One of the reasons why we switched where we normally shopped was because Shaw’s doubles coupons up to $.99. However, since most coupons are $1 these days, we really didn’t see this come into play – that is until this week.  We had several coupons that doubled and it really made a savings difference.

I’ll get to that more in a minute – but first -  the overall savings from this week. We bought $168.82 worth of groceries – but only paid $95.92 – a savings of $72.90 or 43%.

I have noticed this week’s savings/cost are becoming the typical for our shopping trips, which are averaging about every two weeks. So – we are spending less than $50 dollars a week on groceries for a family of 3. But more importantly – we are saving $140 a month – sometimes more. That’s $1,680 a year!!

Now – on to doubling coupons. When you see a 55-cent coupon or a 40-cent coupon, it hardly can seem worth it. However, when you double that coupon – it becomes $1.10 off, etc. Here’s the best part, many $1 off coupons require you to buy 2 of a certain item – so it’s really only 50-cents off.  But – many coupons that are, let’s say, 55-cents, only you to require one item – so that entire $1.10 comes off one item instead of two. And if you buy it while it’s on sale, and have a store coupon in addition to a manufacturer’s coupon, the savings can really add up.

Suddenly Salad: normally $2.69 a box.

However, it was on sale for $1.50/box this week at Shaw’s.  I found coupons on coupons.com for 40-cents off (the link is also right on couponmom.com). Since Shaw’s doubles coupon – that was really 80-cents off. So – instead of paying $2.69/box I paid 70-cents/box. A savings of $1.99 a box or 74-percent!

 Betty Crocker Frosting: normally $2.19/tub.

Another way doubling kicked in this week was with frosting. I don’t bake a lot – but with my daughter in pre-school I sometimes have to bake cupcakes for special events – so it’s good to have that stuff on hand in a pinch.

The frosting is on sale this week for 3 for $5 0r $1.67/tub. I had two coupons for 55-cents each, which doubles to be $1.10 off per tub. I bought two because I only had two coupons and the final cost was 57-cents a tub. A savings of $1.62 or  74%!  (btw – just because it was 3 for $5 – it doesn’t mean you  have to buy 3. Normally the sale price will apply even if you buy one – unless of course it stipulates otherwise).

Now on to some of the other savings – sans double coupons.

Kraft Salad Dressing: normally $3.49/bottle.

It was on sale for 3 for $5 or $1.66/bottle. I found four $1 off coupons online – meaning I only paid 66-cents per bottle! A savings of $2.83/bottle or about 81%. I bought four bottles – which would have normally cost me $13.96 actually cost me $2.64 – which is less than what one bottle costs at full-price.

Kellogg’s Cereal: normally $3.84/box on average

Cereal can add bulk to anyone’s grocery bill. One thing I have learned from strategic shopping is I will NEVER pay full price for cereal.

I bought 8 boxes of Kellogg’s cereal this week (remember – I have a sizable pantry in my basement). Normally this would have cost me $30.72 or an average of $3.84 a box. However, cereal was on sale for 4/$10 or $2.50 a box. Shaw’s also had a coupon in the circular for $4 off/4 boxes. I clipped two – so that was an $8 savings. I also had $4 in manufacturer coupons (remember you can use manufacturer coupons and store coupons on the same product – it’s not either or). So – instead of $30.72 for 8 boxes – I got them for $8 – or $1/box. That’s a savings of $22.72 or 74%.

Yoplait yogurt: normally 75-cents/cup.

And finally, let’s talk yogurt.   It was on sale this week for 10/$6 or 60-cents a cup. Shaw’s also had a $1 off /10 coupon in the circular and I had a $1 off/8 manufacturer’s coupon. I also had two coupons for buys 6 get 1 free. So I bought 14 cups of yogurt. Normally – it would have cost $10.50 – but I paid $5.20 or 37-cents a cup. A savings of $5.30 or 50%!

Before I end this post – I really want to stress that anyone can do this. I am not spending hours on end scouring for coupons, then clipping and organizing them.  No – I don’t just get in the car and go shopping. I spend about 45 minutes week preparing my list and getting the necessary coupons together. Most of the time I do it while watching TV at night. So in my mind it’s so worth that time.

Please feel free to ask me questions or better yet, share your own money-saving strategies.