DEALS

In the past I have been a make a list of what we need kind of shopper. If I have a coupon for that item, great, if not, that's okay too, we still need it and I have made the purchase. I have used my bonus card at select stores and also tried to purchase items that were on sale. I did give some effort to saving money but only if it was convenient.

The fact remains that I still spend more money than I would like to spend each week on grocery and household items. There is always the gifts for parties, items for the school functions, scouts, and the endless amount of incidentals. I'll do great at the grocery store and then the opportunity will present itself to make a Costco run and drop a significant chunk of change there too for items that we will need in the near future. The I don't feel so good about sticking to a budget but I feel like I purchased items that we do use and the purchase was made at a time that was convenient.

I have tried to be a little more willing to steer away from the brand name of some items but we all have items that we are brand specific,like Heinz ketchup for example.

For the last two weeks I have tried something new. I have switched gears. I have been shopping using the local sale circulars and coupons from a variety of stores. I have been buying only items that we usually use,when they are on sale,and using coupons, hence hopefully saving more money in the long run.

In the short run, I am not sure this is working. I am really not sure whether I am saving money? I have spent the same amount of money as I usually do for the last two weeks. I am feeling slightly uncomfortable buying quantities of select items when I don't really need them. I am really projecting what we will need or might need in the near future. I am building a small stockpile of these items in my pantry. Take for example the three bottles of dish soap that was purchased this week when I don't need dish soap right now. However, the mind set is that when I do need dish soap, I will have purchased it at a better price and therefore saved more money in the long run. So for the past two weeks I have purchased many items that we will use and will need, but just not right now. I haven't figured out if I like shopping this way or not yet. Despite my angst, I do admit to the excitement that I feel when I have snagged items for free or at a really good price! Trust me, my shopping experiences look nothing like the Extreme Couponing show, but none the less, I do think I am getting a better price on many items than I normally would. I have no intention of building a large stockpile, just a small one of only things that we would typically use. Some of the other good deals I have found have gone to support several local charities.

I need your help. Do you shop this way? If so, what advice might you have for someone new to this method of shopping? Is there a universal more organized way to tell if the Safeway sale price with a coupon is still better than the Walgreens sale with a coupon price? It feels like a deal while you are in the store but only in comparison tot he regular price of that item in that specific store. When you walk out the door you just might realize that there could have been a better price elsewhere. I have no intention of running to a million stores each week in search of the best prices. There is something to be said for my sanity although I don't want to give away our money either. I also don't have nor want to spend countless hours each week cutting coupons and preparing for a shopping trip. I am willing to invest a small amount of time. I just want to find an easy, efficient, and organized way to work at this method of shopping. I am wondering if there are stores that are just universally known for having the best prices? Any advice that folks could give me would be appreciated.