Feeling Stressed?

Does this look like you when you Grocery shop? Hopefully without the dog! I have some people come up to me and say, "I just can't do it, its too stressful!" I have some simple tips to help you out!

1-Start with a small list, go to the store and stock up on just a few items. Don't overwhelm yourself with a 2 page grocery list. Check out my shopping trip HERE that was simple, easy, and rewarding (cause i saved so much).
2-Leave the little ones at home. Until your better at the Grocery Smarts process, don't bring your children with you to the store. Even if you have to go later in the evening or early in the morning, it's worth the peace and quiet while you work your magic!
3-Don't chase deals all over town. Just choose one store and stick with it. Remember, everything goes on sale every 3-6 months in a store, so just be patient and you'll see the sale come to your store eventually.
4-Set reasonable expectations for yourself. Know why you are doing this. Is it to save for a trip, pay off debt, save money for a special purchase, to pay the water bill, to give your family a little wiggle room in the budget or to help ease the burden of a spouse's job loss or wage reduction? Maybe you are a student family and just need every penny. Know your expectations, know your personal limits and try to find a happy medium of the two.
5-Start scaling back when you can. Most of us start out gangbusters the first few months stocking up on everything that's 4 and 5 stars. If there's an average sale week, just relax a bit and just buy perishables that week. There have been weeks go by that I didn't stock up. Of course I've been doing this for over a year now so I can do that, but it's nice to take a week or two off if you feel overwhelmed.
6-Stay organized. Keep your coupon organizer up to date, don't get behind. There's nothing worse having to organize yourself before you can clip coupons. Remember it should only be taking you minutes on Sunday to slip your coupons in your organizer. I love it when my file is current and I can print, clip, and go!
7- Plan Ahead. Take those few minutes after your list is printed and your coupons are cut to tell yourself how many of each item you are gonna buy. Pay attention to the sales/Promos. To maximize your dollar stay within the guidelines of the promos for that week. This can all be done before you leave.
8- Track your savings. Keep track of your monthly budget and savings. Print off one on my blog on the right side. When you can literally see a difference in your monthly spendings it is so rewarding that it makes the little stress here and there worth it!