What do you base your savings on?

[savingmomof3kids]

Do you base your savings on the original price of something or the sales price?

If I go by the original price I average about 50%. That is with matching sale items with my coupons.

I am spending a little less weekly on groceries than I did prior by matching sales with coupons, however I see that I am getting more for my money.

[$Saving!]

For me, I use a spreadsheet and enter my receipts on there.

The spreadsheet has the following columns:

date
spent
coupons used
store discount (sale savings)
total saved (combination of coupons/sale savings)
total saved and spent (retail value of goods purchased)

[fluttervale]

Original, if the receipt shows it. Otherwise I don't always know.

[amylynne01]

Original. If something was on sale, then I count its regular price. I don't count money I saved by using generics or shopping at different stores in my savings.

[kristinnm]

I base it on the retail/original price, but the final price has to still beat the rock-bottom price, too. For example, my rock-bottom on toilet paper is 16¢ a roll, because I used to buy the cheapo stuff for that at Walmart. If I could get Charmin for 75% off but it still cost 50¢ a roll, I wouldn't consider that a deal (so I would pass) if that makes sense. But if that 75% off Charmin came to something like 20¢ a roll, I'd probably go for it. I actually got Angel Soft in a deal for 16¢ a roll a few weeks ago - but it's rare to hit that, so I usually get free TP from the gas station - for filling up on Wednesdays!

I only mention that criteria because a lot of coupon naysayers think we are fooling ourselves with "savings" on brand names because they think we'd buy something when even on sale and with a coupon it's more than generic/store brands and call it a "deal" - which isn't true. I'll only buy the brand name if it's a better deal than the generic/store brand I used to buy!

Of course, store brands aren't always the best "deal" either. A couple of weeks ago I got a bundle deal on Quaker oatmeal packets. The Quaker was regularly $3.09 for 10 packets and the store brand was $2.59. I calculated the per ounce, because the packets were smaller for the store brand and figured out that the Quaker was actually still a better deal at full price. But taking advantage of the bundle - $3 each WYB 8 and get $5 instant off and free milk & eggs - which was like paying $1.75 for the Quaker!

[cody82414]

I use the sale price,
because, let's face it
who buys at full price????

I include my coupon savings (which IMO includes when I actually spend/use ecbs or RRs).

no double dipping
no jacked up prices

[qshoppinggirl]

sale price for me too.

[kristinnm]

I used to buy stuff at full price all of the time! I've found that most people do (as I've talked to people since I started couponing.) The name brand stuff I get the best deals on now were always capriciously added to the list before "as needed" without regard to sales or I bought generic/store brand - like deodorant, shampoo, detergent, paper products and other HBC stuff and cooking supplies like cooking soups, mixes, etc. I'd get the stuff on sale if it was, but I was guilty of buying the stuff in the list above full price if I needed it. Now I wouldn't dream of doing that, LOL!

[$Saving!]

I used to buy stuff at full price all of the time! I've found that most people do (as I've talked to people since I started couponing.) The name brand stuff I get the best deals on now were always capriciously added to the list before "as needed" without regard to sales or I bought generic/store brand - like deodorant, shampoo, detergent, paper products and other HBC stuff and cooking supplies like cooking soups, mixes, etc. I'd get the stuff on sale if it was, but I was guilty of buying the stuff in the list above full price if I needed it. Now I wouldn't dream of doing that, LOL!

Amazing savings, isn't it?

And if you truly look at all your "grocery budget" items, you realize that a HUGE portion of the budget is spent on non-food items, cleaners, paper goods, personal care products etc. So if you save only on those items alone it makes a very big difference over the course of one year!