I am trying to update my blog every Monday with something relating to the online magazine I write for, Mentoring Moments for Christian Women. This month’s topic is finances. We started playing The Grocery Game about7 months ago, and in that time we have dramatically slashed our grocery bills.
The Grocery Game tracks what is on sale at my local stores with which coupons are available for the same products. Some months I spend half of what I used to spend on groceries. Other months, I spend the same amount but get at least twice as much for the money.
I had never been a coupon clipper before, reasoning that it wasn’t worth the time for just a few dollars here or there. Some friends convinced me to try The Grocery Game, as it costs just $1 to try it for 4 weeks. By the end of the trial period, I was convinced of the savings, and signed up for a regular membership.
The Grocery Game relies on the idea of stockpiling. When things go on sale, you buy in bulk. Stores put different items on sale each week., and it takes about three months to build a good stockpile. Once your stockpile is established, you rarely need to buy anything that isn’t on sale, other than fresh foods like milk and produce. It may cost a bit more than you would spend in the beginning, as you are building your stockpile. At the end of my trial month, my husband and I looked at all my receipts. I had spent within $50 of my typical budget for a month, but had gotten over twice as much for it.
Now that I have been grocery gaming for several months, my stockpile is in full swing. I won’t touch toothpaste or shampoo unless it is free. I have so much that even 50 cents seems like too much to pay for those items. When I first started grocery gaming my husband was shocked when I brought home a six-month supply of my favorite laundry detergent. It was 75% off with my coupons, so of course I stocked up!
I no longer spend my full grocery budget. Instead, we rely on our stockpile of meat, frozen vegetables, canned goods, cereals, laundry detergent, paper products, toiletry items and the like, all purchased at a steep discount. I still “play” the grocery game about twice a month to replenish my stockpile.
After the four-week trial, the cost of the grocery game goes up to just over $1 per week for one store. I pay about $3 per week to get lists for 4 stores, but I easily save hundreds every month, so it is well worth it. I am using two different grocery stores and two different pharmacies in order to maximize my savings.
Before The Grocery Game I only went to one store for all my shopping. It is more trouble to go to four different stores, but since I am saving almost 50% on my bills, I feel it is well worth it.
If you want to try The Grocery Game, visit my article at Mentoring Moments, where I have posted some of my tips for implementing it. Also, if you like it and decide to keep your membership, please think of putting my email address (evert116@charter.net) as your referral! I earn free weeks for referring others.
The Grocery Game is just one way I am trying to cut costs for my family during these financial times. I am not earning a living, so my way of contributing is to find ways to save. If you want more ideas of ways to save money, I have posted a list of other things our family is doing on the Mentoring Moments Blog.
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