Remember, Renew for You is all about doing things that work for you or help you live a little better. Today I wanted to share with you about how I get ready for a shopping trip, but keep in mind, what works for me might not be what is best for YOU.
Here is something I have heard a lot lately, “It takes me forever to hunt for deals, clip coupons, and look for sales in the store. How do you have time for this?”
This example is for those of you who already have an established stockpile. If you are currently in stockpile mode, this may take longer in the store. Plus, I don’t have any children to entertain or keep up with.
I am lucky to live in an area where I have all three drug stores and three or four grocery stores within a 10 minute drive. Rite Aid, Walgreens, and Harris Teeter are all on the same corner, so I end up there most often. So I will walk you through a typical shop for me at those three stores…
1. Check the lists for each store. Yes, I actually use my own printable list feature. It is just so neat! (10 minutes)
2. Clip and print any needed coupons. As I told you last week, I file by insert, so I clip coupons only when I need them. It is nice to be able to pick up the scissors and only clip a few. (10 minutes or so)
3. Fold my list and my coupons together for safe keeping. I tuck the whole in in my purse, so I don’t loose anything. I also keep my small coupon file in my purse. (1 minute)
4. Drive about 10 minutes to the store. I use that time to think about my scenarios or what I plan to buy.
5. Stick to my list. Because I don’t carry all my coupons with me, I don’t wander around the store too much looking for unadvertised deals (I do usually check the clearance meat). Rite Aid usually takes 10-15 minutes. Walgreens is even less, unless I run into one of my friendly cashiers to chat with. I can get usually into and out of Harris Teeter within 15 minutes, if the lines aren’t too long. (Yes, I said 15 minutes in the grocery store.)
6. Keep my receipt in a safe place. I use my receipts for rebates and to enter into my savings tracker.
7. Drive 10 minutes home and unload. (20 minutes unless I take a picture for you all…)
So, I can shop at 3 stores and put away all the goods in about 1 and 1/2 hours. It works for me. It allows me to maintain my stockpile, and not spend tons of time shopping. It actually doesn’t take much less time to go to fewer stores, because my stores are so close by.
I did the same type of shopping trip when I used a coupon binder. The only step you skip then is the clipping. (You will have to have done that ahead of time!) I usually pulled the coupons I knew I wanted to use out at home, and moved them to the front of my binder.
I hope seeing my way of doing things can help you discover an easy way for you!
Need some additional encouragement this week? Please check out the following articles by some wonderful bloggers.
- Family Budget : Part Two – Where Did It All Go? from Kansas City Mamas
- Maven of Savin’ with Self-Esteem: Stripped Naked
- Give Me Neither with Care for Yourself: Perfectionism to Grace
- Frugal Weight Loss – Stockpiling Moms – A Guide To Frugal Living
How do you organize your shopping trips? Does it work for you?
I disclose : There may be affiliate links in this post.
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Too funny – I fold up my coupons in my list too – LOL! BUT I need to start using a savings tracker – I keep saying I am going to start and I need to! THANKS!
Great minds think alike! ;)
I’m so glad you demystified shopping at multiple stores. I also have most of my stores with in a five mile radius – so it easy to get in and out in 15 minutes. Especially, when I go to the same store and know the layout and where all the products are located.
I have to keep it simple around here!
I just want to say a huge THANK YOU for linking up that savings tracker before the New Year…my hubs and I began using it and I LOVE it! I wish I would have had it when I started mega couponing a year ago…amazing how this easy tracker has allowed us to see how much we used to eat out versus only the 2 times we have eaten out since Jan. 1 and also my hubs pointed out how I consistently save in the high 90s % -wise at both Rite Aid and CVS!
No problem, I love it too!
I use the binder method and I don’t pull any coupons until I put the item in my cart. It keeps me from re-filing. I know you don’t use the binder method but that is what I love ;-)
I always had trouble finding the coupons I wanted in my binder, so I mostly pulled them ahead of time. But…it definitely should be what works best for you!
The binder method only works if you take the time to clip them ;)
I’m the girl standing in the aisle clipping the coupons as she shops. Sometimes I just need to fly out the door when the kids are happy so I’m not as prepared as I’d like… but it works :)
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