

Is this unbelievable or what?! These items would have cost at least $15 at Tom Thumb. I was so pumped!! Now I'm working on organizing my list and coupons for my first big grocery run this weekend. I'll let you know how that goes....

OK, for all of your coupon queens out there, I have a couple of questions that I need your help with...

1) How exactly to double and triple coupons work? Is a double coupon when you have a store coupon and manufacturer coupon? Or do stores actually double and triple coupons on certain days? I'm most interested in Kroger, Albertsons and Walmart. Do they double/triple all coupons or just their store coupons?

2) Josh and I do not have a Costco membership, but we are considering getting one especially for items like toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, etc. (items that we use around the house all of the time). Is the bulk price worth the Costco membership, or is it better to coupon clip for these items and purchase at Walmart or Target?

Happy Saving!
Mindy

12 comments:

Steph said...

I don't have a Costco membership because the closest one is in Austin, but I always go with my mom or mother-in-law when I need trash bags, ziploc bags, etc. Those things are definitely cheaper in bulk! Water bottles are also a lot cheaper there. I usually get paper towels and toilet paper, but I think you could get the same price with a coupon and a sale somewhere else. It seems like they have a good selection of organic produce and other food items as well. I will be watching your coupon adventure!

Lori said...

I love Sprouts and on Wednesday, both weeks specials are good. The week before and the coming up week. They are always busy on Wednesday. I am always amazed at the price at check-out.

Smits Family said...

It is like a foregin language and there is a big learning curve when you start to coupon.

I had no idea what doubling coupons meant. If you look at the bottom of your stores ad they usually tell you if the double or not. It will usually sady "double unto .50", which means that any coupon you have that is $.50 or less will double (the store is paying for it). So you have an item like pasta on sale for $1 and you have a .50 off coupon from the paper and the store doubles it, you get it FREE!

Walmart DOES NOT, before couponing this is where I did all my shopping and bought mainlu store brand. Now I rarely shop there and use all name brand stuff for MUCH cheaper/FREE.

Have you checked out Afullcup.com, you can look at your particular stores forum and get some good information on deals.

Hope this helps!

Smits Family said...

Oh, and we do Sams for a few things that I think are better deals unless there happens to be an AMAZING sale somewhere else....

-butter
-salt for a water softner
-choclate chips
-nuts

Anonymous said...

Kroger doubles/triples all coupons except for the ones that print out of their machines at the end of your shopping trip. All the ones in the newspaper and that you print off the computer double/triple. The way to save the most money is to combine your coupons with the items that are on sale. If I don't desperately need something, I will wait until it goes on sale to use the coupon. (which happens all the time)

Good luck!
Jennifer

Lindsay said...

I actually just stocked up on detergant, paper towels and toilet paper at Costco. They send out coupons for different items and about every other coupon book there is one for all three of those items. So I always get them when I have the coupon to use at Costco. I want to see how much it is per roll using the coupon at Costco vs buying some where else - I will let you know what I find out!

Amber Massey said...

How is it you have not shopped at Sprouts before now? I LOVE that place. They are amazing! a couple weeks ago they had a $1 sale.. 10 pound bags of potatoes, $1, mushrooms, $1, hummus, $1..and the list goes on! Anyway, we have Costco and Sam's cards..We use them both! We buy frozen chicken breast from Costco, amazing. We buy fresh salmon from sam's..very good and good price. All of our toiletries, paper goods and detergent comes from these places too. Very good deal. You could even go in on it with your mom, maybe- you get two cards and split the membership. Thats why we have Sam's, too. Jordan's mom shares the membership with us :)

Karen Rector said...

you are so cheap.

Unknown said...

Mindy - have you tried alice.com?

Unknown said...

Costco actually doesn't mind if you use someone else's membership card to get in. I actually saw an interview this year with someone high up in Costco who said that as long as you come in with someone who has a card, they don't mind if you make your own purchase. So I would definitely try to find someone else with a card and go with them. I go with my mom when I need to!

texasknights said...

I am so jealous that you have a Sprouts. We don't have one on this side of town. When I do get in the coupon mood, I visit Kroger b/c of their doubling and tripling all the time. I have found that most of the coupons we receive are not what we use. I order my cleaning items online (all natural) so I am mainly looking for good produce bargains....that is why I like Sprouts but have only been there a time or two!

B said...

I say you and Karen goto Costco together and save the membership fee. Just buy double stuff and split it down the middle or divey up whatever you have versus her. All this while Josh and I wash the cars, mow the yard and clean house...