In keeping with our "budget" (and I use that term loosely because we have yet to sit down to do a family budget.  Rather, I do my own individual budget) according to Dave Ramsey I use cash at the grocery store.  By using cash I am not tempted to make impulse purchases.  

I'm sure everyone has heard of "extreme couponing."  I watching an extreme couponing marathon on TV one night in a random hotel room.  It was like a train wreck that I couldn't avert my eyes from.  I don't really get that behavior.  To me it borders on an obsessive compulsive disorder.  I mean, really, how many tubes of toothpaste does one person need?  The best episode I watched that night was of a pastor buying item for his churches food bank.  He bought some ridiculous amount of stuff to the tune of about $2000 and paid basically nothing for it- I don't remember the actual amounts.  It was amazing, but he donated all of it and didn't stock it in his garage.

Anyhoo, I like to use coupons but I find that most coupons are for food that I would never in a gazillion years buy let alone consume.  I've started using the Kroger app on my phone.  I can download digital coupons right to the loyalty card on my phone so there is no forgetting the paper versions on the kitchen counter...yep did that last week.

My budget for food last week was $65.00, it doesn't seem like a lot, but it's summer and we've got a garden full of goodness.  Armed with my shopping list (including a printed coupon list) and my calculator I set off to the market by myself (that is huge because when I shop with a certain little person it takes twice as long and I spend twice as much).  I ended up spending $115.00 but with my loyalty card and the few coupons I did manage to bring, I only spent $64.64.  That is my new personal best when it comes to grocery shopping.

I'm always looking for ideas too, when it comes to shopping, so if you have any let me know!