This month, bargains are centered around grilling season, outdoor fun, graduation, Mother’s Day and Cinco de Mayo. Here are a few tips to help you maximize your budget:
Memorial Day weekend means an abundance of sales at the mall, home furnishing stores and home improvement centers, as retailers cash in on the long weekend. Consider waiting on your major purchases until this time.
May also marks the start of garage sale season, so keep your eye on the classified ads!
You’ll want to frequent the thrift stores and consignment stores this month too, as people embark on spring cleaning and donate their unwanted items.
Here are the best things to buy in May.
GROCERY:
Condiments such as ketchup, mustard, marinades, salad dressing and barbecue sauce. We should see plenty of coupons for these items as well.
Salsa
Taco shells, tortillas and seasoning
Disposable dinnerware
RETAIL BARGAINS:
Spring and warm weather clothing will be at super low prices towards the end of May and on through Memorial weekend.
Jewelry deals for Mother’s Day shoppers.
Electronics and small appliances will see some price drops as folks purchase gifts for moms and grads.
I have received several comments and emails about my post Time To Get Real: How Much Can You Really Save With Coupons. Many of you have expressed discouragement and frustration because you are unable to save 70-90% with coupons as you were hoping. You also asked me to show you a “real” coupon shopping trip where I am purchasing a weeks worth of groceries I will actually use to feed my family, rather than showing you the highlights of my best bargain finds. So I thought it was about time I do that.
Much of my shopping is done at a local grocery store: HEB. I have an advantage at this store, because they have great prices and plenty of in-store coupons. Plus the store brand products are very high quality, so I am able to forgo the name brands many times. If you haven’t tried your store brands yet, you should give them a try. They can save you as much as 30% or more compared to national brands.
If you don’t live near an HEB, you may have a store that doubles coupons or offers store rewards of some kind. So these deals should be similar to what you can find. Here is a breakdown of my weekly meal plan and what I purchased. If I already had an ingredient I needed for a meal, I have indicated that as well.
My total spent was $93.13 ($2.22/person/day). That’s one weeks worth of food for 6 people. I’m not counting my youngest son who is on a special diet. We do his shopping biweekly at Whole Foods. Total savings was $25.56. Includes mfr and in-store coupons. Indicated below by an *
The rest of my savings was in-store deals & coupons. Not only did I get enough food for the family, I ended up with a free magazine subscription, 3 jars of relish and 8 cans of spaghetti sauce for future use. Plus I got a free box of Annie’s Bunny Grahams with in-store deal. And I’ll have sandwich bread, flour, cheese slices and chorizo left over for next week.
For our family, this is a nice combination of saving and eating well. We have a couple meals on the expensive side, and a few cheap ones to make up for it. Overall it averages out to $2.22 per person per day. We are able to enjoy a nice Saturday breakfast and the kids have lots of healthy goodies for their lunches. But you can see, much of my savings came from opting for store brands, in-store coupons and sale prices. Not manufacturer’s coupons alone.
Could I do better? Yes. We have some extras that we could do without in a crunch. But overall, I am under budget and we will be eating well.
Spring is the season for finding some great seasonal consignment sales all across the country. You’ll find bargains on clothing, toys, bedding, furniture, maternity and baby items that are gently used and often in great condition. Most of the items are brought in by local families who get as much as 80% of the selling price. The rest goes to the church, charity or for-profit organization sponsoring the sale.
Find a Sale Consignment Mommies is my go-to site for finding local sales. Just insert your zip code to find a list of sales in your area.
Sell Your Stash
Here are some tips for cashing in on your local sale:
Contact the sponsor for details and deadlines for the sale you are interested in.
Bring your items cleaned and pressed.
Price your items to sell. Many sponsors will encourage you to price items at 1/3 retail value. It’s still your call. When I participate in consignment sales, I go at least 1/4 retail value, because I never paid full price to begin with. So my earnings are still good, relative to my investment. Plus my stuff moves very quickly at those prices.
Find The Best Bargains
Arrive early and prepared. Some shoppers will arrive as much as one hour early to line up for the start of the sale.
Wear comfy shoes.
Bring a list of your kids sizes and measurements.
Leave the kids at home if possible. It’s usually elbow to elbow, especially during the first hours.
Bring a large tote bag or laundry bag to carry your finds.
Check the racks of clothing one size higher and lower than your child. Some sizes run big or small, or they can get misplaced.
Inspect items carefully. When I find something I want, I will give it a good once-over. Then when I’m finished shopping, I’ll stand to the side and re-examine everything to be sure I didn’t miss any stains or tears.
Volunteer! Did you know that consignment volunteers often get to shop before general public? Sometimes they’ll even get a discount.
If you are consigning your clothing, you may also qualify for pre-sale shopping. Be sure to ask!
If you live in the San Antonio area, be sure to visit the 11th Annual Everything for Children Sale. It takes place on Saturday April 28th at Concordia Lutheran Church (in the gym) from 8:30am-2pm. Details can be found on their Facebook page.
Anyone else have tips for consignment sale shopping? Please leave a comment!
READER QUESTION: Is it worth the money to buy a membership to the big box stores?
My answer? It depends.
Stores such as Sam’s Club, Costco and BJ’s Wholesale have many items priced at a lower retail price than the local grocery store. But as a general rule, I can get better deals if I am willing to wait for a sale at my local store and combine it with a coupon. For example, I found half gallons of Horizon Organic Milk for $3.04 at my local big box store. The grocery store in my town carries it for $3.38, but there was a $1/1 coupon available. Since Sam’s and Costco do not accept manufacturer’s coupons, the better deal was at the grocery store, where my final price was $2.38. Had I been without the coupon, I would have saved $0.34 buying at the membership store.
With membership costing $35-$100+, this is a big factor to consider. If you plan to purchase a good deal of grocery items, along with other services (automotive, vision/glasses, electronics, housewares) you’ll probably benefit from a membership. If you only plan to visit 4-6 times per year mainly for groceries, the membership fee will likely eat up most (if not all) of your store savings. At the very least, I wish the stores would consider giving us coupons for, say, $10 off a $10+ in-store purchase every few months so we could get our fee back in the form of products. It’s win-win, because they would be getting us back in the store to use the coupon! Mr. Sam’s Club, are you reading this? BJ? Costco? Hello?
All ranting aside, if you are not a person who is practicing the coupon stockpiling method, big box stores can offer you some discounts over regular retail prices on some items:
Fresh Produce – Usually lower prices will be found at the membership stores. Keep in mind you’ll need to purchase much larger quantities.
Baking Ingredients – Flour, sugar, chocolate chips, vanilla, etc. Again, huge quantities so be sure you have ample storage.
Food Storage Items – Many items like aluminum foil, storage bags, plastic wrap, etc are cheaper.
So here’s my final opinion: I personally have a Sam’s Club membership. Even though I grumble and stomp my foot every time I need to pay to renew it. We use it to get tires, eye glasses for my boys, electronics, books, and the occasional clothing or home accessory item. I also do a little grocery shopping several times per year. For our needs, I don’t think I would join if I were doing so just for the grocery prices. But the value we get on the other items makes it worth the fee.
A few things to note:
Sam’s Club – Does not accept manufacturer’s coupons, but a few readers have said they are able to use formula checks at Sam’s. I have not personally tried this, but it may be worth checking into if it is something you buy. Annual membership is $35-$100. The have a money back promise, so if you are ever dissatisfied with your Sam’s Club membership they will refund the fee in full. Head over HERE to learn about getting a one day pass to check out the store without a membership. You’ll pay a 10% upcharge on any purchase you make during this trip.
Costco – Again, manufacturer’s coupons are not accepted. Annual membership is $55-$110. They also have a money back guarantee on your membership. Details HERE. You can request a free one day pass to shop at Costco without a membership at the customer service counter, but you’ll pay a 5% upcharge on anything you purchase.
BJ’s Wholesale Club – Accepts manufacturer’s coupons! They even have store coupons you can access online that you can stack with manufacturer’s on the same item. Membership is $50-$100 with a money back guarantee. Stop over HERE to print a pass and get a free 60 day membership with no upcharges.
Now it’s your turn. Leave a comment and share your experience or opinion on whether it’s a worthwhile purchase to join a membership store. Do you have a membership? If so, which store? Would you recommend it to other MomsbyHeart readers?
Getting the most bang for your buck is all about staying organized. If you’re not organized by nature, then keep reading…because neither was I. Making lists and planning ahead was like pulling teeth for me as a young wife. But I’ve learned over the years that being organized doesn’t have to come naturally. With a little effort and determination, it is a habit you can cultivate.
I have found that by organizing my shopping trips, I realize even bigger savings at the grocery store. I have a thorough shopping list based on a meal plan. My coupons are in order and ready to go. And I avoid impulse buys which can eat into the budget. Plus I have even come up with a method for limiting the number of shopping trips without losing out on the deals!
Step 1: Make a Monthly Shopping Plan
For me, going to all the drug stores, big chain stores and grocery stores each week just isn’t in the cards. And as much as I hate to miss a deal, I’ve learned that it’s far worse to stress myself out every week. So I’ve decided on a monthly shopping plan that works well for my schedule:
Week 1: Walgreens, Target, Dollar Store
Week 2: Walgreens, Walmart, CVS
Week 3: Walgreens, Target, Thrift Store
Week 4: Walgreens, Walmart, CVS
If there is a crazy-good deal, I might swap these around a little. But I try to stick to it as closely as I can and never go to more that three stores per week. This has cut down on my stress and allowed me to have fun with the frugal coupon shopping again. My Walgreens and CVS trips are quick. I am only there long enough to snag the free and cheap items. So I usually hit these stores on the way to one of the big chain stores.
Step 2: Meal Plan
I have heard from several of you who say you find meal planning to be a little time consuming and overwhelming. So here are a few easy steps to get you started:
Make a list of dinners your family typically eats. Not just the casseroles and pot roasts, but the grilled cheeses and the salads and the tuna fish. Tacos and spaghetti and sloppy joes. All of your go-to dinner dishes you tend to make in a 30 day period.
Gather the recipes for the meals that require them and keep them all in one place for easy reference.
Based on your budget and family preferences, put together a list of 7 meals for this week. For my family, I plan 2-3 easy and affordable dinners. The no frills, no fuss sandwiches, soups or salads. There is no rule that says you can’t “plan” to have grilled cheese and soup Then I have 3-4 meals that are more substantial and require a bit more effort.
I try to incorporate one new recipe per week. You can read more about about my method for trying new recipes HERE, and read more on menu planning HERE.
With your meal plan in-hand, check off the items you already have in your pantry or refrigerator before making your shopping list. If you’re stockpiling when items are at their lowest prices, you’ll probably have a good start already.
Step 3: Fridge Shopping List
This one is not new. But for me it is essential to have that little magnetic pad stuck to the fridge. It’s a place where everyone in the family jots down when we run out of something, and also where they make their requests. Nothing worse than spending time menu planning and printing off coupons only to get home and realize I forgot to get garbage bags.
Step 4: Coupon Shopping
This is where frugal blogs are so valuable. I print off my coupon match ups and place each one in a page protector. Then I slip the coupons in and slide it in my planner so I am ready to go as soon as I have the time. Since I am a bit of a spontaneous person, I have far better success by having all of this busywork done ahead of time and ready to go.
Why do I have my “coupon shopping” separate from my other list? Because this part of my shopping will almost always be for items that happen to be free or cheap this week that I intend for future use. Since I have been practicing stockpiling for awhile now, I often have many of the items I need for my meal plan already on-hand in my pantry. And living in the land of no-double-coupons means I take the deals as they come and stock up.
Putting It All Together
Now that you have your fridge list, your menu plan and your coupon shopping list you’re ready to go! You can use the free printable menu planner/shopping list at the bottom of THIS post to put them all together, or come up with a word or excel document on your own that works for you.
A Few Final Tips:
Plan on setting aside 30-45 minutes for this. If you don’t typically organize your shopping trips, I challenge you to give it a try for 30 days and see how much you save!
For best results, try to do your shopping organization as close to the same time each week as possible.
Hang your meal plan in the kitchen for easy recall.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t follow your plan 100% of the time. Continue to practice this routine, or tweak it to fit your needs and you’ll see some big savings of time and money.
Your turn. Do you have any tips or tricks for organizing your shopping? If so, please share in the comments!
When my husband and I were newlyweds, we were sort of feeling our way through the dark with our finances. We were young, and expected everything would just eventually work itself out. It took quite a few knocks on the head before we learned the hard way.
The first time I read about the 30 Day List concept, I quickly dismissed it as something that didn’t apply to me. I figured it was something for people who already had everything they needed. A big house. Nice furnishings. A closet full of clothes. But not me. As time wore on and we lived through some financial pitfalls, I realized a major cause for many of my budget fails was my impulse shopping. Reluctantly, I gave the 30 Day List idea another look. And that is when stuff really started to turn around for us.
How We Did It
I decided that each time I was about to make an impulse purchase, I’d write down the item name, location and price, along with the date. If after 30 days I still wanted it, I would either buy it, or make a plan to work it into the budget in the near future. I applied this concept to every single purchase, large or small, that was not covered by our original budget. If it wasn’t in the budget, it went on the list.
Benefits It Gives You Distance – In the heat of the moment when the item is right there in your sweaty little palms, it can seem a lot more necessary and desirable than it really is. Using this delayed method allows you to walk away to “neutral ground” before making a purchase decision.
It Gives You Time – If this is really something you need and want, that’s not going to change in 30 days. But if you really don’t need it, this passage of time will reveal that to you.
It Gives You Perspective – Setting aside your decision to buy gives you an opportunity to contemplate the pros and cons of the purchase decision. What are the benefits of having it? What are the disadvantages?
Warning: Sale Ends Saturday is no Excuse
My bargain shopper genes were really working against me when I first started this. If an item was on sale or clearance, for example, I’d tell myself I couldn’t wait. I had no choice but to decide in the moment. I had cleverly created a built-in excuse to give in to my impulse buying, while still convincing myself I was being “thrifty”.
Sure, that particular item may not be available in 30 days. But you will see something like it on sale again, maybe even for less! The idea is to develop a habit of closely analyzing your spending decisions so you are more aware and in control of them. For this concept to work and truly make lasting change in us, we have to commit to it 100%. We have to decide in advance not to be lured away from our goal no matter how sparkly or clearance-priced something is. That our greater goal of having control of our finances will come first no matter what.
Make No Provisions for the Flesh
The best way to win against temptation is to avoid it. Until I had this 30 Day List thing firmly rooted in my heart, I cut down on my shopping, both in-store and online. When I did go, I tried to have someone with me (like my hubby or best friend) as an accountability partner.
It gets easier. And eventually you will become so accustomed to scrutinizing your purchases that you will find you are far less willing to part with your money. Trust me. As a reformed spendaholic, I can tell you it works.
Have you tried the 30 Day List concept? Or do you have another frugal tip to help with impulse shopping? Leave a comment and let us know!
Confession time: I am a reformed thrift store snob.
I blame my mother. Mom, are you reading this? Those ’70′s striped pants you bought me when I was in 1st grade? I have nightmares.
Stripy polyester nightmares.
But when the economy tanked a few years ago and things got tight for us, I decided to rethink my snobbery. I found a couple nice non-smelly stores that had a good selection and I haven’t looked back.
Nowadays, I’d say 30-40% of our clothing comes from thrift stores. I find name brand items in great condition for $1-$2 bucks. With four boys, stuff wears out quickly. So I am most grateful to have found a way to keep them looking nice on a budget. That haul pictured above cost me $14.50. Here’s what I got:
Jeans for hubby
Shorts for hubby
Two t-shirts for hubby
Tee for my teen
Two button down shirts for my youngest
Two shorts for my middle boys
Three shirts for my middle boys
In all, I have 12 items of clothing for $14.50. That’s $1.21 each. Even on my best day of bargain shopping, I couldn’t beat that. To maximize your savings, I suggest visiting every 1-2 weeks so you have a better chance of finding the good stuff in the sizes you need.
If you, like me, are a recovering thrift store snob, might I suggest you take an afternoon and scope out the stores in your area. I think you might be happily surprised. And stay tuned for a fab furniture thrift store trash to treasure project I will be unveiling!
A die-hard dollar stretching yankee mom of five living somewhere deep in the heart of Texas. . . . . . . I can bring home the free bacon. Fry it up in a half price pan. And show you how to never ever ever pay full price again. . . . . . . Retail is for chumps. Welcome to hard-core retail rehab. . . . . . . More about me HERE. Contact me HERE.
Then I have 3-4 meals that are more substantial and require a bit more effort.
