Happy New Year!

Remember the whole reason I started this blog about a year ago? I had three goals to complete by the end of 2010 (and to do so couponing).

Yesterday was the last day of 2010. I put the flour my mom had brought me (from a sale in Vegas) into buckets. It had been sitting in the garage for too long.(Notice my buddy heater keeping me warm while I work? I'm such a wimp when it comes to cold.)

I took a quick inventory of what we had. (The inventory/food storage calculator that I use can be found on the right-hand side bar.)

In reviewing my goals:

1. I was pleased to see I had met my goal of a three month supply (although I've found storing meat to be trying).

2. I was happy to know that even though we aren't swimming in money, we have been setting a little aside each month as a financial reserve. I have an AMAZING story to share with you about an experience we had with money savings a few months back. Another post, another time.

3. I was downright giddy to see that in addition to our 3-month supply, I had been able to continue building past that and was near a year supply of provisions for my family.

Almost everything I needed for my year supply I was able to get on sale and with coupons far below the retail price. BUT there were some things I wasn't able to. I headed to Costco to tie up some loose ends...and yes, I paid full price.

I spent $150.00 (thank you Christmas bonus from my transcription job!) and got a cart full of rather random items to top off the rest of my supply. These are the things I've found harder to get (in bulk) with coupons:

Large garbage bags

Paper plates

Napkins

Bottled water

Pickles

Canned chicken

Salt

Vanilla

Milk

Butter

Parmesan cheese

Apple Sauce

Popcorn

Tortillas

Hamburger buns

and the orange chicken was for our family New Year's Eve partay!

I have also been buying rice, pretzels, and tortilla chips every once in awhile at Costco.

Other than that I have been able to get everything else my family uses by coupon shopping at grocery stores and drugstores. It has taken me an entire year to build up a good stockpile but now I feel like I just have to maintain it.

I have learned a lot through this process. I promise to share in future posts.

Happy New Year!

Wal-Mart Deals

I received an email from Mitzi with a very valid question.

"At this point in my life I'm not willing to go to more than my usual stores :) I go to Walmart and Costco the most and sometimes Winco. Do you have any advice for me to help me save by just going to those places?"

We are all in different seasons and different circumstances in life. There have been times that I've had to call off couponing for a bit due to what's going on in life. When I'm not couponing, I usually shop at Costco and Wal-Mart. It's what is closest and they seem to generally have lower prices.

WINCO:

I'm planning on checking out Winco in the near future but since I've never really shopped there, I'm not much help with that one...yet. I am curious to investigate what it's all about, especially after reading this review by Utah Deal Diva. Do any of you shop at Winco? What has your experience been?

WAL-MART:

At Wal-Mart I like to price match. I take in the ad (although I've heard the ad is not required) of the exact same sale item and the cashier at the register will adjust the price (and you can use coupons on top of that). Price matching can save you from running to three different stores, but beware, price matching does not always go smoothly. I keep a copy of the WM price match policy with me so when a cashier starts making up their own rules I can whip it out.

The thing that is hard about WM is that their prices vary from store to store and change all the time. I do not typically post the coupon match-ups at Wal-Mart because they are covered on other blogs. (See sidebar...) HERE is a list of current deals. I have not checked this list at our store to see how it compares. (Thanks, Passion for Savings!)

I also like when I see the clearance bread rack over by the dairy items. I scored a bag of hoagie rolls for $1.00 the other day. YUM!

COSTCO:

Confession, I haven't renewed my membership. There really isn't anything there that I can't get for the same price or cheaper by shopping the sales and couponing. I will admit the buying in bulk is very convenient though.

Some things I like to buy at Costco are milk, bread, pretzels, tortillas, tortilla chips, salt, rice, pickles, taco seasoning, and I really like the tri-tip and orange chicken they sell (because it tastes good; it's not a good price).

I wish they accepted manufacturer's coupons, but there are still some good deals with their coupons they send out. Occasionally I find things on clearance at Costco but that seems to be rare. What do you typically buy at Costco? Any good finds I'm missing out on?

Any other advice for Mitzi (and me)? I think the important thing to remember is there are ways to save money no matter which stores we shop at.