Price Match!

Let the fun begin! Now that I know that Martin's termination is happening sometime soon, I can really get into something that I really love- BARGAIN SHOPPING! I love a bargain, have always loved a bargain, and find real joy when I can get a bargain. I HATE it when you go to a store that is advertising a clearance, and find that they have only increased the base price so they can take 30% off and try to make you think you are really getting something. I don't mind speaking up about it either, and let the management know how I feel. We are in this to save money, not play money games. Bargain shopping makes me feel like I am successfully managing money while getting some real value.

I would be the ultimate coupon shopper if I weren't so lazy. For one thing, most of the stuff that they have coupons for are things that I either don't use, don't want or can find it cheaper without a coupon. It is great to get 200 candy bars for 5.00, but what are you going to do with 200 candy bars besides give them away? I can only store so much toilet paper, dishwashing liquid, toothpaste etc, and though it looks great on the bottom line, super coupon shopping is a lot of work and dedication. If I am going to invest 8 hours a day clipping coupons, I may as well get a job away from home. Don't get me wrong, I am really impressed with those who successfully super coupon shop, but I have another solution.

My solution is Price Matching. Good old Walmart has started this fabulous program, and it seems that maybe Target is too, if I heard right. There is a bit of time investment to successfully Price Match shop, but for the weekly bottom line, this is the only way to go. Don't forget though, if you have a coupon, Walmart will add it to the price match price and you will save even more money!

First, be sure you have access to every weekly ad for all the grocery stores in town. This is easily done if you apply to the store's website for email. Each week, they will send you the ad. There are at least 12 different stores in the Houston area that have really good grocery ads, and Walmart honors all of them. Remember that fresh produce is price matched too- the hispanic stores usually have really good prices on fresh produce.

Take some time and print out the ads so that you can have them to compare. Look first at the front page where most of the big bargains are for the week. Big bargains to me are canned goods, meat, clothes soap and othe items that are marked down to get you to come into the store. Then, go through each page, looking for the items you need for your shopping trip. When you see something you need, compare the prices and take the ad with the lowest price, write the item down, the store's name and the price. It sounds like a lot, but it really only takes a little time. Get your list together and go to Walmart. To be on the safe side, take the ads with you along with your list. You probably won't have to prove the prices, but sometimes the clerk asks to see the ad. This is especially true when the price cut is substantial. This week, I got boneless chuck roast for 1.97 a pound, even though at Walmart it was 3.98 a pound. They price matched the ad for me. I got whole chickens for .67 lb instead of the .99lb walmart price. I got peaches for 2 cans for 1.00 instead of 1.10 a can, and lots of other good bargains. I was not asked to show the ad, but last week when Tide was 5.35 in the ad and the Walmart price was 9.95, the clerk wanted to validate it.

Take time each week for this activity. You will really save some serious grocery money. There are a couple of things to remember though,

1. Don't be greedy. Walmart is doing us a great service, and we don't want them to quit because some people are really hogging their stuff.

2. Be polite. Don't be beligerent if the clerk asks to see proof of the price. It is their job. Once they know that your are honest and polite about price matching, they will gladly serve you and help you when you need it. I am hardly ever asked to prove a price, as my reputation preceedes me.

3. If you have lots of stuff, and someone behind you has only a couple if items, let them go first. That way you can take your time price matching without stressing out the clerk.

4. Plan ahead. I am already on the lookout for pasta in the near future. I will also look for items that will help me stretch the food I have. Although I have lots of cream soups, eventually I will need more. Keep an eye out for what you have, and plan for what you will need. Those items will pop out at you when you are searching the ads.

5. Have fun! It is great to save so much money in a time when we are all stressing out about the price of things.

Take advantage of price matching to increase your food storage. This doesn't mean just go wild and buy hundreds of 3 for a dollar items, but get a few, even if you are not going to use them that week. Put them in your food storage.

You may wonder what price matching has to do with Martin and this blog. Well, since we are facing unemployment, this is just another strategy that I am using to keep my spirits up and not give in to discourgement. My Gentle Giant will have enough to think about without my carping over the fact that there isn't enough money to feed him well. He won't even know that I have slashed the grocery budget, and we will have fun in the store shopping. Best of all, he loves to brag about a bargain, and this will give him lots of fuel for the fire!

If any of you need help learning to price match effectively, just let me know! I'll be glad to help.

Yesterday, I brought my plump, cheap chickens home and cut them in half for the freezer. Aunt Cheryl watched as I did my magic. I take a huge butcher knife, cut the chicken down the middle, hold the knife in place and whack it with a large cleaver. The chicken splits perfectly in two pieces. Aunt Chery's eyes about bugged out of her head when I whacked the knife, I think she thought I was the made chicken butcher! I cut and packaged 5 fat fryers in less than 10 minutes and went on to the other items I bought. A half fryer is perfect for us, especially when chicken and dumplings is on the menu!

Oh, I forgot to mention. If you are going to stock up when price matching, especially meats, be sure you have the proper storage bags on hand. They are great for separating bags of pasta, cereal, meats and frozen vegetables. If you only need a half bag of something, separate it in a food storage bag and add it to your food storage. Just be sure to price match when you buy the food storage bags!

Well, enough of being Martha Stewart. Being soon-to-be unemployed has me thinking about lots of things, but I am going to be cheerful and positive no matter what! Price Matching came along at just the right time for me, and I have no doubt that whatever else we may need will be provided for, especially if I use my brain and look for solutions!