One of the things I am finding out quickly when using the weekly sales papers and coupons is to compare, compare, compare.  This was not the case before (when I was a ft coupon user, years ago) but that was because I only shopped at one grocery store so the price was the price.  Now I have three stores to compare prices against.. Kroger, Martins and Food Lion. 

Funny how before I started this experiment I thought that Martin’s was the most expensive of the three and Food Lion the cheapest, but I have had that all wrong.  Food Lion is actually more expensive unless the item is on sale and sometimes that doesn’t even matter because our Food Lion doesn’t double coupons which really adds up.  Kroger lately is actually proving to be the cheapest of the three.  This kills me because I hate shopping at our Kroger. Not all Kroger stores, just the Kroger closest to our home. It is an old, worn down store and with small aisles which makes it feel very crowded.  I’ve never gotten comfortable shopping there. This week though I have enough items with better pricing at there so I will be making a stop on my way home from work either Wednesday or Thursday.

Here are some comparisions:

Ragu: Kroger  $1.29 each w/coupons =  .79 each, Martin’s 2/$4.00 with coupons = $1.00 each…. Kroger wins by .29  (buying 4 – 1.16)

Kraft Salad Dressings: Kroger $1.99 w/coupons = 1.62 each, Martins 2/5.00 with coupons $2.00 each .. Korger wins by .38 (buying 4 – 1.52)

Oscar Meyer Carving Boards Meat: Kroger $2.99 each w/coupons $2.49,  Martins  2/$7.00 w/coupons $3.00 each … Kroger wins by .51 (buying 2 – 1.02)

Digiorno Pizza: Kroger $4.49 each w/coupon $3.49, Martins 2/$10.00 w/coupon $4.00 each … Kroger wins by 1.02 (buying 2 – 2.04)

Natures Own Bread: Kroger BOGO save $3.19, Martins 1.99 each so buying four loafs Kroger wins by $1.58

Savings Difference: $7.32

Yes it takes some additional time to go back and forth between the ads to compare the prices (I did it over lunch yesterday instead of just surfing on the iPad) but I think that with that amount in additional savings it was worth the time, especially the way prices on food and sundries is constantly rising.

Tomorrow starts my self-impossed No Spend February.  The budget is ready so let’s see who I do shall we?

Have a great afternoon.  Take care!

I’m taking the plunge.  I’ve been reading but not participating in the January No Buy thread on one of my message boards and have decided to try it out.  This does not mean one can’t spend money in February, it just means that you pay close attention and try not to spend more than you need to spend. You also track every penny so you kow exactly where the cash went. I have sat down and come up with my guidelines for the month because each person makes their own guidelines based on what they want to accomplish.  No need to share what is in your plan/goals unless you want to do so.  My big goals include not to eat out more than one meal a week.  This will prove to be the hard for me I am sure as I like to hit a drive-thru when I am running weekend errands and to stay out of the department stores. Winter clearanace is starting around here so I will need to avoid those sales.  Sure hope I don’t see boots on clearance, that is always hard to resist

So check back here throughout the month and see how I do.  Anyone else in?

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Date:                                Amount Spent

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