Planning - Sale Shopping

     Every week, on Tuesday, my mailbox is filled with something that looks like this:
That would be the full ton of ads that appear at our house on a weekly basis.  In there are ads for pool supply companies, furniture stores, and other stores in the area.  If you dig through them and know what the names of your grocery stores, you can find the weekly specials on food in your area.  The problem with sale shopping is that we usually end up spending more than we would have without the sales.  That's what this post is dedicated to - making sure you actually save money when you shop using the ads.
     The problem I usually run into is that the ads always make me say, "Hey! We haven't had that in a while!" and I go get it.  Though this seems innocent on the surface, the issue is that, if we haven't had it in a while (like six months), the reason was probably because we didn't need it.  Why do I want to go out and buy something that we don't need just because it's on sale?
     Unfortunately, that's what the grocery stores are hoping to get you to do.  They want you to go buy things you don't need or won't use because they were on sale.  I will say that sales provide you a great opportunity to try new things, but only if they fit in your budget.  They also provide you the ability to stock up on things you will use when they're on sale.  The problem is finding the balance.  So, this week, when you get the grocery ads, look through them and ask yourself these questions when you see something that draws your eye:

1. Do I need that?
2. Do I have it?
3. How much will I save?
4. How much will I spend to get it?

     See, we tend to buy things we already have or that we don't need.  For example, just because fruit roll-ups are on sale doesn't mean I need them.  On the other hand, if I have 5 cans of carrots and the ad says they're 50¢ each if I buy 10, do I need that many?  How much will I really save if I go get that $5 of canned foods?  How far do I have to travel?
     Let's look at each item in your grocery ads and figure it out.  Some of my grocery ads say what the price usually is, but most of them say things like the circled part:

 On the surface, that looks like a great deal.  You could save up to $2!  But wait, you have to buy 10 avocados to save that $2 which means you only save 20¢ on each one.  I'm not saying it's not a good price on avocados, I'm saying you probably won't save what you think you will.  Were you planning on making guacamole this week?  Do you think you'd use more than 2 avocados for it?  I know my family wouldn't, even if we were making it for the extended family.  At the most we'd use 3 which is still a savings of 60¢, but it isn't the $2 the ad promises.  The fact of it is, that you're usually not going to buy the quantities that the grocery ads advertise.  I can't remember the last time I needed 10 boxes or cans of anything.
     The nice thing is, a lot of grocery stores have started getting away from you actually having to buy the ten items to get the sale price.  The stores I shop at usually allow you to get a 10 for $10 item for $1 a piece instead of requiring you to buy 10 of them.  This is really beneficial.  However, you should know your local grocery stores, so you don't end up with 7 rotting avocados because they don't separate the price.
     There is one exception to this rule.  One of my grocery stores has a special they run about once every 2 months that states "Save $5 when you buy 10!"  The idea is that you buy 10 of the items they specify and you save 50¢ on each item.  When they run these ads, they often have over 30 items to choose from.  The problem is that I often need two or three of those 30 and I have to decide if I want to buy 5 of each to save my 50¢.
     Sale shopping is tricky that way.  The money you spend this month is probably money you don't have to spend next month.  For example, if your local store has a buy one get one free sale on ketchup and you're not out of ketchup yet, do you buy it so you don't have to get it in a month when you are out?  Each sale is different, so you have to evaluate everything in your ads and decide if you're going to use it.
     Step 1 is to decide if you need what's on sale.  If you're me, you're going to automatically decide you don't need anything that's premade or premixed.  With few exceptions, eliminate your convenience foods and junk foods.  Also eliminate anything you don't normally use or fresh foods you won't use this week.  For example, if fresh broccoli is on sale and you're not planning on using it within the week, it's a waste of money to buy it.  Frozen broccoli isn't so much.
     Step 2 is to see if you have what's on sale.  Like my example with ketchup a moment ago, you have to go look and see if you have what you're looking at before you put it on your list.  If your ketchup bottle is 3/4 full, don't go get two more unless you use a full bottle in a month.  If, however, it's sitting upside down with 1/2 an inch of ketchup in it, go ahead and get your two bottles for the price of one and you won't have to worry about it for a while.  The most common exception to this rule for me is canned food.  If  I have less than 10 cans of a vegetable, I'll probably replenish my stock when they go on sale, even if I only buy two cans each.
     Step 3 is to see how much you're going to save.  After you do this for a while, you'll know what a good price is for an item you buy often.  If I say to my dad, "What's a good price on chicken breasts?"  He'll automatically respond with "$1.39 or less."  If you're just starting out, look at the original price in the ad or how much it says you're saving.
     Step 4 is probably the one no one thinks about when they're making their list.  How much are you going to spend to get the sale price?  If every ad you have in your mailbox comes from a grocery store that's within 5 miles of you, you really don't have to worry about this.  However, I have grocery ads from stores that are in excess of 10 miles away from me.  I have to decide if the sale prices in those are worth the gas I'm going to spend to get there.  The answer is usually no, but I hate to pay full price if I know it's on sale elsewhere.
     I've found a solution to this problem, at least where I live.  See, I have a grocery store that most towns have that promises to match the prices from local grocery stores.  I'll put money that you've got one of these stores nearby.  I'll give you a hint, their stores are usually painted blue and grey and start with the letter W.
     The beauty of price matching stores is that I don't have to drive all over town to get the lowest prices.  The problem is you have to know exactly what you're getting and for what price.  You should probably also go on a day and time that isn't so busy because there's nothing worse standing behind someone who's saying "Those bananas are 88¢ a dozen at Safeway" for ever item in their cart.  So, here's how to plan your shopping list, whether you're price matching or not:

Not price matching:
     Take your ads one at a time and pour over them like I've mentioned above and have a piece of paper nearby to write them down.  Write the store's name at the top and then make your sale list under it.  Organize your stores from farthest to nearest and go to them one at a time to get your sale items.  Any items that aren't on sale should be purchased at the last store you go to so that perishables aren't sitting in your car.  For that matter, this method is especially dangerous if you're buying perishables in multiple stores.  I'll admit to taking vegetables and meat into a store that I need to get other items in.  Make sure to take your receipt and keep your groceries in their original bags to prevent the greeter from questioning your honesty.

Price matching:
     This is the best thing to do if you have perishable goods on sale at 4 different stores.  Really.  You avoid having to go to the stores and take your food into each one or go home between each one.  To do this, go through your ads like I mentioned before, but this time, write down the price of each item next to it and the store at which it's on sale.  When you do this, you have to write down any brand names that might pertain to the item.  For example, if Farmer John sausage links are on sale, you need to note the brand.  If there's a specific size that's on sale, write that down too.  This might seem like a lot of work, but it will save you a lot of time in the long run.
     When you go shopping, make sure you get what's on sale in the ads.  If the sale item is the store brand for that store (Kroger, Fresh Select, etc.) the stores that match prices will usually substitute their store brand for those.  The first time you do this, take your ads with you.  That way, if your checker asks for proof of the sale price,  you can show him or her.  Put your items on the belt with your non-price match items first.  That way, you're don't have to stop unloading your shopping basket to tell your checker what price is what.  Have them written down clearly so you can say each item and its sale price.  Make sure you can break down the price for the checker if you have to.  For example if your Farmer John sausage is on sale 4 for $5 at Fry's, be sure you can tell the checker that the price per unit is $1.25.  Sometimes, they need that help.
     When you do this the first time, be prepared to show the ads if you're asked.  In fact, be prepared to do the same for the first few times.  Eventually, you'll know whether the checkers at your price matching store are going to ask.  I've never been asked once for the ad.