I used to balk at the thought of using coupons, but when we were saving every penny to buy a house, the grocery budget was the only area in which we could cut back. After much trepidation, I began to see that I couldn’t afford not to clip! Here are a few valuable tips that I’ve learned:• Buy 2 papers, or ask a friend or neighbor to save their coupons for you.
• Use store coupons (the kind that print out at the register) with manufacturer’s coupons for the same item.
*Example: This week, I found a bottle of vitamins on sale at Kroger for $3 (reg. retail $17). I had a store coupon for this product for $2.50 and a manufacturer’s coupon from the paper for $5. I used both coupons, thus getting the vitamins for free and then getting paid $4.50!!
• Clip and save all of the coupons from your paper, even if the items are not necessarily things you normally buy. Nothing is more rewarding than finding that expensive luxury item you would never buy, marked down and practically free because you saved the coupon!
• Combine coupons with store sales for deeper discounts.
*Example: Last week, Rotel tomatoes were on sale for .49/can. I had a .30 coupon, which doubled to .60, which means that the store paid me .11!
• Utilize printable coupons online and clip-free coupons. Clip-free coupons, or loadable coupons are coupons that you can find online and simply “load” onto your shopper card. These coupons will be used instantly when your card is scanned at the store. Remember, stores will often allow you to combine these coupons with their store coupons.
• While you’re shopping, keep an eye out for the coupon dispensers in the aisles. Make a point to grab one or two even if you’re not buying the product that day.
*Example: Kraft shredded cheese was priced at $1 for an 8oz. bag, which is a steal unto itself. However, I noticed that there was a coupon dispenser at the edge of the cheese for .75 off of the Kraft cheese that was on sale. So, do the math! I got 7 bags of Kraft shredded cheese for .25 each!!
*Example: Kraft shredded cheese was priced at $1 for an 8oz. bag, which is a steal unto itself. However, I noticed that there was a coupon dispenser at the edge of the cheese for .75 off of the Kraft cheese that was on sale. So, do the math! I got 7 bags of Kraft shredded cheese for .25 each!!
• Clip and save all of the coupons from your paper, even if the items are not necessarily things you normally buy. Nothing is more rewarding than finding that expensive luxury item you would never buy, marked down and practically free because you saved the coupon!
• Stay organized. Find what system works for you and stick with it. I use a small accordion-style organizer that fits in my purse and my coupons are organized by aisle. My sister uses a baseball card organizer so that she can see them all at once.
• Shop through every aisle. Yes, this sounds tedious, but you’ll get the hang of it. You don’t have to look at every item, just glance around to make sure you aren’t missing items that may be marked down. My average shopping trip takes 30 minutes with a 2 year old in tow.
• Check out the reduced bins. Some stores have a designated area for reduced items. You can find amazing bargains in these!
• Know the color of your store’s mark down tags. My store’s tags are orange, so I keep an eye out for orange tags.
