But I just saved $184 at the grocery store. I only spent $120. Go Keer Go Keer Go Keer! :-D

Check out www.thegrocerygame.com. It's not available in all areas, but you can type in your zip code and find out. This is how it works: You pay $10 every 8 weeks (they offer you a trial for $1 - I can't remember if it's for an 8-week or 12-week period), and they (don't ask me who "they" is LOL!) come up with this grocery list for you based on the coupons that should be availabe in your area and the sales at a particular grocery store in your area. (For me it's Albertson's, which is where I normally shop anyway.) They track the sales and the coupons and then tell you what is a killer deal or just a so-so deal. Then you load up on the killer deals and create a stockpile in your home.

This was a new way of thinking for me because I normally would create my menu and then shop based on what I needed for my menu. Now I shop based on what is on sale and then create my menu based on what I already have on hand.

Now, I do currently have about 6 mega-packs of toilet paper, but I most likely won't need to buy any before it goes on sale again. I'm also able to afford "fun" foods like Oreos and pies.

If you DO go to The Grocery Game and sign up, PLEASE SAY THAT I REFERRED YOU - razorbackmama@hotmail.com. I'll get a referral bonus if you do. :-D

As for this particular shopping trip, it was a savings of 60.44%. That is SIGNIFICANT for me because my store doesn't double-coupon. My list from the Game isn't as good as some other areas since the coupons in my paper are sometimes not as good, but still! I had guessed that I was going to save about $100, but I was off.

Signs you know you've saved a lot at the grocery store (all of these happened tonight):
1. The cash register starts beeping, and the manager has to (repeatedly) override it.
2. The bagger leaves to go do something and then comes back and says, "Oh good, I was hoping I'd be back in time to see how much she saved."
3. The cashier says, "OH MY GOSH," when she looks at your receipt and how much you saved.
4. The manager and the cashier discuss amongst themselves how much you saved.
5. The other customers say, "She spent $184?" and the cashier says, "No, that's how much she SAVED."
6. As the bagger takes your stuff out to your car, he tells you he's never seen anyone save that much before.

I literally did a DANCE when the cashier rang up $13.90 in coupons (10 at $1.39 each) for my Chunky Soup LOL!!!

Dh says I'd better look out - Albertson's will change their coupon policy because of me. LOL!

Do go check it out and don't forget to say I referred you!!!!!