I am completely addicted!

That's right, I have a new addiction and this one will save me money instead of spending it! Lately on all the TV talk shows there has been a ton of information on how to save money in these hard economic times and Keith has been on me to save money since none of his deployment cash has hit the savings account! Really I don't know where it all goes!! And my biggest complaint is that everything has gone up in price. There was a time in our budget and Gas and Groceries where one and the same. Whatever I didn't spend it groceries, I put in the gas tank and it was more than enough. Now, whatever I don't put in the gas tank, I use in groceries!!

No really, now they are two seperate items in the budget because it's no joke filling the tanks of a Tahoe and F-150. And groceries are outrageous. I don't buy a lot of prepackaged food because it is the most expensive. Our biggest splurge in that department is frozen pizza which our favorite brand has gone up $2 in just the past couple months.

And when it comes to groceries being in the house, Keith and the kids are only pleased if our pantry and fridge are well stocked. Nothing makes for more of a sour attitude if there is nothing in the house that they find appropriate. And in order to do that I would spend anywhere from $500-600 a month. And that does not include when we eat out. Though we don't eat out often, I would say at least twice a month and you can throw another $100 into that mess.

Well no more! I have found this group of people who are serious about spending less than a $100 a week on groceries and many of them spend half than that! And you should see their pantries and freezers. They are overloaded (and that is what makes Keith happy) so much so, that a lot of it gets donated to local homeless shelters.

This is the website www.thegrocerygame.com

This is the gist of it. Every week you get a list from this website that has your local stores sales items. Then it also has listed by each item the coupons from the previous weeks Sunday papers that you can combine with it. They figure most everything goes on sale approximately every 12 weeks, so you go and buy enough to last for 12 weeks. When all is said and done, you get the items at pennies are free! and you get better at the game as time goes on, because practice does equal perfections!

So this would change some things for me. Instead of making a grocery list of items that I need to make certain meals, I would go buy what is on sale only and have a coupon for and make meal plans according to that. And did I mention how much I hate to grocery shop? Well make into a game and a competitive one at that...and I am in! However pays less, wins! Who wouldn't love that!?

So, yesterday I practiced for the first time. I got $106.50 worth of groceries for $72. Not a huge savings, but my coupons are not built up yet and I only hit our one local store, HEB. I also will visit Walgreens, where using this system, you should never pay more than pennies for cleaning supplies, medicine, make-up, toiletries and some food items. And I figure if if I can get the item for free or nearly free and I don't need it, I will just donate to the food locker on post for other soldier families are in need.

So if you are in need of tightening up the budget, hate to grocery shop and need to inject some fun, and would love to spend less than $100 (most can get to $55 at the 12 week mark) a week for a family of 4+, join in on the fun. All the work is done for you via this website so it might take you an extra hour a week to save hundreds. Keith is going to be thrilled!!!!