My Class Waiting List

I've started an official waiting list to get on my class schedule... crazy, I know! I'll announce in a post when my calendar is open for booking again (probably late Feb, early March), but if you want to get first dibbs on my dates, please email me the following:

Your Name

Address

Phone Number

As a quick review... classes are generally held in someone's home with a group of friends and family. I require at least 8 moms to be in attendance, but prefer groups of 12 or more. I travel all over the valley and am happy to come to you! I also do lots of Enrichment Group workshops, but cannot sell the discounted Sunday paper if the class is held in a church. For booking an in-home class, the hostess gets a $20 gift card and an invitation for her and 1 friend to attend my "Advanced Couponing" workshop. At in-home classes, I also offer special discounted Sunday newspaper rates that Grocery Smarts negotiated directly with the Review Journal.

Subscriptions start at $1.75 per week for your first paper (if you don't already subscribe) then pay only $0.75 per week for each additional paper. To help offset the cost of your subscriptions, for ordering 4 or more papers at a class, you get a $20 gift card to either Albertsons or Smiths. Of course, I do take phone orders anytime. (578-1088)To add yourself to my waiting list, email me today!

lindseyfutrell@yahoo.com

If you just can't wait to learn, start using the website now. Find the instructions here.

Grocery Smarts Website Instructions

(I can also e-mail a more reader friendly version of these instructions. Just e-mail me at lindseyfutrell@yahoo.com)

www.grocerysmarts.com
A free website that will do all the hard work for you!

1. Go to www.grocerysmarts.com
a. Enter g89clf to access the LV store lists (currently store lists available: Albertsons, Smiths, Walgreens)

2. Bookmark (or save in your Favorites) the page with the NV map and you won’t have to enter the passport again.

3. From the “Select Your Store” drop down menu, pick a store.

4. What you are looking at:
a. This is an itemized spreadsheet listing of the sale items published in the store’s weekly ad and is updated anytime the store changes its ad. Grocery stores run ads beginning on Wednesday mornings and end on Tuesday nights.
b. Grocery Smarts will rate each sale price for you, taking all the guesswork out of knowing what is a good price, a bad price and the best price.
c. These ratings are in an easy to understand “5 star” rating system. Four and five star ratings are considered prime “stock-up” prices and you should consider purchasing a 12-week supply for your family. Three star is representative of a “Wal-Mart” or club price. Two star is a warning that you are paying more than you might at another store.
d. The “Coupon Index” column will match you to any current coupons found in the Review Journal Sunday paper and in the junk mail you receive each week (usually on Tuesdays or Wednesdays). This index will tell you which insert the coupon was in and what week it was published. Below is an illustration to help you read this information:

Pert Plus Shampoo, any $2/1 (12/31/08) SS-8/17

product description, ($) coupon value/(#) required to buy, coupon expiration date
Coupon Location (Insert-Sunday Date)
SS=Smart Source
RP=Red Plum
PG=Proctor & Gamble
GM=General Mills

5. I ALWAYS begin by selecting the “Start” button at the top.
a. This will prepare your shopping list for printing by shading all the rows in the list gray.

6. To view the BEST, stock-up deals of the week (4 & 5 star items), click on the red star in the left corner of the list. This will pre-select all 4 & 5 star items, turning their rows white. I love this feature as it ensures I will never miss any of the best deals.

7. To prepare a custom shopping list that you can print from your computer, it’s important to know that your printer will print only WHITE rows. So, as you review the offering of sale items, by clicking on a gray row—it will turn white. If you see a white row that you don’t want on your shopping list—click on the row and it will turn back to gray. Remember, all WHITE rows WILL print.
a. Be sure to click on the top row (where all the descriptions are) so it turns white and also prints (including any other row that includes specific information or instructions about a promo).

8. When you are done and all the WHITE rows represent items you intend to purchase, click on the “Shrink” button at the top of the screen (next to the Start button). This will “hide” any gray rows from your printer. If you want to go back to the full list, click “Un-Shrink” and all rows will return so you can make changes.

9. When you are done, click “Print Now” at the top of the screen.

10.After you print your list, go back and link to all your printable coupons to print and go to your coupon binder and start clipping!
a. Printable Coupon Tips: Only 2 coupons can print per computer or IP address and if a link gives you an error or you can’t find the coupon, it was likely pulled because its run-date ended or it already reached it’s print limit.

11. Check my blog (www.buyingsmart.blogspot.com) for daily tips, advice, ideas and motivation to keep you saving big at the grocery store!

****Grocery Smarts has negotiated deep discounted rates with the LV Review Journal (between $1.75 & $0.75 each) for the Sunday Paper, call me @
461-5386 for more info.

My Smart Sister

This is my sister Megan and my precious little nephew Bennett. Megan and I both started using Grocery Smarts about the same time. Now days, we talk on the phone, um...at least once a day about all the amazing deals we're finding and tricks we're learning, amongst other things. I thought it would be great if she could share her words of wisdom with you too. So stay tuned....

Don't Worry...

If you were looking in your junk mail yesterday for the Red Plum insert, don't worry...it wasn't there. The Red Plum comes on Tuesdays (or Wednesdays), same day as the grocery ads, usually 3 times a month. Look for it next week.

Smart Source Inserts

These are the Smart Source inserts that came in the paper yesterday. Remember...organizing your coupons is easy. Just write the Sunday date at the top (if they are an insert that comes in the mail during the week, date it with the Sunday date coming up). Then, file them by date in plastic sheet protectors.

If you're trying to figure out how many sets of coupons you need, here is the general rule of thumb: 1 Sunday newspaper per person in your household. Grocerysmarts is about "stocking-up", but only on the hottest deals each week that YOUR family will consume. Over time, your storage or pantry needs to develop a wide VARIETY of items. The cheapest way to get multiple coupons for stocking up is by getting multiple newspaper subscriptions (just for the Sunday coupons!) -Remember, your school recycle bins get paid by the pound.

Learning to Save

Ever since I started doing Grocery Smarts, I really have learned new little tricks every week. I feel like I get better each week, and honestly...if I walk out of the store saving 50%, I feel a little let down because I know I could do better. Well, this trip from last week was one for my shopping hall of fame. Definitely my best yet. There aren't a lot of groceries here, but there are some higher priced items. My out of pocket...$6.70!!

Total Value $53.64

Bonus Buy Savings $2.16

Prefered Savings $24.58

Manufacturer Coupons $20.20

I Paid $6.70!!

Not too shabby....

Today's Awesome Deal!

Total Value $27.12

In Store Savings $12.00

Manufacturer Coupons $8.00

Total Out of Pocket $7.12

That's right...$7.12 for 6 loaves of 100% whole wheat bread, 1 bag hot dog buns, and 1 bag hamburger buns. (If you're like my husband and wondering what I'm going to do with all this bread, I'm going to freeze it...works great). The coupons for these came from Smart Source inserts found in the Sunday papers on 12/7 and 12/14. For those of you wondering if paying for the paper is worth it like I was when I first started...here are the facts:

I saved $8.00 with coupons (the cost of two weeks of papers for me) for bread that will last me for 2-3 months. Not to mention all the other coupons I used at Albertson's this week.

If you would like to find out how to get the Sunday paper at an exclusively low rate...e-mail me: lindseyfutrell@yahoo.com

Some Examples

Here are a few examples of past shopping trips. I learn more and more everyday in increasing my savings!

Total out of pocket: $74.33

Savings: $75.27

Total out of pocket: $65.89

Savings: $50.89 (plus $15 in vouchers to use next time)

Buying Smart with Grocery Smarts

I was raised by THE queen of sales and couponing!! There isn't much more that makes my mom giddy with excitement than finding killer bargains (besides of course, all the amazing things she can grow in her garden...she's just an all around FABULOUS person). Over the years I've come to appreciate finding deals and saving money. I even started to save coupons (and use them on the rare occasion I remembered to pull them out before I swiped my card). But to be honest, clipping coupons, keeping them organized, and asking myself over and over "Is this sale really a good deal or just a gimmick to pull me in, the wanna-be sale savvy shopper?"

Then I found Grocery Smarts, a website (that's totally and completely FREE, I might add) that coordinates all the weekly sales with coupons found in your Sunday paper! And...it even rates the sale and tells you how good it really is...brilliant!! I've become obsessed at saving because it's so EASY! And at least once a week, I feel that same giddy feeling when I find a fantastic bargain. I'm sure my mom beams with pride every time I call to tell her all about it! I get so excited I want to share the deals with everyone I know, so I decided I'd become a Grocery Smarts instructor and share it with everyone!! So, there you have it. It's easy, and truly, I look forward to grocery shopping every week. You will to!