Monday, June 30, 2008

How to Save $400 a Month on Groceries

I've decided to challange myself after reading this article and I am going to sign up and let you know how it goes. If you have tried any or all of the services, please share your feelings about them. Here is the article:

By Laura Rowley

Grocery shopping is like playing the slots in Vegas.

Last week I won, saving $25 by planning ahead and using coupons. Other weeks, the house wins -- I forget my list, miss the store circular, find out my coupons have expired -- and the register drawer devours my cash with a malevolent snap. Gotcha!

Saving Takes Time

Herb Sorensen, head of the Oregon-based consulting firm Sorensen Associates, has spent four decades tracking the grocery business. He says that there are two approaches to pricing: Everyday low prices à la Wal-Mart, and high-low prices featuring capricious weekly specials.

"High-low is a hellish way to run a store -- it's very inefficient," Sorensen says. "But a consumer who wants to invest the time and effort can make out like a bandit by buying on the low side."

The trick is to be a sophisticate -- catch the product at its cheapest price, buy it with a coupon, and stock up. Problem is, few people have the time to track when toilet paper hits bottom (no pun intended) or spend hours snipping coupons. The solution: Two fast-growing websites that do some of the legwork for you, and another that offers low prices and free shipping.

Continued

2 comments:

Kansas Mom said...

I didn't read the whole article, but I've been doing well with Dillons and Money Saving Mom. (There's a link to the Money Saving Mom blog from my blog.) I know I could save a bit more at Walmart (which would work out well for you), but I never seem near one and there's a Dillons a block away.

skj said...

If you use candy, stock up at half price on December 26, February 15, and the day after Easter. Put it in the freezer to last all year.