Grocery Lists and Coupons

[Justawoman]

How many actually make lists and clip coupons? Do you go through recipes and make menus for the upcoming week? I mean well and I make my list. I almost always leave it in the car or on the kitchen table. I use to clip coupons. I see those folks who have those coupon organizers. Do you really find you save money? I find go to the grocery store several times a week plus the one time we do regular shopping.

[CuriousG]

Used to, but I always forgot the lists and coupons when I went to the store, so I just said forget it.

[Justawoman]

Thats me CG. I will write down toothpicks or matches on my hand. Those two things are the hardest for me to remember. Now I go through the sunday paper for recipes instead of the coupons.

[jaimegerise]

I always stick to a grocery list, mostly because I have a budget AND to keep me from buying all junk! LOL

[kezzer]

I used to be an awesome shopper. Probably saved anywhere from $10 to $ 20 each time I shopped with coupons. Now I am not so good, I always forget to buy the paper to get the coupons. As for lists, I used to be good with that too.

[raybeck]

I definately make a list, but not just for groceries, for everything I do...lol I have always been a list maker, just helps me to operate more efficiently! If I get to the store and have forgotten my list it infuriates me, but I can usually remember the majority of the things, just because I had written it down. I used to really clip coupons, but now days, I pretty much pull them off of the item I am buying if there is one attached and will always use it that way. Half the time I drop it before getting to the register. I usually stick to what's on my list and I love marking things off. I even make "to do" lists and lists of lists...lol I know it sounds crazy, but it helps me be more organized and their is just such great satifaction to mark something off of my "to do" list. My only problem is I expect way more out of myself than is humanly possible, so then I get aggravated when I don't get it all done, oh well...there's always tomorrow!!!

[Justawoman]

Our ten year old loves those little coupon machines that stick out in the isle. She pulls the coupon and comes dashing to the buggy, " here mom a coupon." I always remind her to read what it is because half the time it is stuff I don't buy because we don't use it.

[Madge]

I can identify with Kezzer completely!! I use ValuPage sometimes when I shop at Stop & Shop - I always come out of there with ribbons of coupons for a future use. I keep a shopping list in one of the drawers in my kitchen and write down the things I run out of as I run out of them. When the list has several things on it, I stick it in my purse near my checkbook. A lot of times I find that when I DO use coupopns, I buy stuff I wouldn't normally buy because "it's a good price!!!". I end up giving the stuff away

[kezzer]

lol Stop & shop!!! I get suckered into shopping at one of the most expensive S & S's in the state (actually, probably is the most expensive) because it is just easier to shop when I get out of work, and conveniantly enough I work there! I swear it would probably even out if they didn't pay me in money but in groceries instead!
Speaking of valuepage, geez I forgot all about that! I'll have to try and remember and get my webbucks.

[Madge]

Stop & Shop is getting more and more expensive. I only shop there when I can't find what I need at Price Rite. We call it "the cheap store". No frills, nothing fancy but I save roughly $40.00 a week in there. I THINK it's a subsidiary of Shop Rite or something. We have a nearby Price Chopper that I'm told is less expensive than Stop & Shop, but I'm LOST in there! I came out of there with stuff I had no intenton of buying. Too much to look at....

[Justawoman]

We have two grocery stores. I shop at the bigger one simply because the meat and produce are better quality. Costs me more but you can really see the difference.

Has anyone used the coupons you can print off the web? I will clip coupon for cleaning supplies. Especially if it is so much off of one item. I hate those coupons that have a buck off if you buy 2 or 3 items of the same product. How is that saving any money? Plus, I love all the dollar stores that have popped up. Do most of my shopping there for cleaning things and snack foods. I wonder if I am truly saving though or is it the idea it has dollar store in the stores name? I am going to have to pay attention to the prices here in town and see.

[jamesglewisf]

My wife shops at two grocery stores. One specializes in produce. The other is a generic grocery store where she buys non-perishables.

[jamesglewisf]

We don't have Stop and Shops here in Dallas, AFAIK.

[raybeck]

Our little town has a Whistle Stop!!! Tiny, but a lifesaver, at times.

[Madge]

WOW - No Stop & Shop?? I know there are different chains all across the country, but it sounds odd to hear that what I have someone else doesn't or has something different. I know in Florida there are chains of grocery stores I never heard of!!

[kezzer]

I believe S&S only goes as far south as Maryland.

[Madge]

SEE!! I never knew that!!

[Justawoman]

OUr two are a United Supermarket and a Lowes Grocery Store.

Lowes has always been here since I was a little girl. It was Piggly Wiggly, then Thriftway, now Lowes. We use to have a Pay-n-Save and the same man who owns Lowes owned it. It is now a dollar store. White's Cashway Grocery use to be on the end of main street until Mr. White had to retire and sold his building. It is our thrift store now. I miss the mom and pop operations. The butcher retired too that had his own meat market and fresh produce. Our town got interviewed yesterday for that show about overhauling one street in your town. What is the name? I'll be surprised if they pick us. I don't think our town is in that bad of a shape except when you come in on 84.

[jamesglewisf]

We don't have Lowes or Publix, which is big in Florida.

[Justawoman]

I don't think anyone has a Lowes but here in the Panhandle. It is the family name. This family at one time owned Allsups. I don't know if they still do.

[CuriousG]

Never heard of Lowes grocery store, but I shop at Publix all the time.