Many have emailed and asked about my Grocery price book. Well, now that I am on a diet, I have started a NEW price book, and will need about 12 weeks to compile all of the correct information. I actually gave my old price book to my sister, so that, out of cheapness, I would not be tempted to eat the junk I used to eat. Now, if you want to create your OWN price book, here are my suggestions.

Update:  Click here to download a free, printable version of my grocery price book!

1. Go to the same grocery store, all of the time, unless you see a really, really, low price advertised for a product at another store.
2. Get familiar with the items you want to buy, and be sure that the store you are shopping at has those products. (Duh!)
3. “Deals” and “specials” are not always good deals nor are they always special. This is what your price book is for!
4. Prices for products usually cycle every 12 to 15 weeks, so when you go into the store, take a calculator, a small note-book, and a pen.
5. Write down the item, and the price, plus the price per oz, foot, sheet, whatever. The price per is the most IMPORTANT information. You will want to know if the 36 or the 72 ounce is the best deal. If using coupons, it is sometime CHEAPER to buy the smaller item. Without coupons, it is USUALLY, but not always, cheaper to buy the bigger item.
6. It will take about 3 months to get a good idea of the cycle of prices.
7. Wal-Snart is a good place to compare prices. My opinion? I hate the place. I would NEVER purchase meat there. Gross. BUT, they do have okay prices, and they are everywhere.
8. I go to Kroger, and I have found that much of the stuff they put on sale is MUCH cheaper than Wal-Snart’s REGULAR prices, but, Kroger’s regular prices are MUCH higher than Wal-Mart’s regular prices. Understand? That’s why you must learn the following point.
9. STOCK UP! After 3 months or so, you will have a “feeling” when a product hits its ultimate “low”. Stock up. Buy as many of the item as you will need, usually a 3 months supply (until the low comes around again!). This works really well with detergents, can goods, and other non-perishables.
10. Fruit and fresh veggies go up and down with season. You might find a local grocer or farmer who can get you a better deal on these items.

There you go, that’s how I do it. We buy about 50 or so regular items, and I keep a price check on all of them. They are my list. I am developing an excel spreadsheet for my new way of eating, and will post my findings when I go shopping tomorrow.

Edit: One of the best things I ever did, to get an idea of value or whatever, was to go into Wal-Snart with my price book and wrote THEIR price for the items I wanted. I use this as a “measuring” stick against the other prices, to see if I am getting a good deal or not. Here are 3 things that I always find cheaper at Wal-Snart: Pringle’s, Campbell’s Chili, and Bread. Almost everything else, Kroger will eventually put on sale for cheaper.