The Grocery Game

I think I'm hooked. I'm pretty sure. Just give me a few more weeks and I'll let you know if it will last. About a week ago, a new friend told me about a way to save money on groceries called "The Grocery Game". Then Sunday night, another friend confirmed it's wonderfulness. It's basically a way to maximize savings by shopping the sales in conjunction with coupons. A list is complied on the site every week of items you should buy, with an emphasis on stockpiling items that are heavily discounted. Here's the website for more detailed information, if you're interested. You might be when I tell you how much money I saved this week!

http://thegrocerygame.com/

(If you decide to check it out, and you want to say I referred you, my email is jvanaken04@msn.com.)

First stop on Saturday, Rite Aid. I spent $55.93. $41.50 of that will come back to me via Rite Aid's one-click-rebate. So my out of pocket expense is $14.43, a savings of 74%.

Next stop on Monday, Safeway. I accidently threw away that receipt, but I know I spent $110.00 and saved 39%, so I saved about $43.00. I didn't save as much at Safeway because I had a lot of things I needed that weren't on sale. Apparently after you shop with "The List" for a few months, you end up with a nice stockpile and don't have to buy things that aren't on sale.

Last stop today, Albertson's. I spent $84.13 and saved $93.93, or 53%.

Total spent for the week: $250.06
Total savings for the week: $178.43
That's a 71% savings!

I admit, $250 is a lot more than I usually spend in one week. So that's why I have to wait and see how this plays out. I'm expecting that next week I won't have to spend so much because I now have a freezer full of meat, and a pantry full of cereal and canned goods and a refrigerator bursting with perishables. Most of the savings weren't using coupons, either. They were from great sales at Albertson's and the one-click rebate at Rite Aid. So we'll see if those great sales continue and if my coupon file grows big enough to use correctly. I was made aware of them through "The List" on The Grocery Game, though, so I definitely give it credit for my savings.