Diary of a Grocery Geek: One Mom’s Journey Toward Supermarket Savings

Diary of a Grocery Geek:
One Mom’s Journey Toward Supermarket Savings
by Jessica G. Fisher

If you’ve paid attention at the store or the gas pump lately, you know that costs — they’ve been a-rising. Milk and gasoline have both hit over $4 in some places, and the price of wheat, rice, and other grain has also taken a jump. However, even while food costs have increased over the last few months, my family is spending less on food – up to $400 a month less. How are we doing this? Have we resorted to boxed mac and cheese and cheap PB&J?

No! In fact, our eating habits are as good as ever, maybe even better. We eat plenty of fresh meat, produce and dairy. Our intake of whole grains is higher than ever before. And I regularly purchase organic products. In fact, we’ve even worked a few more luxury items, like gourmet cheeses and breads, into the grocery cart each week.

A few months ago I thought I was doing all I could to save money on groceries. I shopped Walmart, used their price-matching system, and purchased generic brands almost exclusively. Yet, we were still averaging about $800 a month to feed a family of seven. This is what the USDA Food Cost Reports calls a “thrifty” amount to spend.

But, a number of things happened to change my habits and my spending. I became a grocery geek! I now never enter a grocery store without the sales ad and a stack of coupons clenched tightly in my fist. I even have a very snazzy box full of sorted and filed coupons. Don’t tell me I don’t attract some attention when I’m strolling the cereal aisle.

Recently, I discovered a wealth of websites to help me find better deals on groceries and toiletries. Through savvy coupon use and watching the grocery store sales, I am saving my family a ton of money. I no longer spend more than 50 cents for a box of name-brand, organic, whole grain cereal. I get many toiletry and baby items for free or almost free. We are eating well and saving money, something I once only dreamed of. I’m here to say, “There is a way to beat the cost of living!”