… or rescue here for Chez Wilkins. And, no, I won’t go there. But, I don’t have to tell you, times are tough – and call for extreme measures. We are squeezing every penny, and I just have to tell you about my “score” this morning.

I just came back from the grocery store, mostly taking care of Mom’s weekly shopping, but managing to pick up enough to get us through.

Are you ready?!

By shopping sale items and using coupons, I saved $44.50 -AND- netted a coupon for $.40 off per gallon on my next (gas) fill up!!! That’s $125.78 from a $170.28 bill. A 26% savings! Not bad!

This is shopping at a different, and usually higher, grocery store – carefully scouring their ad and taking advantage of their regular double coupons, FIVE triple coupon coupons from their flyer, and a $3.00 off bonus coupon I earned on my last visit there.

It’s hard to break down. But the qualifying purchase for the gas coupon was three value packs of meat. That was $40 worth of ground beef, boneless chicken breast, and country sausage in discounted 5-pound packages for $34. Breaking up the packs and freezer packing netted me 4 packs of cut-up chicken breast, 6 packs of ground beef, and 4 packs of sausage. Ladies and gentlemen, that is 14 meal sized packages for $34 – or $2.43 per meal.

Breaking off the rest of the purchases for our house, I grabbed $30.55 worth of canned goods (kidney beans, cream of mushroom soups, diced tomatoes), a box of Bisquick, 2 dozen eggs, and tissue for $22.90.

My total bill? For a family of four? $59.75! Oh yeah! The only things we will need this week will be bread, milk, and fresh produce, which I pick up as needed.

I am able to do this for several reasons ….

• I watch ads
• I know my prices, so know a “sale” when I see it
• I no longer shop a meal plan, I shop sales, I meal plan from the cupboard and freezer
• I use those stupid “club” cards, and take advantage of their reward programs
• I have very few brand preferences
• I use coupons – based only on items I actually use

This does not work well for mom, who has many brand preferences. Today, her bill was slightly over $72. That’s for a single-person household, for one week. It’s still not bad. Her average bill is $90.

So, now to you – what are you doing to cut costs?