groceries on $100 a week

A stay at home mother of 3 children and 3 boxers I have had to really tighten our grocery budgets. Thanks to my mother in law and her sister, I am hooked on finding the fantastic deals at our Amish salvage stores. Every 2 weeks I take any left over budget and shop to get scratch, dent and discontinued products that our Amish are able to purchase and resell for VERY cheap. I bring home $300 plus of groceries, health and beauty, tax and general merchandise for under $80!!! I am educated in my pricing to know that I CAN sometimes get products else where (other than these salvage stores) for less as well. For example: some grocery stores carry Pampers and Huggies (as we know, very exspensive). The salvage stores resell these items for around 15+ which is good. However, I know I can get a case of diapers (parents choice) at Walmart for less than this!

Same with dryer sheets, Salvage stores may sell that snuggle dryer sheets for $1.99 (again, a great price) but I can get an off brand at Dollar tree for only $1.00. **mind you, I can reuse these dryer sheets after soaking them in softner in a mason jar, for one more use!

I know I have said it before, but as an educated consumer and a former grocery retail manger I know all the tricks of the trade. This is exactly why the rediculous Walmart commercials really irratate me! I realize that there ARE persons out there who beleive anything that they see and would fall for their price compare (against Giant Eagle) commercials are fact. What they won't show you is that here in NE Ohio, Giant Eagle Doubles coupons up to .99! Add this to their sales with their Giant Eagle Advantage card and you CAN save more than what Walmart can/will match. Given the knowledge that what you spend will also go toward earning money off your fuel at the Giant Eagle Get-Go gas stations! When you use your "fuel perks" and get that price of fuel to go down on a fuel up (and in some cases a totaly free tank of gas), you earn "food-perks" which is a percentage off your total grocery bill the next time you grocery shop.

Now I realize, this doesn't always work. You DO have to really pay attention to prices, dollars off and more. I personally only purchase non-necessity foods etc at Giant Eagle if I can save 60% or higher!

Here in NE Ohio, there is literally no way to honestly save money and be one of those persons you see on that "Extreme couponing" show on TLC.... But to feed a family of 5 persons and 3 dogs on $100 a week, I think I do pretty dang great!