[Sylvia]

Don't worry. The forum vocabulary will become clear over time.

Here is what you do. (avoiding walmart) Find your store's website, look for their online advertisement. Most have the ability to create and print a shopping list, some even have more printable coupons available!

Now, if you are like me, I can't see those smallish pictures on the online adverts... so I use my paper one while I peruse the online version.

I'll give you an example of how it works for me.

My albertsons has a "deal" right now. "Buy $30 on select items, get $15 back on your next purchase" This means it will print out a coupon worth $15 good on anything in the store.

I went though my coupons and matched several items to the sales. I printed extra coupons I could find if I needed them.

10 Progresso soup 1.69 each less 10 1.10off 1 coupons
4 Betty Crocker specialty potatoes @ 1.69 less 3 .40 off and 1 .50 off which I doubled.
3 Knorr sides .99 each less 1 $1 off 3
4 Progresso boxed broth @ 1.49 less 4 .50 off 1
Total before coupons 32.59 plus tax.
After coupons $15.39 plus tax ($17.26)

And I got the $15 on your next order! (oyno=on your next order)

I put the order in my car, then I took that $15 oyno and went back through the store and bought....

1 5lb ham
1 pk of pork chops,
2 country crock butter, less $1 off 2
2 bagged salad,
1 5lb bag whole potatoes,
4 bananas,
4 cans of bushs beans. less 2 .55 off (doubled)
Less the $15 oyno,
I paid out of pocket another $5.36 including tax.

That's a total of only $22.62 for the entire 38 item shopping trip.

do some division, that's about .60 per item. (heh... a .60 5 lb ham!)

Now, had I gone to the store with a binder and no plan, I would not have done so well. And if I had bought "generic" brand I could not have saved as much. My Albertsons "generic" brand runs very close if not more than the name brand plus there is rarely a coupon available.

One more thing... don't get trapped in that "bigger sizes are cheaper" thing. remember 4 free or .25 items is still better than 1 item at 3.99 after coupon. Always try to get the smallest size that the coupon allows.... provided it's the best deal.


Sorry for so long... but I hope that helps.