Saving Your Money Tips: Grocery Style #4

photo credit: photoscott
This month I have dedicated my Saving Your Money Tips to saving you money at the stores!
My mission… to motivate you and the way you shop! I encourage you to leave feedback or your ideas, so that we all can learn from one another.

As a reminder, tips will randomly come through out the month. Tips will be in no random order, and may jump around. Don’t worry they are easy to follow! I would like to suggest you subscribe to Living as Mom by Email so you will be sure to catch every tip!

Also, remember at the end of the month I will be giving one lucky reader a $25 gift card and $25 in coupons! Enter here.

So let’s get started!
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Saving Your Money Tips “Grocery Style” #3

I have really enjoyed reading every ones challenges when it comes to shopping at the store. Reader Whitney leads me into my next saving tip. She writes:

“My greatest challenge is that I always want to have some company and DH always spends money on some unneeded item. Last week, I did the CVS diaper/formula deal, paid $1.82OOP, DH goes behind me and buys an $8 magazine! See what I mean?”

Before children my husband and I always shopped together. Now that we have kids its rare to find us in the same store together. I now prefer to shop alone. However, I know for some of you that is not always possible.

I have figured out ways to help ease the stress of shopping. I know not all ideas will be suitable for every family. I want to cover ways to shop with the family.

Let’s start with the more mature individual (still capable of throwing fits) my husband. I mostly tease, my husband has actually adjusted quite well to our more frugal lifestyle. My best tip on this is don’t leave him in the dark. Show him how your saving if he isn’t already aware. Then explain to him how it works. If you buy something that was super cheap, hoping someone would love it. Then it gets requested again, I ask “Do you want it now or the next it’s on sale do you want me to stock up?”

I believe as husbands they don’t always recall what is consider a good price and what I would consider the don’t even go near that item price! If he sees something he loved and it’s $4.99, then I share it often goes on sale for $2.50 and with a coupon I can grab it for $1.5o. He then grasp the concept of my strategic shopping!

Okay lets bring the children in on this conversation. I like to make sure that I get items that makes each person feel like I got this for them. Even if it’s my son and husband favorite cereal. They both come out smiling! I also try to make sure this item is on sale. If my little guys throws a fit for an item I remind him we got you cereal. He is three and gets this concept.

Keep them busy helping you grab the items that you came in for using your list, divide it up. Even if they are younger they can still assist you in spotting the item, and searching for the best deal!

My little guy now gets excited over coupons. I don’t believe that shopping with coupons is the poor route. I would like to think no matter how wealthy I am, I will always be shopping with my coupons. Therefore I teach my child the value in coupons. Again, he is only three so he doesn’t fully grasp this yet. However, he always has his eyes scanning for blinkie machines and demands we stop to grab our coupon.

Getting the little ones involved with coupons has helped me at the check out. He is a big help at assisting in handing our coupons over and checking out. If he does start to grab for the dreaded candy, I remind him once again that he got his cereal. I like to keep his hand full with his items, or keep him busy at the register until we are in the clear (away from the candy).

Another favorite thing I have discovered both my Publix and Kroger offers free cookies and balloons. This is great distraction, and the longer I can hold off before going to grab a cookie, the more time it buys me! I bet if you ask your store you may discover they too offer cookies, balloons, lollipops, stickers, or something!

He has really been much easier to shop with, perhaps because we are no longer 2 (smile). A simple “No” works on most days. Sometimes “No” then a distraction from me. However, I still go in there prepared for anything!

I sometimes shop by myself a few different ways. My husband works later hours and works every Saturday. However, there are times that we meet at the door with a quick kiss and I jump in the car to go shop. Other times I shop while kids are napping or having their down time.

I also have neighbors who helps me out. We offer each other free babysitting so that the other can run their errands. Another great thing that has worked well is asking the grandparents who are busy working during the week to watch the kids so that I can shop. Either of these two methods is a win/win. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Let’s Review

1. Inform the your husband. He may not demand that cereal if he knows in the weeks to come you can buy it for $3 less!
2. Buy for everyone, looking for favorites or something new that is on sale. Have a large family? Then buy one item that multiple members will enjoy. Don’t feel obligated to buy more than you need.
3. Keep them busy. Divide the list up get them involved in searching for the items for the best deal. Have them spot coupons in the store.
4. Know your child’s weakness. Is it the candy at the register? Have them assist in getting the items on the conveyor belt, handing over coupons, or paying.
5. Know your store perks: cookies, balloons, etc
6. Just say “No”. It may not work, but it may. Especially if your silly about it.
7. Shop at odd times, when they go down for bed so that you can shop by your self.
8. Ask a trusted friend or neighbor to swap free child care with you so you can shop kids free.
9. Invite the grandparents over, then go shopping while they enjoy your little ones.

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