• Make a shopping list before you go to the store. Buy only what is on the shopping list. Stick to your list and shop as quickly as possible, the longer you hang around the store the more likely you are to stray from your list and spend more than you planned.

• Expand Sales Opportunities. Shop more than one store. Stock up on commonly used items when they are on sale, watch the cycle, and then buy them again next sale.

• Stores often put the more expensive brand-name products at eye level. To find store brands and sale items, you often need to look on the higher or lower shelves.
• Grab the loss leaders.  Loss leaders are just that: items the store knows it will take a loss on but will lead shoppers to its doors.
• Rainchecks are not for the impatient but if an item is really low priced (sometimes a loss leader) and they are sold out it is worth the few extra minutes to get a raincheck. Ask for the maximum amount allowed if its one of your commonly used items.
• If you have the space buy a freezer (it will pay itself off in no time) you can freeze bread, lunchmeat, nuts, raisins, butter, flour, vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, etc.
• Buy a large cut of meat and divide it into several meals or servings. If your supermarket has a butcher, ask him to grind a top round roast (on sale) for your ground burger.
• Never shop when you are hungry. Eat first, then shop.
• Multiple pricing gimmicks mean that unless it says “limit” 10/$10 means that each item cost $1 and you can buy as many as you want.
• Watch prices at the register and check your receipt.  With thousands of price changes each week there are thousands of opportunities for errors.
• When preparing a shopping list check what you have on hand, review Jumstartshopping.com for sales on entrée items like beef, chicken, or pork and plan your meals around the best deals.
• If prices for side dishes are marked down 50% off or more, it’s a good idea to buy enough for 2 weeks or more if you can afford it
• In-season produce will always be the lowest priced items in your produce department.
• Shop alone if you can.  Shopping with friends or family can get you off track.
• Remain flexible to other brands. Remain flexible to other stores. 
• Saving money at the supermarket starts before you head to the store. Take a few minutes to plan your meals for the week and create a shopping list. Check JumpstartShopping.com and incorporate sale foods into your meal planning.

COUPONS

       Jumpstartshopping.com matches coupons each week from your Sunday newspaper.  The coupon icon will appear next to an item in the coupon category and will stay until the next weekly sale items.   

Coupons are money!  There’s nothing wrong with taking free money to help feed your family.

Be patient.  Coupon matching can take up to 3 weeks to match store sale offerings.

Coupons come in Sunday newspapers (larger paper means more coupons), in the mail, on the internet, affixed to products you plan to buy, in your store flyer, and coupon booklet racks in your supermarket.

Pay attention to the wording on your coupon; you may only have to buy the $1 size and not the $3 size to redeem.

If a coupon says any variety this means that trial sizes are included; a $1 coupon can translate into a free item!

Be aware that some stores redeem competitors’ coupons (i.e. Stop & Shop will accept Shaw’s coupons).

Most coupons are for non food items or to entice you to try a new item.  If there is no match for the item you want to buy; use the coupon anyway and make your own sale!