Analyzing the ads

Where we are, the ads come in the mail every Tuesday or Wednesday.    The Fred Meyer ( Kroger) ad comes in the Sunday paper.    Winco has no ad.   Favado is an ap for your phone or  computers that is supposed to tell you the ad prices on some things. It is not always accurate. But, it also tells you where to find coupons that match the ad prices.   No all the coupons are available on our area, but it is a starting point.  

Start by getting a good feel for the things on your stock list that you are running low on.   Take a quick inventory of your perishables and write  them on your meal plan sheet.    Now let's go over the ads .   You are looking for  anything that you need to buy to replenish your stock and perishable that
You need to fill out your meals.  Circle or mark the things that are in your list.    

For example. Safeways has coffee for 7.99.
Sour cream, 24 ounces is 2.99 ( cross off,mots 1.25 for 16 ounces at QFC)
Tuna, bumblebee is 3/5 ( cross off, it's 1.00 at QFC)
DiGiorno pizza is 2/9. ( cross off , it's 3.99 at QFC)
20 percent ground beef is 3.99 ( cross off its 3.99 for 7 percent at Fred Meyers.)


QFC has
DIGiorno pizza for 3.99 - note there are coupons 150 off on 2 , or buy two get one free, and no they are not stackable.
Cheese 5.99. Cross off, it's 2.08 a pound  at Costco.  
Sour cream 16 ounces 1.25
Oranges .69
Ground turkey 2.99
Berries 2/5
Cheese, 8 ounces  1.99 cross off its 2.08 a pound at Costco.

Ok, as you look at the ads, and cross off anything that is cheaper elsewhere.  You will soon see a picture of the best grocery store that will  give you what you need for the best price.
In this case, I don't  have the Fred Meyers ad to compare.   I am using last weeks ads.  

Seeing the prices, I would pick QFC and Fred Meyers.  analyze the stores.   Pick two stores that have the best buys for the things that you need.

 Some stores are notorious for having good prices on some things. Knowing that in advance,  pick two stores that have the best buys for the things that you need.  If you pick two stores a week and plan your trip  you can be more effective with your gas. We choose to go to Costco  on an as needed basis.   Costco is my go to store for grated cheese, oatmeal, bacon, bananas,  tortillas, butter, and sometimes sour cream. We go to the dollar tree and grocery outlet when we are in the area.  They usually have a fill in things  so we don't need to make a special trip. Dollar tree has yummy shortbread cookies with chocolate, french fries, and hand soap.     Grocery outlet is a good source for cheese, mostly sliced, but sometimes they have grated cheese cheaper than Costco.    I always also look for coffee and Foster Farms boneless skinless chicken breast.

 Winco has a lower prices  many things.  Sometimes,  I go to Winco first and then Fill in what is cheaper at the other stores.

When I go to the stores,  I am looking for the perishable fruits and vegetables we will need for the week.   I am also looking for a loss leader so to speak of a protein.   I want to buy a meat or other protein in bulk.    I want to buy enough of that meat to feed us that type of meat for a month.    It's other words, if we use a pound of ground beef per meal and we eat ground beef once a week ,I will
buy 4 pounds. When I get it home, or the next day, I will batch cook it and divide it into portion controlled packets.    I might rotate between

1. Ground beef or turkey ( around 3-3.50 a lb) 
2. Whole chicken ( 1.00 or less for foster farms) 
3. 5 -10 pounds of grated cheese- ( as close to 2.00 a pound I can get) 
4. pork loin or tenderloin ( 2.00 or less for the loin, five dollars for the tenderloin. 
5. White fish or shrimp, ( five dollars a pack for shrimp. ) 

On any shopping trip. I am looking for inexpensive prices on dairy and produce, a loss leader protein for the week, and anything in my stock list that is at a RBP.   

Thanks for stopping by

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