I originally wrote this Extreme Couponing 101 post back when the TLC show Extreme Couponing had everyone talking about people walking out of the grocery store with carts full of groceries for almost nothing.
Couponing looks a lot different today than it did back then. We have digital coupons, store apps, loyalty rewards and cashback offers that weren’t part of the way most of us were couponing years ago.
But one thing hasn’t changed. You don’t have to become an extreme couponer with a huge stockpile to save money on groceries.
I’ve always believed that having the right frame of mind and knowing how to use the savings available to you can make a real difference in your grocery budget. The goal isn’t to buy things just because you have a coupon. It’s to save money on the things your family actually needs.
I also learned a long time ago that extreme couponing isn’t always a good thing. I shared some of my thoughts about the dangers of Extreme Couponing after the original show aired, and I still think there’s a difference between saving money and buying things just because they’re cheap.
Here are the 15 steps I recommend if you want to get started saving money with coupons today.
15 Couponing Tips to Help You Save Money
1. Change Your Financial Perspective
Couponing works best when the goal is to spend less, not just to get the biggest discount.
A great deal on something you don’t need is still money you didn’t need to spend. Start by looking at your grocery budget and deciding what you’re actually trying to accomplish. Maybe you want to lower your grocery bill, build a small pantry stockpile or free up money for another financial goal.
2. Let Go of Being a Brand Loyal Shopper
Being willing to switch brands can open up a lot more opportunities to save.
Instead of automatically reaching for the same brand every time, compare the final price after sales, coupons, store rewards and cashback offers. You might find that another brand is the better deal that week.
Of course, there are some things we all have a favorite brand of, and that’s okay too.
3. Start Menu Planning
Meal planning is still one of my favorite ways to save money on groceries.
Before you shop, look at what you already have and then check the week’s sales and available offers. Build your meals around those foods whenever you can.
This helps you use the coupons and deals that actually make sense for your family instead of buying random things just because they’re on sale.
4. Learn the Coupon Lingo
Couponing has changed a lot since I first started, and today you’ll probably hear terms like digital coupon, manufacturer coupon, store coupon, loyalty reward and cashback offer.
You don’t need to learn everything at once. Start with the savings programs at the stores where you already shop and learn how those work first.
5. Map Out a Plan of Action
Before you head to the store, make a plan.
Check the weekly ad, look through the digital coupons in the store’s app or website, see what rewards are available and make your shopping list.
I also like knowing which deals I’m specifically going after before I walk into the store. It makes it much easier to stay focused and avoid buying things I didn’t plan for.
6. Gather Your Coupons and Offers
Years ago this meant clipping coupons from the newspaper and printing coupons at home. Today, a lot of the savings you’ll find are digital.
Check your store’s app or loyalty account for digital coupons and store offers. You can also look for manufacturer coupons and cashback offers that apply to things already on your shopping list.
Just remember that coupon policies vary by store, especially when it comes to combining different offers.
7. Don’t Chase Every Deal
I used to recommend shopping at as many stores as possible, but I don’t think that’s always the best advice anymore.
Driving across town to save a couple dollars can cost you more in gas and time than you actually save.
Choose the stores that consistently have the best deals for the things your family buys and concentrate most of your effort there. If another store has an especially good deal that makes the extra trip worthwhile, then go for it.
8. Learn Your Store’s Savings Policies
Coupon rules aren’t the same everywhere.
Stores have different policies for digital coupons, manufacturer coupons, store offers, rewards, price matching and other promotions. Even pickup and delivery orders can sometimes have different rules.
If you’re unsure whether two offers can be used together, check that retailer’s current coupon or promotion policy before planning your deal.
9. Learn How Drugstore Rewards Work
Drugstores can still be a great place to save on things like toiletries, personal care products and household essentials.
The biggest savings often come from combining sale prices with eligible coupons and store rewards. The important thing is learning the rewards program for the store you use instead of assuming every drugstore works the same way.
Start with one store and learn that program before trying to keep track of several at once.
10. Look for Marked Down Meat and Bread
Don’t forget about clearance and marked down foods when you’re shopping.
Many stores discount meat, bakery items and other foods as they get closer to their sell by or best by dates. If it’s something your family will use soon or you can safely freeze for later, these markdowns can be a great way to save without using a coupon at all.
11. Know Your Stock Up Prices
A stock up price is the price that’s low enough that you’re willing to buy a little extra to use later.
Those prices have changed a lot over the years, so instead of relying on an old stock up price list, pay attention to what the foods and household products you buy regularly cost in your area.
Over time, you’ll start recognizing when a sale is actually a good deal.
And remember, you don’t need a room full of groceries. Buy enough to get your family through until that item is likely to go on sale again.
12. Don’t Shop Hungry
This one hasn’t changed!
Shopping when you’re hungry makes everything look good and can make it much harder to stick to your list.
Eat before you shop whenever you can. Your grocery budget will thank you.
13. Buy Produce That’s in Season
Seasonal produce can often be a great value, especially when stores have an abundance of it.
Build some of your meals and snacks around fruits and vegetables that are priced well that week instead of buying the exact same produce year round regardless of the price.
14. Keep a Running List
Keep a grocery list somewhere that’s easy to update throughout the week.
Add things when you’re getting low instead of waiting until you’re completely out. This gives you time to watch for a sale or coupon instead of having to pay whatever the price happens to be when you desperately need something.
I also like checking my pantry, refrigerator and freezer before I shop so I don’t accidentally buy something I already have.
15. Allow for Wiggle Room
You don’t have to coupon perfectly to save money.
Sometimes the coupon won’t work. Sometimes the sale item will be gone. Sometimes you’ll need something that isn’t on sale at all.
That’s real life.
Give yourself some wiggle room in your grocery budget and focus on what you’re saving overall instead of feeling like every single thing in your cart has to be the absolute lowest price.
You Don’t Have to Be an Extreme Couponer
You probably won’t walk out of the grocery store with hundreds of dollars in groceries for almost nothing like we used to see on Extreme Couponing, and that’s okay.
The goal isn’t to become an extreme couponer.
It’s learning how to shop intentionally, use the savings that are available to you and keep more money in your budget for the things that matter to you.
That’s what I’ve always liked to call Expert Couponing.
And if you’re curious about the extreme couponing craze that inspired this post in the first place, you can also read my interview with one of the original Extreme Couponers from the show, Nathan Engels, also known as Mr. Coupon.
