Doin' That Grocery Thang....

 Trying to jump into the grocery game has proven to be a study in frustration to me.
Problems:

• I would see a fantastic deal explained on a coupon blog.  I would go out and get the newspaper that had Smartsource or Redplum in it.  Then I would be ready to implement the plan of action - only to discover that the coupon I needed wasn't offered in my area. 
• I didn't really know good deals when I saw them because my brain does not generally register what I normally pay for items.  I had no way to compare!  I got a price sheet from someone online and it proved to be some help to me but again, these prices weren't necessarily for my area specifically. 
• I didn't understand the full benefits of or how to do the drugstore game.

Slowly but surely, I have made some progress on my own. It has had to be on my own since most blogs/teaching on the subject does not apply to my area.  (I live in a rural area so Target, CVS, Hyvee, Publix are usually out of the question for me.)  Here is what is working for me.  I completely realize that I am a beginner and I'm probably am doing some things wrong or could be doing more.  Here is what I can do right now:

• I don't buy anything that is out of the ordinary for me just because it is a good deal - UNLESS it is part of a chain of actions where I am saving money even if I hadn't gotten that item.  Example:  I could buy an expensive razor at Walgreens this week for about half price with coupons.  Normally, I wouldn't have given it a second glance EXCEPT that it was going to give me a coupon that would help me get items I use all of the time for a much better price than usual.  If I had bought peanut butter, mayonnaise, and tea at Walmart, I would have paid more than if I got all of the PLUS the razor at Walgreens.  This is the only time I pick up stuff that is out of the ordinary for our uses.

• I began making my own price list.  On my price list, I have 6 columns:  Item bought, Price, Amount in container (lbs, oz, etc), Brand name, Store where I bought it, and Date.  This has been quite informative.  Example: 

          Green Peppers @ Walmart:

          March - $1.44

          May - $0.88

          June - $0.78

          As you can see, it would make sense for me to stock up on peppers now - since we use them every                          week - and freeze them in preparation for winter when the prices go high.

• I understand the Walgreens game a bit more.  The trick to is to buy items (with coupons, if possible) that will give you Register Rewards.  (These are coupons for certain dollar amounts, to be used on any item on your next purchase.)  Buy an item with a coupon.  Get the Register Rewards.  Use it on your next purchase, combined with coupons.  You can get stuff for free or for very cheap.  I bought an 8 roll package of paper towels today - normally $5 - for $0.38.