Have you ever walked down the grocery isle and noticed that there was a store brand for almost every name brand product? This is something everyone should have noticed by now even if you aren’t a couponer.

Most store brands have the same taste and quality as the name brand products. On very rare occasion have I purchased a store brand and this isn’t true.

OK, you caught me!!!! I do purchase store brands but here is my rule,

The only time that I will buy a store brand product is when I don’t have a coupon for that item and I need it
AND
The name brand isn’t on sale making the store brand more expensive.

Now that you know the rule you can have a plan. For example,
I see that DelMonte Pineapple in a can is on sale for Buy one get one free (save value $2.69). I have a coupon for $.50 off one. My store doubles this coupon and I have two. For a more visual effect see below,

I purchase (2) DelMonte Pineapple at $1.35 each (because you don’t have t purchase two, the price cuts in half)
Use (2) $.50 coupons that double to $1 each
Final price after sale and coupons: $.70 each

I purchase (2) Store Brand Pineapple at $1.69 each (no sale but store brand)
NO coupons to use
Final price after no sale and no coupons: $ 1.69 each

I have saved almost $2 by purchasing name brand vs. store brand.

This is only an example but I come across this type of scenario all the time with name brand vs. store brand. It’s not that it is the NAME BRAND; it’s that it is cheaper and I can save if I need that item. If I need/want to purchase an item then I follow my rule and see which one will save me the most.

My savings can go to other luxuries that I enjoy!

Do you see this often too? Would you buy the store brand if you could save more on the name brand?

Click here for more articles to this series.

Have you ever been to the store and found that what you were wanting to stockpile on was all gone?  I have and most of the time I LOVE IT!!! 

Here are my reasons for loving rain checks at the grocery store,

1.  My grocery store is my stockpile saver.
I have a lot of items in stockpile and there are times when I wonder, “Where am I going to put another can of canned tomatoes” or “How are we going to eat that many brownies?” 
This is the point that I am happy to find the grocery store item is not available because I can go to the customer service desk and ask for the rain check for that item.  Now, the sale timing is on my coupon terms (expiration date) not the stores weekly sale.

2.  My Rain Check waits for my coupon.
When I see an item that is in the sales paper but I don’t have a coupon, I don’t stress (well, sometimes I do! LOL!).  I can still go to the store, find the item and if they are out of stock get the rain check so that when I do get that coupon I will be able to purchase at a great buy.

What is a rain check?
Rain checks are papers given by a store to allow you to get an item that is offered at the sales price at another date.  A rain check can only be given for items that are out of stock.

Who offers rain checks?
Most all stores have rain checks.  Always ask!

What should I beware of when it comes to rain checks?
Not all rain checks work the same.  At CVS you can get a rain check for an item that will give you back Extra Care Bucks where as, Walgreens will give you a rain check for the items but not the register rewards with it.  This is one disadvantage to Walgreens.
You should always understand when or if they expire.  Look to see if it is printed on the rain check and if not, ask.

Save by playing the waiting game!  It takes time and patients for a coupon to be used to it’s full potential.

Next time you are in a store and you see someone with 10 boxes of cereal or 5 bottles of laundry detergent go up and tell them how awesome that it is that they are able to save for their family and for others.    Then, GO GET THAT RAIN CHECK!

Other articles in this series click here.

Now we need to save money on our groceries by getting what we need.  We need a plan or a menu for the week using the deals that are posted on this site combining them with coupons and other items on sale throughout the stores flyer.

Why should I have a menu plan?

Simple.  If you have a plan then your are most likely to stick to it then to stray away and get off track.

How do I start?

Every week we post the free and cheap grocery deals available at several stores.  Use these with coupons to get a basic plan started.  Then use other items offered on sale to help with your planning.  If you have to have an item and want to see if there is a coupon available, then you can use our coupon database to search and print or locate that coupon.

Here is a simple meal idea for tomorrow’s Publix week.  Please note that this might not be the best prices on chicken but for this scenerio it will do.

Purchase 1 1/2 lb. of Chicken Breast (cost around $5.99 total)
(I say 1 1/2 lb.  because realistically speaking they never put meat in 1 lb. increaments)
Purchase Lowery’s 30 minute marinade (cost $.49 after coupon)
Purchase (4) Florida Sweet Corn ($.25 each) total $1.00
Purchase Luigi’s Real Italian Ice (box of 24) total: $.50 after coupon

(grill the chicken and corn for a tasty meal)

Your total purchase will cost you around $7.79. 
Making it $1.99 each for a family of 4.

You will have plenty of the Luigi’s Real Itatlian Ice for several meals throughout this week.

 You can’t eat out at a restaurant for that plus, save that tip money and pay yourself for making a great cheap meal that brings the family together.

So get the flyer out and print the grocery deals and make a plan for what great dishes you can make. 

Stay tuned tomorrow for part 2 of  Having A Menu Plan

How do you plan your meals for your grocery budget? Let us Know!!!

Other articles to this series click here.