Here are a few tips:
Stockpiling -- stockpiling means buying enough to last until the next sale cycle, which is around 12 weeks. This isn’t an exact science. For example, produce is only going to be on sale when it is in season. Stockpiling does not mean converting your garage into a salad dressing warehouse.
Sale Cycle -- Everything goes on sale. Depending on where you live, the sale cycles are probably somewhere between 8 and 16 weeks. It is important to know your sale cycle so that when an item that you regularly purchase goes on sale, you can buy enough to last until the next sale cycle (aka stockpiling). After you go through an entire sale cycle, you are really just buying the weekly sale items as well as fresh fruits, veggies, and perishables each week. Not only does that mean the pantry doesn't overflow, but it means that your weekly grocery bill will decrease drastically once you have been through a sale cycle.
Know Your Price – Know the regular and sale price of items you purchase regularly. For example, in my area Kraft boxed mac and cheese is often as high as $1 per box. However, I know that it regularly goes on sale for .50 cents a box. When I come across coupons for Kraft mac and cheese, I keep them until it is on sale for .50 cents a box and use them then. My best price on Kraft mac and cheese is .16 cents a box. It is important to know what you normally pay as well as your "stock up price" so you know when to buy.
Stacking Coupons -- Stacking coupons is when you use more than one coupon for the same item. You can NOT use more than one manufacturer’s coupon for an item, but many stores have a policy that will allow you to use a store coupon and a manufacture’s coupon for the same item! Rite Aid, Walgreens, Publix, and Target all allow this and regularly issue store coupons.
Menu Planning ---Each week I review the weekly sales, match up coupons, and make my menu for the following week. Then I make my shopping list. Menu planning helps you avoid impulse buys at the grocery store because it is easier to stick to a list if you have a list! Leave enough room in the budget that you can pick up any unadvertised sale or clearance items at the store.
Have a Budget -- The best way to help your money go farther is to know where it is going! Keep up with your spending for a few months and see where most of your money is going, so you can work specifically on those areas. Perhaps you spend too much on your phone bill, electricity, etc. Whatever the expense, if you know what it is you can explore ways to reduce it. ◦
