Getting Started

Before I started paying attention to sales, coupons, budgetting, etc, I would go shopping…. sometimes with a grocery list, sometimes without…. and I would pretty much buy whatever was on my list or whatever I was especially craving at the moment.  I always tried to stick with items that were on sale, but if my grocery list called for items that weren’t on sale, I didn’t sweat it – I would buy them anyway.  I would go to the checkout line, put my items on the conveyor belt and estimate in my head how much my total bill would be.  Usually, the bill would be higher than I anticipated.  And sometimes, I would gulp not knowing if my bank account would cover the $150 of groceries I just bought!  I would go home feeling dejected by the amount of money I just spent especially compared to the small amount of items I actually purchased.  When it came time for my husband and I to put together a budget, I realized right away that the amount of money we were spending each month on groceries was just too much.  I was determined to save more money.  Through all of my research I realized that as I saved money, I would actually be able to increase the amount of groceries I received.  What a crazy concept!  The old Liza: spent too much money on what seemed to be just a little bit of groceries… while the new and empowered Liza: spent way too little money on what seemed to be a TON of groceries!

I know what you are thinking.  This sounds too good to be true.  You are also thinking that if it is true, and if you can actually save a ton of money, you will have to spend hours and hours doing research, cutting coupons and studying sales flyers, and you just don’t have that kind of time.  Maybe you are a stay at home mom with kids keeping you busy, maybe you work 40 hours a week and come home exhausted, maybe you just couldn’t be bothered with spending the time necessary to really learn how to budget and save. Let me do the hard work for you!  I’ve spent hours learning how to save money!  I can give you the cliff’s notes version!  I also have learned what websites best help me for particular stores.  In other words, there are some sites that give AWESOME sales info for Publix while others focus on CVS or Walgreens… I’ve learned where to go for advice and I will help direct you to the right places!

This will take a bit of work for you to get started.  But don’t be scared.. with a little work up front, it will be very easy in the future.  Your bank account will thank you.  And, your pantry and fridge will thank you!