Now this is one of the most important things you’ll learn when it comes to saving big at the grocery store.
Coupons are your friend.
Seriously though, they can save you big IF you learn how to use them.
So, here are a few quick tips to help you understand those little pieces of paper and just how valuable they can be when used properly.
1. Most stores will double your coupon.
What this means is that if you have a coupon for $.50 off and your store doubles coupons up to $.50, that coupon is really going to be a $1.00 off. Also, check around because some grocery stores actually double up to a dollar. In fact I get most of my boxed cereal from Oakridge when it’s on sale for $1.99 and I have a coupon for $1.00 off because I know that once they double it, that box of cereal is free for me to walk out of the store with. Of course each store has their own coupon policy, so it’s a good idea to find out exactly what it is before you go so there will be no surprises.
2. Most coupons need to be saved.
I don’t mean indefinitely obviously since they expire. However many times the coupons I cut from my Sunday paper will work better for me if I wait a week or two. This is a key to making coupons work for you. You have to wait until the item on the coupon goes on sale before you use that coupon. Here’s an insider tip: the coupons you cut out today will generally be the same products that the store will have on sale over the next few weeks. If you use that $.50 coupon on ketchup today while it’s full price at $1.99 you still end up paying for it. But, if you wait a week or two the ketchup will be on sale somewhere for $1.00 making it completely free with that same $.50 coupon.
3. You need to come up with a filing system.
Trust me, once you start to acquire some coupons, it won’t be long before you will have more than you know what to do with. Coming up with a great way to organize your coupons that works well for you is imperative to continuing down the road to keep you from becoming discouraged. I’ll share my system with you next week.
4. Remember every little bit adds up.
It may not seem like a $.50 coupon is all that big of a deal. But if you learn to use these coupons properly, you’ll see that they all add up. I love walking out of the store knowing that I’ve made the best use of the money we have been given. Looking at your receipt it will tell you how much you have saved and that’s where you’ll see all those quarters really do add up quickly!
5. Start!
This is the biggest step to making coupons work. You must start. So here are a few of my favorite resources for finding the best coupons.
- The Sunday Newspapers are full of coupons. Be sure to check out the whole paper, not just the inserts.
- Look for the little coupon machines while you are in the grocery store. You’ll find them on the aisle shelves.
- If you send away for the freebies I list here regularly, they almost always send coupons along with the freebies.
- The internet has a huge selection of sites with printable coupons that you can’t get in the Newspaper.
- If there is a product that you just love, check their website to see if they have coupons available.
Some of my favorite sites for finding printable coupons are:
RedPlum
Coupons.com
Cool Savings
P&G Everyday Solutions
Cellfire - (Coupons that are loaded onto your store loyalty card)
Shopping with coupons is kind of a strategy game, one that you’ll get better at the more you play.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Great tips! I for one would love to live in a town where stores doubled coupons. So far I can’t find one here in Baton Rouge. I haven’t quit searching yet but I would be one happy mama if I could find one!
.-= Amy Bayliss´s last blog ..Welcome to my “Stuck in the 80s” Kitchen =-.
Double coupons make a huge difference in the amount you can save with coupons!
I hope you are able to find a store that doubles soon!
I’ve just started in the coupon game, having clipped before, but only for items I need to use that week. Now I plan around the store ad, newspaper coupons and in-store coupons. Honestly, as much work as it is, I find it fun and a challenge! Thanks for a great post!
I need to find out what stores do that here in town, as I haven’t found yet.
Another tip, to keep things manageable. Don’t clip coupons for stuff you KNOW you won’t eat. For example, due to a food allergy I always make our own frosting and just skip over the Betty Crocker coupons. AND, clip every health/hygiene coupon if you are not brand loyal, because Walgreens and CVS run loss leader deals and you can get them for free!
Every little bit adds up.
Let’s say you saved $8 on one shopping trip (I did that at Meijer last week), $5 on another shopping trip (a recent Kroger trip). So it’s very easy to show how a couple with no kids at home (my daughter is in college) could clip $25 to $30 a month off the supermarket bill. And my stores double coupons only up to 50 cents even though I’m not all that far from where Kristie lives.
Now, what would YOU do with an extra $30 a month in your pocket?
.-= Monroe on a Budget´s last blog ..10 tricks for a household cash flow crisis =-.
Every little bit counts!
Meijer & Kroger are my regular stores and they only double coupons up to 50 cents too.
I am able to shop at Oak Ridge occasionally where they’ll double up to $1.00, but I still only shop there for the things I can get on sale and use a coupon to get them almost free or free. Otherwise the rest of the stuff in the store is extremely over priced.