Thursday, August 12, 2010

Is Buying Store Brands Really Saving You Money?

I've heard it a million times...

"You can save more buying the store brand than using coupons."  

Really?  Yesterday I set out to test this theory with just a few items that are on sale this week at Publix and Bi-Lo.  Do you really save more when buying store brands versus pairing a coupon up with a sale for the National Brand products?  Here's what I found...

PUBLIX
Prego Spaghetti Sauce (BOGO) - $1.24
Using the $1/2 printable - 74¢
Publix Brand Tomato, Garlic, & Onion Spaghetti Sauce - $1.59
Buy the National Brand with a coupon and save 85¢!


Ken's Salad Dressing 24oz (BOGO) - $1.99
Using the $1 OFF coupon from SS 8/15 - 99¢
Publix Chunky Blue Cheese Salad Dressing 24oz - $2.69
Buy the National Brand with a coupon and save $1.70!


Del Monte Fruit Cups 4pk (BOGO) - $1.31
Using the $1 OFF Target competitor printable - 31¢
Publix Fruit Cups 4pk - $2.29
Buy the National Brand with a coupon and save $1.98!


Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner (BOGO) - 56¢
Using the 55¢/2 printable that was recently available - 29¢
Publix Macaroni & Cheese Dinner - 79¢
Buy the National Brand with a coupon and save 50¢!




BI-LO
Campbell's Chicken Noodle/Tomato Soup - 34¢
Using the 50¢/2 printable - 9¢ each
Southern Home Chicken Noodle/Tomato Soup - 84¢
Buy the National Brand with a coupon and save 75¢!


French's Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce (BOGO) - $1.29
Using the 50¢ OFF from SS 6/6 - 29¢
Southern Home Sweet Honey Mustard Sauce - $1.69
Buy the National Brand with a coupon and save $1.40!


Texas Toast Croutons - $1.25
Using 55¢ OFF from SS 5/16 - 15¢
Southern Home Restaurant Style Croutons - $1.19
Buy the National Brand with a coupon and save $1.04!


Chef Boyardee - $1
Using the $1/5 from the June All You Magazine - 80¢ ea
Southern Home Cheese Ravioli - 99¢
Buy the National Brand with a coupon and save 19¢!


Kraft 24oz Ranch Salad Dressing - $3.59
Using the 55¢ printable - $2.49
Southern Home 24oz Ranch Salad Dressing - $3.15
Buy the National Brand with a coupon and save 66¢!


The key to maximizing your savings here is to change your thinking about shopping.  This is the major difference between a super-couponer and one who only clips coupons every now and again.  Saving 50¢ at the checkout line is not what we're after.  Saving 50% (or more) is our goal!  

Most grocery stores rotate their sales ads on a 6-8 week basis. Buy enough of that 9¢ Campbell's soup to get you through until you see it's going back on sale!  Buy what you need when it's on sale, and you can match it up with a coupon to maximize your savings.  If you wait and only buy something when you need it, you are letting the retailer choose how much you'll pay.  If you buy at rock-bottom prices and stock up, you get to choose how much you are willing to pay.  

So grab those newspapers, clip those coupons, and start saving - and to save the most, you can even buy the National Brand!  

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