Play the Grocery Game and save Over 50% on Groceries per week!

I don't know if you have noticed, but grocery prices have started going up recently. And, with a family of five myself, I needed to find some ways to cut down on the price of our weeky shopping expedition! Luckily, I found a website that has gone above and beyond my needs. The Grocery Game tracks the cycle of sales at grocery stores and also the weekly coupons in your Sunday newspaper. They then compile a weekly grocery list for you that shows you free items, the rock bottom prices ( time to stockpile ), and items to buy if you need them.

I have found other sites in the past that try to match sales up with coupons, and many of those are free sites. There is nothing wrong with those sites, either, but I have never saved as much money. The difference is that this site has a database that lets you know when a sale is the LOWEST it will be with a coupon. So, sometimes things might be on sale and you have a coupon, but the grocery game might not recommend you buy it yet. They know the sales are on a 12 week cycle, and the price will be lower yet.

It is very simple to use. Because of the shopping list, I can pull my coupons the night before at home. Then, when I get to the store, I don't have to rummage through my coupon carrier. Instead, I just print my list out and go down aisle by aisle and pull what I need. I have been using this method for 6 months now, and I hardly have to buy anything but what is on the list. I have so many condiments, meat, toilletries, diapers, etc stockpiled, that even when I want to make a certain recipe, I have everything on hand. It is safe to say, I am ready for a natural disaster, I have so many canned goods!! But, please beware....it takes about 2 months before you have enough stockpiled that you only shop via the list. Up to that point, I used the grocery list, plus I had to buy things I was low on ( even if they weren't on the list ).

If you want to know how much I save, well, let's just say on my grocery receipt last week I saved $192 dollars. I spent right at $100, and got almost $300 worth of groceries! You wouldn't believe what I walked out of the store with in my cart!!!! Now, that is my largest discount thus far, but on average, I have been saving around $90-120 each trip. On average, between 50-60% off my bill. Many weeks, my bill for the five of us is below $100, which never happened before. AND...another important note. Since almost all the items you are buying on sale on this list, it is very easy to watch as they scan your groceries (or check your receipt before you leave ) to make sure everything rang up on sale. My grocery store offers your item free if it rings up incorrectly, so I almost always get my money back on at least one of my items because I can quickly notice it rang up full price. Even if your store doesn't give a full refund like that, still bring it to their attention. They will need to offer it at the sale price it is posted for on the shelf.

Another helpful hint, the Grocery Game only tracks the coupons from the Sunday paper. So, if your store sends you coupons in the mail as a frequent shopper, make sure to look through that stack, also, to make sure you don't have extra coupons and you can then buy even more of the items you many want or need. Kroger, where I shop, also sends me coupons periodically for $9 off $90 of groceries, etc. When I get these coupons in the mail, I immediately log onto ebay and search for others selling these coupons. It is a great time to pay someone a little money for a coupon that will save you immensely. I now have enough of these coupons to last me through the next two months. Big savings!

In addition, they don't track rebates. I don't go out of my way for rebates, but I do them if easy. When I cut my coupons from the paper, I leave any rebates attached to the coupon. That way, when I pull the coupon to use, I immediately see there is a rebate. I then seperate it, and when I get home from the grocery, I already know to mail my receipt and codes the next day.

The website is http://thegrocerygame.com/ and it is well worth the $5 a month they charge. Basically, it adds $1.15 to my weekly grocery bill. Not too expensive for someone else to save you time and money by matching coupons and rock bottom prices for you. They will give you a 30 day trial for $1, if you simply want to try it first. If you do sign up for the trial or to become a member, please use moneysavingmethods@yahoo.com as your referral.
Happy Shopping!

Updated 1/30/08: Since posting this original article, I have seen an even larger dip in my grocery bill. Partly due to the fact I am so stockpiled, I just really CANNOT buy anymore items. And, partly because I am shopping Walgreens and CVS, too. I plan to take a picture later today to upload what my pantry, linen closet ( can't find the towels behind all the toilet paper ),and cabinets look like. Click here to see pic! My husband told me last night to stop grocery shopping, because the shelves were starting to bend in the pantry. I hope they don't break! Anyway, my total grocery bill for the last month for 5 has been running between $60-65 a week at around 60% off. If I get it any lower for an extended period of time, I will post again.