Welcome to Southern Savers, where finding deals and steals is simple and rewarding!

See I told you, this would help!

Coupon Abbreviations
  • SC = Store Coupon
  • MC = Manufacturer Coupon
  • SS = Smart Source
  • RP = Red Plum
  • PG = Proctor and Gamble
Coupon Terms
  • WYB = When You Buy
  • B1G1 = Buy One Get One Free
  • .75/1 = 75 cents off one item
  • .75/3 = 75 cents off three items
  • EXP = Expiration Date

Going Nuts? I can help you understand coupon terms and abbreviations

Extreme Couponer 101: What’s a Good Price?

on 2.17.2009 at 12:16pm
Jenny 24 Comments

One of the biggest parts to saving on groceries is to know what a stock up price is for the products you buy.  Prices for each item will vary week by week at the grocery store, and your goal is to only buy them when they are the lowest price the store is going to offer them at.  To do this it helps to have a lowest price list (on paper or in your head).  When an item is in the price range or lower then you stock up on it!!  Sales run on cycles so you won’t see this low price again for 6-8 weeks, get enough to get you through until the next time you see this price.

To help you, here is my buy price list.

The prices are after coupons, and are for my area.  You may find that milk is much cheaper in your city or other items are more expensive.   You will also find that sometimes a deal comes and makes these prices seem like retail prices.  Those deals are great, but you should not plan your list off the occasional incredible deal or else you won’t buy anything for long periods of time, waiting for all the free deals…

Note:  Your prices will fluctuate as manufacturer’s raise prices or as new coupons come out.  These just give you an idea to go buy.

To see more posts in the Extreme Couponer 101 series go here.

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    • leigh

      thanks jenny for the list! as a newbie this will be so helpful to have an idea of what a good price is and when to stock up.

    • Gwen

      THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

    • Katy

      This is so helpful! Thank you so much for posting.

    • Sarah

      Once again, you’re the greatest! :) Thanks!

    • Lynn

      Thanks so much for this list. I’ve been keeping up with the lowest prices of items not on sale and was shopping at places like save a lot. This will totally help me get the same or better prices for the name brand items I really love. Thanks again!!!

    • jen

      Thanks for the class last night! It was great!

    • http://frugalinfranklin.wordpress.com Becky

      Jenny, you truly are an awesome resource. Thanks so much!

    • http://zombiemommysaves.blogspot.com/ Zombiemommy

      Thanks Jenny, I started a price list last year after reading the book the Tightwad Gazette. It really did help me learn when to stock up. Also I did Grocerygame for about 6 months, that really got my head into the game of learning the good deals. But really who needs grocerygame with easy to read southernsavers!

    • http://www.thankyouprettylover.blogspot.com kristen

      thank you so much for all that you do. i just started couponing and this is a huge help.

    • http://www.springsbargains.com Carrie from SpringsBargains.com

      Great post, and thanks for the list! Mine is completely in my head. :) I’m pointing my readers here today in the hopes that it will help some of them.

    • Beth

      milk at kroger right now is 2.99 a gal. excellent price!!!

    • Lela

      I love this list — SO helpful. Just wondered where you find butter for $1.20/lb. Usually the best I can find is $1.99. Thanks for such a great site.

    • Jenny

      You can get various types B1G1 at Publix with coupons when it is on sale or regular price at Sam’s is 4lbs for $6.

      Remember too, you can freeze butter so when it’s low grab it :)

    • Rachel W

      Thank you so much!! This is such a useful resource! I have been trying to find a list like this and I couldnt find one!

    • Tracy

      When I downloaded your list it only had one page with 15 or so items. Is something missing? I assume you buy meat, etc.

    • Andrea

      Great list! Just wondering where you get petroleum jelly for free? I’ve never seen coupons for it. Thanks.

    • Michelle

      It was very interesting to see your purchase price point for various items! I love to see how others shop :-)
      I love that you remind your readers to stock up when they find a good deal–I think reminding people that if they stock up on necessities when they are a good deal THEN they are able to wait for the same items to be free and then REALLY stock up!! My stockpile is such that I now only buy products that are free (or almost free) or if the store wants to pay me to take the items off their hands! Of course I have to purchase meats and produce but do that with coupons as well! I think if people learn to use CVS, WAGS and Rite Aid they will never pay OOP for any health, beauty, most cleaning and various grocery items EVER! For our “luxury” items (those we don’t necessarily need) I only purchase when they are free or very very cheap! CVS happily gave me 16 packs (sixteen 12 packs) plus various other H&B items for $2.12. The $2.12 didn’t even come from my budget as I used a GC to pay AND I was able to maintain most of my ECB’s for upcoming deals!

      I would love to see where you get your products/pricing–that might be even more helpful.

      For example here are a few of my price points:
      Tomatoes/paste–Muir Glen, Free at Publix
      Foil –Reynold’s Wrap (20 ft), Free at WAGS
      Toilet Paper–Cottonelle 4 pk Kroger, Free often overage
      Crackers–I wait until they are free to purchase. Currently you can get Ritz (including the Ritz bits varieties) at various stores for $0. The $2/2 coupon works for the smaller packs that are $1 at many stores (CVS, Kroger, Publix) So–I buy 60 packs and now we are golden until the next cracker deal comes around :-)

      Jenny–you are one of my favorite blogs. I send all new couponers to your site as I feel it is the most user friendly!! Great post!

    • Michelle

      I also have to add that knowing the cycle for various products can be beneficial as well– nothing is guaranteed but some products do follow a cycle:

      For example if you use Velveeta–the best time to buy is around the superbowl just about the only time the sales and coupons correlate.

      Best time to buy canned pumpkin–yep you guessed it October/November…perfect timing for pumpkin pie and other holiday goodies.

      Since both of these items have a long shelf life you can purchase as much as you will need until the next great deal. For me this is the best way to shop! If I purchase too much it just goes to those in need–we all win :-)

    • Chris

      Thank you so much for posting this list. I have been trying to do the coupon thing for a couple of months and have been really frustrated because I have a hard time knowing when to stock up on certain things and when to save my coupon for a better deal. I have been telling all of my friends about your site, we have a group all coming to your workshop, and people are stopping me in the grocery store to talk coupons! This is completely addictive!

    • Jessica T

      Hello. Thank you so much for everything you do. I just recently started couponing so im still learning. This list will help. Where can you find toilet Paper free and Diapers for $5?

    • Jenny

      You can get free toilet paper at Kroger most every week. And Diapers right now at Kroger are actually less than $5 ea!! Or head to CVS this week and get them for $5.50 ea after ECB.

    • http://poormom.info PoorMom

      I just posted a how to stockpile entry on my blog . I’m Linking to your list for any Southern Readers !
      Great job

    • Cindy

      I just started couponing. I am still trying to figure this out. I only have a Brookshire’s where I live and a Wal-Mart about 17 miles away. Neither of these stores double and triple coupons. Would it really be worth it to drive 45 minutes to Kroger to get the extra coupon savings?

      • Jenny

        Probably not unless they were running a really great sale. You can still follow the main concepts of waiting until something is on sale and then stocking up.