Costco vs. Grocery Stores

I went to lunch today with my mom and she 'needed' to go to Costco.

After a few minuet discussion I agreed to go with her.

I know, I know- I don't love Costco. Why would I go to Costco and save maybe 10% or 15% when I can save well over 50% at the grocery store?

Here is how my mom talked me into it- 

My mom- Well... their new coupon book coupons can be used today and I needed to get a few things.

Me- Mom you are not going to save money there with or without a coupon!

My mom- ............They have pumpkin pie that you can eat!  After today you are doing that 30 Day Shred and Weight Watchers... so we can go get a FREE sample.

OK so I am a sucker. However during her thinking time of what to say to get me to go with her I thought what a great time to compare and see if you really do save money at Costco. 

Here is what I found-

Costco Fruit by the Foot Variety Pack 42 ct. $9.99

  Use $2.50/1 Q from Costco coupon book (mailed to you if you are a member)-limit 2

 You pay $7.49 

That breaks down to $0.18 a piece.

Smith's Fruit by the Foot 10 ct. $1.00

  Use $0.50/2 Q from General Mills 8/8 or 9/12

 You pay $0.75

That breaks down to $0.08 a piece.

Costco Kirkland Signature Diapers 168 ct. size 5 $39.59

  Use $5.00/1 Q from Costco coupon book (mailed to you if you are a member)-limit 2

 You pay $34.59

That breaks down to $0.20 a diaper.

Rite Aid- 3 packs of Huggies Pure & Natural for Free!

 Go here to read how.

That breaks down to $0.00 a diaper!

Costco Cinnamon Toast Crunch $7.99 (? I did not write it down-I'm going off memory)

  Use $2.00/1 Q from Costco coupon book (mailed to you if you are a member)-limit 2

 You pay $5.99

That breaks down to $2.99 a box.

Smith's Cinnamon Toast Crunch $3.19

  Use $1.00/2 Q from General Mills 8/8 or 9/12

PLUS

  Buy 4 box of General Mills cereal and get $6.00 taken off at register.

 You pay $1.19 wyb 4

That breaks down to $1.19 per box.

Costco DayQuil 60 ct. $8.89

  Use $3.00/1 Q from Costco coupon book (mailed to you if you are a member)-limit 2

 You pay $5.89

That breaks down to $2.95 per box of 30 ct.

Walgreens DayQuil 30 ct. 2 for $10.00

  Use $1.50/1 Q from P&G 8/29

   Transaction Idea-

     Use 2 $1.50/1 Q from P&G 8/29

    You pay $7.00

     Get $5.00 in Register Rewards

   Final price $2.00 for 2

That breaks down to $1.00 per box of 30 ct.

I could have done more comparisons but I was not prepared. This is just want I saw looking though Costco's coupon book and what I had seen in the ads for this week. However as you can see the 4 things I did do you will save way more at the grocery store. Not to mention that to even get the Costco price and coupons you need to be a member- and that will cost you! 

Do you save money at Costco?? I would love to hear your opinion. 

Coupon Clutch Specials for My Readers!

Now through September 15th all of our high quality polypropylene coupon pages and tabbed dividers are on sale for 15% off of their already low prices.


Also all my readers will get 10% off any order!
Use coupon code: SAVINQUEEN 


Go here to start shopping! 

How I Organize My Coupons

A few days ago I told you how you can find all the coupons that have not expired that come in the inserts from the Sunday Newspaper. If you missed that post it is really simple -you just go to the Alphabetical Coupon Index.
I told you that I would show you how I organize my 'loose' coupons.

I use the same 'no cutting' system that I tell you about in Getting Started- see my red hanging file box thing in the bottom of the picture?? That holds all my inserts and ads. 

This is my coupon binder for my 'loose' coupons.

When I open it up I have two see through sleeves. One holds coupons that I need to file in the binder- so if I have printed coupons or I get coupons from offer I post on the blog. Also if I go to Smith's and I cut my coupons for that trip... let's say I get there and they are out of an item or I only use 2 of the 4 coupons I took- I will just file them in this blinder, not find the insert and stick them back in the insert.
The second sleeve holds coupons that are about to expire.
I take my kids to McDonald's about every other week. I let them play and I take 15 minuets to organize my binder. I will put all the coupons that need to be filed from sleeve one and put them in the right place and I will take the coupons that are about to expire out and stick them in the second sleeve.

I use baseball card holders. This is the only thing I have ever used... so I can't really recommend something else if you hate baseball card holders. 

My first section is "Store Cards"- I take my coupon binder with me everywhere. I keep all my store cards in the front. So if we just stop by K-mart to kill some time I have my K-Mart card or if I go to lunch then I have all my rewards cards with me. *I was getting so many reward cards that my wallet was SO full. Reward cards can save you a lot of money and get you some sweet perks to that store.

My Second Section is "Gift Cards" - I have gift cards for so many stores- I hated when I went to a store and after I paid I remembered I had a gift card. This solves my problem.

I then have my coupons organized under the following categories:
*Really this is for you- this just makes sense to me- you can do it in as many or as few as you want.

Baking
Breakfast/Bev
Canned Veg/Fruit
Cleaning
Dry Snacks
Dairy/Deli
Frozen
Meat
Med
Pasta/Rice
Paper/Plastic
Personal Care
Sauces/Dressing
Soup
Smell Good
Pet/Other
Toys

Target
Smiths
RiteAid/Walgreens

I then have the following:
Restaurant
Clothing
Craft
Activities
Other
Policy
Rebate

Super easy and I have everything I need when I am out.
Let me know if you have any questions I would be happy to go over anything more in depth if needed.

Finding Coupons-

Have you ever been at the store you KNOW that you have a coupon for that one item... now how can you find it?
As you all know I leave all my coupons in the insert. I do not cut them tell I need them. After a few months of getting coupon inserts and you get to the point that you need to throw inserts away, you will understand why I don'y cut out my coupons. There are hundreds that I don't use! I hate wasting time. However, there are times that I am at the store and I think to myself... I know that I have seen a coupon for that somewhere... Here is a easy way to look it up and see if it was in one of your Sunday Newspaper inserts. After I look-up on the list and see if it is there, if it is not then I know that it must have been a printable or one that came in the mail and then I know that I can go and look in my little binder that I keep the rest of my 'loose' coupons in.
Go here fist to see if it is in your insert and then if it is not- happy hunting through the rest of your 'loose' coupons.

How do you organize your 'loose' coupons?

I will post how I organize my 'loose' coupons later this week....

Do Grocery Stores like Coupons??

YES!! They love them! Coupons do not lose the Grocery Stores any money! They make them money. Each Grocery Store get $0.08 + the face value of the coupon.

Example- $1/1 Sure Deodorant, Grocery Store get $1+ $0.08.