Why I don't agree with "22 ways to save as food prices increase" in today's Des Moines Register

Did you see the "Tips to save on food" column in today's Des Moines Register on page 4E?  There's some good advice such as eating at home more, planning meals, etc. but there were a few suggestions that a smart couponing shopper knows as conventional wisdom, but that just won't work for you, you smart couponer!

Plan your meals so that you buy only the food you know you'll need.  Why?  When you need that same item next week or 2 weeks later, and it isn't on sale any longer, you're going to pay full price for it.  Why not stock up on that item when it's at its rock bottom price, then the next time, or the next 5+ times you need it, you'll have it on hand, having paid the price you want to pay for it, not the price the store wants you to pay for it!

Watch ads and clip coupons.  But only buy the items you use regularly.  I can agree with the first part, and can sort of agree with the second part, but say you occassionally will eat hot dogs or occassionally will use various baking supplies.  Doesn't it make sense to buy those items, in limited quantities based on your usage, when they are at their rock bottom price?  When the store has sugar on sale for 99c and you have a 50c off 1 coupon, wouldn't you rather buy your one bag of sugar you use per year when you can get it for 49c rather then wait until it is no longer in its sales cycle and you have to pay $3.00+ for it?  Think about the shelf life that item has.  Or...can it be frozen?

It's generally less expensive and more efficient to shop at one nearby store with reasonable prices than trying to hit up three or four stores with deals.  It takes time and fuel to go to different stores.  Isn't this how Wal-Mart convinced us all to shop there exclusively when their prices aren't even that cheap?  Why pay the $3.00 that Wal-Mart wants for toothpaste when you can get it free at CVS or Walgreen's?  While it does take a little extra time to make the extra stops, the money you can save by doing this is tremendous.  I try to make stops when I'm in the area, or if that doesn't work for me, I make a logical plan to make a big circle, hitting the stores I need to stop at.  I'm sure it does cost a tiny bit more in fuel, but the savings more than make up for it!  BTW, did those of you on the S.W. side see that you have a CVS coming in where Happy Joe's and Bonanza used to be?  Consider yourself blessed, even Des Moines doesn't have a single CVS store!  CR is going to have 3!!!

Shop the perimeter of the store where the fresh meats, produce, dairy, and bakery are.  The inside aisles are home to prepared foods, which generally are more expensive.  Good advice, but not for the reason given.  The perimeter of the store is where you'll find the more natural, less processed foods which is better for your health, but the foods on the inside aisles are frequently the foods you'll find coupons for.  Tuna, canned tomatoes, oatmeal and other no sugar added cereals, seasonings...they're all in the inner aisles and are some of the healthier things that you can buy with coupons there.

Compare unit prices instead of marked prices...but don't forget to subtract your coupon first!!!

Buy the cheaper instead of name brand.  The cheaper, store versions don't have coupons.  If you're buying within the sales cycle, you're going to find the name brand with a coupon and any in store promotion is going to be cheaper than the store brand by far!

OK, off my soap box now!  LOL!