Money Saving Monday #15

No room addition stories today! (We're not finished yet, but that had a lot to do with the fact I worked out of the house all week, and I was feeling a bit complacent since my computer is in the new space. I haven't really looked at the mess our old office is in!)

Today my "Money Saving Monday" tip is to know your target price when shopping! I used to keep a price list, and while I still think they are a fantastic tool, I confess that when I lost mine in a computer crash I haven't recreated one again.

I do, however, keep some target prices in my head so I know a good deal when I see one. Everyone's target prices will be different -- based on your budget and the area you live in -- but it's a good idea to know what yours are.

I won't spend more than $2.50/box for cereal. That is my target price, and my kids know that as well. Of course, I prefer buying cereal for less than that (coupons help!) but I won't go over.

For packaged cookies, my target price is $2/package. For canned soda, it's $2.50 a 12 pack. For 5 lb bags of sugar, it's $1.50.

When I notice something below my target price, I try to stock up (if I have the room in my budget and my pantry.) Around the holidays, sugar and flour are always discounted, so I try to stock up. I keep the extra flour in the freezer, and the sugar in Tupperware to keep it bug-free.

Target prices don't work for everything. We drink 2 - 3 gallons of milk a week, so while I would love to set a target price for milk, since I buy it every week it can be difficult.

In order to set a target price, you need to know what sale prices and normal prices are in your area, as well as what coupons are usually available for different products. My husband may think he wants to set a target price of $1/box for cereal - but then he would never eat cereal because I have only got it that low once for his favorite cereal in the last few years.

Kashi GOLEAN Crunch! Cereal is my favorite cereal. I was excited last week to find that if I used the code "KASHNTRL" and signed up for Subscribe & Save at Amazon, the per box price was $2.50. I stocked up last time Target had it at that price - but was literally on my last bowl when I found this deal!

Which is another tip - don't limit yourself to grocery stores for food shopping. Target & Amazon sometimes have the best deals for certain items. I find that I can often meet or beat my target price for packaged snack items at Target.