Saving money at the grocery store. It isn't always about coupons.

I saw this today and it had the usual suggestions - some of which I take issue with. But watch first:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I like to coupon - when it makes sense to do so. But if you are really shopping the perimeter of the store, as health experts and those telling us to save money say, then what good are the coupons? Each time the coupons show up in the Wednesday newspaper, I diligently look through them, and then toss them.

When it comes right down to it, I don’t buy the highly processed foods that the vast majority of coupons are selling. There are damn few ‘coupons’ on fresh fruits and veggies, or whole grains. If you’re shopping for Pampers, it’s one thing, but to buy some salt, chemical and fat laden faux food with a coupon is false economy.

Changing what you would otherwise buy, just to use a coupon, is allowing the factory faux food industry to take control of what your family eats, and your spending habits. That’s crap.

I went to the store today for both groceries and household items. For the toilet tissue and paper products, I go to Costco. I’ve priced that out, and the Quilted Northern is the best buy for what my family prefers. The same for some cleaning products, laundry detergents and pain relievers/supplements. The basics.

I’ve long ago disabused myself of the notion that Costco is a bargain on everything. It’s only a bargain if you can reasonably use it in time before it goes bad, or you simply get sick of it. And buying large quantities of highly processed, salt, fat and chemical laden, faux factory food in restaurant size quantities at Costco prices is another false economy that I’m not falling for.

Otherwise, since the bulk of my grocery buying occurs on the perimeter of the store - fresh meat, veggies, bread, dairy - I simply keep up to speed on what it should cost. Quite frankly, paying more for much better produce is a no-brainer in my book. I realize I can buy a head of red cabbage for less at Winco, but if I don’t need anything else there, why would I do that? The half gallon 1% lowfat 365 house brand of milk at Whole Foods is $1.99, the house brand of whole wheat bread is $2.99 a loaf. The Heritage flakes cereal is only $2.99 a box, and the Natures Path Flax cereal is $2.89. These prices haven’t changed more than pennies in the last year. The super-duper premium 32-ounce, plain Bulgarian yogurt is $4.79. Hasn’t changed in forever.

The only strategy that makes sense in a case like this is making a damn list and sticking to it as best as you can. When you walk into that store, be on a ‘mission’. Don’t be a browser. Don’t shop like a man. Then for the ‘bulk bin’ stuff, I make a special trip to Winco.

I realize that if we were ‘living’ on the minimum wage here at Rancho Maven, my shopping habits would be different - but actually not as much as you might think. I still buy and store bags of potatoes and onions from Winco, and buy most of my  whole grains/beans/whole wheat pasta out of the bins. The difference would be the impulse buys of fancy-schmancy things, fresh fish and better quality meats.

Today, I was on a dead run to get through a list of errands that you couldn’t jump over. To make one more stop - at Winco - to save a few dollars simply wasn’t worth my time or rising stress level.

One thing that I have started doing is signing up for the customer loyalty cards everywhere that offers them. We shop at CVS pharmacy a lot. All of our prescriptions get filled there. I also end up stopping at Safeway near my mom’s retirement home to shop for her. You bet I use the loyalty cards. And the same goes for Petco and Office Depot.

I did make a special stop - and only because it was right on my way home - at the European Food Emporium. Most of their fresh stuff is hugely overpriced, but it’s the only place I can get the rabbit sausages. Oh, they are soooo damn good in a soup or stew with mushrooms, and I’m not gonna tell you what they cost. Two packages went into the freezer, along with a small package of real Cajun style Tasso ham.

The point here is that I make choices. I can make those sausages go a very long way in a meal, and the same with the Tasso.

The grocery savings game will be different for everybody, but I think I’ve got it down for us.

-maven