Use those Coupos With Your Budget in Mind

A Typical Grocery Shopper

You have carefully made out your grocery list in keeping with your budget, as well as your nutrition needs. You set off to the grocery store; committed to spend just $100.00 which you have allotted for groceries.You may have some coupons with you, which you have carefully selected to fit in with what you need.

You arrive at the grocery store and you pick one of those booklets with this week’s deals, then flip thought o see whether you could save some money. Ah, this is a good one! This coupon says “Free Doritos Tortilla Chips with the purchase of five (5) 32 ozs.bottles of Gatorade”. That’s 5 bottles of Gatorade for $5.00 plus a free bag of chips.

Do you need Gatorade; did you plan to buy tortilla chips? That’s $5.00 extra added to your list, if you yield to temptation. Forget it! Ah, here is another good deal; buy 1 packet of Special K cereal, and get 1 free. You take the boxes of cereal put it in your cart, and then you stop and think. This is a good buy; but you already have Oat Bran at home. You also have Cream of Wheat and Fiber One, enough to last the coming week and more. There would be another Special K deal soon; so, you replace the cereal on the shelf. Smart move!

Next you see in the middle of a large aisle a table with sign advertising cans of tuna placed on it, as 10 cans for $10.00. Yes, you have tuna on your list, but only 3 cans. If you fall into temptation to buy ten cans, while it’s a good buy, you will probably spend $4.00 more than you had planned to. If you purchase 6 cans, you’ll have three more cans than you had planned, and have spent the same $6.00 which you budgeted. If you purchase 4 cans, you’ll have one extra can than you had planned, and you would have saved $2.00.

So you need to go about this business wisely. If you are not careful, by the time you arrive at the counter, your bill could be as much as $20.00 or more than you had planned. Those $1.00s add up. When you are not watching your budget, it’s fine to grab great deals and stock up on non- perishable items, or even give some to charity, but if you are on a tight budget, beware!

Restaurant Deals

Budget eating does not mean you cannot go out to a restaurant to enjoy a meal. There are coupons for restaurants too. You can also order reasonably priced appetizers and inexpensive, satisfying main dishes at some restaurants. Some restaurants offer deals where you buy one meal, and take another home free of charge. However, a $12.95 meal, although enticing, may not be feasible; if you were only planning to spend $5.00 or $6.00 on an appetizer plus a drink, tip and taxes. Do not be tempted, because it could cost you as much as $4.00 more than you had planned. You might say: but then I have an extra meal for $4.00. However, if you need that $4.00 to buy gas, or give your child as pocket change for school, then that’s another matter. On the other hand, if you’re in company with a husband or child for example, you can both probably share a meal and take the free one home. The trick in this deal is that you only get the free meal bagged at the end of the meal.

So, be smart; coupons are good and helpful.There are instances where people have bought $100 worth of groceries with coupons, and it cost them only $8 or $10.If you have the time, cut your coupons, but use them wisely and well, keeping in mind your nutrition needs, and not unnecessary items in the grocery store; or unnecessary meals at a restaurant, just because they are free.