Grocery Smarts

Grocery Smarts is a great tool that a lot of shoppers use. It allows you to create a printable custom shopping list for each store, lets you know which deals are hot (and how hot), and directs you towards the coupons you'll need for the sales. To get started simply click the logo below:

 Once you get there, use the drop-down menu to select your desired store (in our area - Walmart, Smiths, Albertsons, Harmons, Kmart, Lins, Rite Aid, Target, Walgreens). You then press the "Start" button at the top, click on the items you want to add to your shopping list, and click "Shrink" when you are done. Then you can click the print button to print your shopping list to bring to the store. Use the right-hand column to see what coupon match-ups you'll need (this column will also point you to where you can print applicable coupons). Then go back to the home page and do the same for the next store you want to shop. 

I have to confess, I don't use Grocery Smarts. I've played around with it and I can see why some people love it, but for some reason it just doesn't appeal to me (it might be my knee-jerk reaction against printing out my grocery list - I've always been very frugal with how much I print). Also, I question some of their star ratings. Some sales that they list as 5-stars aren't 5-star worthy, in my opinion. I do think it's a great tool, however, especially for beginners.