Cost of Feeding a Family

So I really need to go to the grocery store & have been dragging my feet due to a lot of things: heat, work, going to the gym, running kids around, etc. But really I'm just making excuses I just don't want to go.

I am a couponer & try to do what I can to make the most of my hard earned dollar. My family sometimes groans, rolls their eyes & gives me the usual "oh mom" but I always tell them even if I am only saving 50 cents that is 50 cents that I get to keep in my pocket & every little bit adds up.

I would not call myself an "extreme couponer" as I have never been able to get hundreds of groceries for free or next to nothing but I enjoy taking advantage of a good deal when I find one. I don't agree with the people who buy out the shelves just because something is free & they are trying to create a "stock pile". All I want to do is find good deals for things that my family actually needs & uses. The people on the show are boarder line hoarders in my opinion but what the heck do I know?! When I have coupons the most I ever buy is 2 of the same item. It really isn't fair to the rest of the shoppers to clean the shelves & leave nothing for anyone else.

So, another reason I haven't been to the store is because I don't have my list & coupons organized to go either. Couponing is very time consuming & you need to be a pretty good organizer & I have recently tried to change my routine by putting everything in a binder & it is hard to get used to this but I am trying.

I have found a couple of really good sites to direct you to some good deals. The Krazy Coupon Lady is great & they had a spot on TLC's Extreme Couponing show. Another is Frugal Fritzie - I like this one because she tells you the deals she thinks are the best & what coupons to use to get the deals at Dillon's. Dillon's is a Kroger store but their ad is a little different sometimes than Kroger's.

Tonight I stopped at Wal-Mart to pick up a few needed items & some things to make dinner. I walked out of the store with 3 bags & spent $35.02. Crazy! I didn't pick up any impulse items either. For dinner I fixed these Cheesesteak/French Dip Sandwiches so picked up the rolls, deli roast beef, provolone cheese & beef broth plus 2 bags of potato chips. I knew we were out of coffee & creamer so picked those up as well & hamburger & hot dog buns. Almost forgot I did buy a tub of whipped cream cheese. I did not buy any name brand items, the Wal-Mart Great Value brand was the majority of what was in my cart. The deli roast beef was the most expensive item. Anyway, I felt that what I ended up spending was a lot compared to what I actually walked out with but it is so costly to feed a family these days.

My question to you is what do you do to save money at the grocery store trying to feed your family in this tough economy?

Jill