My system for the "traditional" grocery store

At some previous point I mentioned that I do not buy much at the "traditional" grocery store. Currently the way my system works is like this.

I match up deals at Weis. I usually do this before I even meal plan. What I buy on sale and/or with coupons is completely independent of what we eat that week. It is basic stockpiling (which I do plan to write on soon).

With groceries, I try to use as little brain power as necessary. So, I always let other bloggers do the work for me. Here are the 2 bloggers that I currently use to figure out what I want to buy with coupons this week.

For the Mommas and Dearly Domestic. "Deal" bloggers will match up the deals with the coupons that are currently available. They tell you where to find them or where to print them. It is easy and painless.

Now, I do not buy everything that they list. I browse the list to figure out what I think we will use if it is a really good price.

So,here is an example of what this looks like for my list. Check out For the Mommas again. Out of their list, here are the only things I plan to buy.

• Green Giant veggies
• Butterball turkey sausage
• Fast fixn nuggets/patties
• Ronzoni pasta
• Cheerios
• Wheaties
• Old El Paso deal (may decide not to do this one)
• Ortega salsa
• Nestle Hot cocoa
• Blistex lipbalm
• Scott Toilet paper (pretty sure I have a great deal scenario worked out for this, I will share later)
• Bailey's (coffee creamer, saw this deal advertised elsewhere)

I would also buy Xtra detergent and the Fisherboy nuggets, but my coupons are not printing for those deals (computer issues).

Sometimes when I get to the store, I change my mind. The deal may not be as good as first thought. And of course sometimes, I will walk by a great deal I didn't previously know about.

The ONLY other thing I will buy at the grocery store is meat. I probably will pick up some chicken thighs (good price this week, but not a "go crazy" price), chuck roast and bacon.

That's it. That is all you should buy at the traditional grocery store. Of course,the exception is what they carry there and you can't get elsewhere. I would venture to say that less than 40% of my $400 monthly grocery is bought at the "traditional" grocery store.

I am sure you could argue with me. However, it is how I lowered my budget.