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How Many Stores Should I Shop At?

Saturday, October 3, 2009 Leave a Comment




There are many factors that can influence this decision. The time you have, how organized you are, and the money you need to save are a just a few. Your decision may change weekly depending on those factors. Use the information below as a general guide.



One Store
  • Benefits: You will spend very little time planning your shopping or driving around to different stores.
  • Drawbacks: You will build your stockpile more slowly, and it will take longer for your monthly grocery bill to reduce.
  • Tips:
    • Stock up on 3* deals; not just 4*-5* deals. A 3* deal is still below the average sale price. Without Frugalicious, most people shop at around a 2* price on average. If you were to stock up on 3*-5* deals instead of just 4*-5* deals, you would still save money, and you will build your stock quicker. As you build your stock, you can lessen the number of 3* sales you stock up on.
    • Change the store you shop at each week based on the number of great deals available. One week Albertsons may have the most great deals, the next week, maybe Vons has the most.
Two Stores (one drug store & one grocery store)
  • Benefits: You will be able to take advantage of many free, or next to free, deals on personal care and medicine cabinet items that are offered at drug stores. This can free up money in your budget to spend on other 4*-5* deals. You will build your stockpile quicker than with just one store, but won’t have to spend significantly more time.
  • Drawbacks: Drug store shopping can be confusing and take a little longer to learn. You will spend slightly more time planning & shopping than you would with just one store.
  • Tips:
    • Choose a drug store and grocery store that are right next to each other so you don’t have to drive to both.
    • Change the two stores you shop at each week based on the number of 4 and 5 star deals available.
More than two Stores
  • Benefits: You will build your stockpile very quickly, and start decreasing your monthly grocery bill within weeks.
  • Drawbacks: You will spend more time planning your shopping trips as well as shopping. Staying organized will be very important.
  • Tips:
    • Use the Weekly Tools, and make sure you understand how to use them effectively. We have provided many tutorials and lessons to help you do this. Take advantage of them! You will save time and money by using your tools efficiently.
    • Be Organized! The more organized you are the easier shopping this way will be.
    • Don’t get stuck thinking that you have to shop at each store every week. Some weeks, a store may have only 1 or 2 items you use at 4*-5* prices. It may not be worth the trip that week.

 

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