Seeking Help with Grocery Coupons

L.,
We live in Fairfield County, and shop all over the place to save money. We don't use too many coupons - BJ's sends them with the monthly flyer, and we occasionally find them for something we would buy anyway, but the coupons in the paper are usually for more "convenient" items, that we normally would not buy.
The best money saving tips we have as far as groceries go is to buy in bulk, stock up when things are on sale, and to do "bulk cooking" and freeze portions for later. I have a BJ's membership and my friend (another SAHM) and I go there about once a month and buy all the stuff we can buy in bulk. Some of the prices there are higher than grocery store sales, so we only buy what is most cost-effective. We do a lot of baking and we cook almost everything from actual ingredients (not many boxes or packets here).

There are also some great "cheap" stores we frequent, again usually about once a month, like Aldi and PriceRite. I think there is an Aldi nearer you, we usually head up to Torrington. Price Rite is in Bridgeport. Big Y has a lot of Buy one get 2 free, so you pay 1/3 the price for each thing - if it is something you will use, and you buy only their "loss leaders". We usually buy meat at BJ's or at Stop and Shop when it is on sale. Plenty of times, we hit the end of the month with several pounds of one type of meat, but have a few of some other meals made up and frozen, for some variety. We use online recipe sites to find out new ways to use something that's really on sale...

It's also a good idea to have a price book till you know where you can reliably pay less. We do know what is less money where and when it goes on sale, and we stock up there.

We are probably spending close to the "average" cost of feeding a family of 3-4, $107 per week, but we often feed as many as 10, and we are 3 meals a day from home almost every day, which probably brings us way under the "average". The "average" family eats out 2x per week. we don't.

There are also online coupon sites, and sometimes I see them posted on Freecycle.org.

Hope that helps, some.
S.

Hi-
I often shop at Stop & Shop and get coupons at the check-out with my receipt for several items I've purchased. They usually expire in about a month, but we get groceries weekly and have no problem using them. Some of the brands that Stop & Shop gives coupons for are Gerber, yobaby, hot pockets, pampers and 8 o'clock coffee. (Those are the ones I saved this week!) Good luck!

Hi, I would like to introduce you the voucher site http://www.onlinevouchercodes.com/
You do not have to register to get the discount information and all the vouchers are free.

When it comes to groceries, you could try Trader Joe's in Milford/Orange. I drive 30 minutes there every week because I can get a good amount of good food for 1/2 as much as any other store. My husband also likes Expect Discounts for produce, there's one in North Haven and one in East Haven.

I do know that the libary has a bin with coupons that people bring in and you can donate the ones that you dont need. Also there is a place in hamden called price rite the savings are great it does not carry diapers but they do havelots of great deals on produce andmeats and frozen food and ceral's are about 1/2 price!!! Good luck!

www.ebay.com You can sometimes find coupons on ebay! For instance, I just recently bought 15 $1 off coupons for Pampers, it was only $1.30! Just think about the expiration dates and exactly how many diapers you can buy before they will expire...

I also use www.couponbug.com

Also check out www.momsview.com

Good luck!

R.

Hey L.,
There is a great website out there called www.freecycle.org You sign up to each city individually and you can do more than one...the website is pretty much people giving away free stuff..all you have to do is go and pick it up...you can also put posts on there if you are looking for stuff, such as coupons..I know that a while back someone started a coupon exchange but Im not sure if they still do that....I cant begin to tell you how much stuff I have received from there and its all FREE...whats better than that!! Im in New Haven county also so please feel free to let me know if you need any help with the website.....It truly is an awesome thing!!
Meg :)