WHY BOTHER USING COUPONS?
Using coupons can easily shave off 10-20% of your grocery bill. That is an average savings of approximately $800-$1000 per year per family.
If you put your coupon savings into a special savings account, you could start paying off those credit card bills that are weighing down your budget or if you're debt-free, you could have a financially stress-free holiday season this year. Imagine the possibilities!!
WHERE CAN I FIND COUPONS?
Coupons, nowadays, are easily found. The most common way is to go grab your local newspaper's Sunday edition. While you are at it, ask your family and friends for their unused coupons. Throwing them away is the same as throwing good money away.
Next, hit the internet. Online manufacturer's coupons can be found for free at CoolSavings, ValPak, Coupons.com and Target, to name a few. The links can be found for these on the main grocery page and here are some really good ones.
Go directly to your favorite brand's main websites. You can find their websites listed on their products and they will usually have mailing lists available for sending freebies and coupons to your mailing address.
Also, some people like to trade with co-workers or with other moms at their kids' activities. Lastly, there are usually coupons available on pads in the grocery stores next to items they are promoting. Look out for these.
NOW WHAT DO I DO WITH THEM?
Now that you have your coupons, you are going to need to have some kind of system to use them, or they are just going to be a wasted effort and lost money.
A lot of dollar stores sell "coupon holders". In my humble opinion, these are a headache waiting to happen. It is hard to sort through these and see what is available at a glance.
I, personally, like to use a plain, old binder with a couple of plastic baseball card holder sheets inside of it. Just label the sheets with the categories you like. The coupons slide into the pockets and are easy to find and read while shopping. Add a few pieces of notebook paper to the back for jotting your list and notes down. Also, punch holes in your local store flyers and place them into your binder for easy reference.
TIPS FOR MAXIMIZING YOUR SAVINGS
*Do not use a coupon just to use it! If you can get a generic version or another brand name product that is the same for less than you can with your coupon, DON'T use the coupon.
*ALWAYS shop with a list. When your weekly advertised flyers come in the mail, sit down and see what is on sale. PLAN a menu for the week and try to incorporate what's on sale that week with what you are cooking. Stick to your list except with the exception of incredible unadvertised sale items you find in the store while shopping.
*Using coupons on sale items is the way to go. You may even be able to get some items for free this way.
*If your store has a wonderful sale going on for a pantry item you use regularly, stock up. Especially if you have a coupon to go with it. Don't buy more than you will use before it goes bad though. You are NOT saving money if you are throwing away food.
*Know the best prices out there for the items you use most often. Use my version of a price book. Put a sheet of notebook paper into your binder. Put down the side a list of the items you buy most often. Across the top, list the main stores you shop at. Next time you are shopping at one of those stores, jot down the best price that store offers on each product. You don't have to fill it out all at once. Don't stress, it will fill-in as you buy the products. Now, the next time you see an advertised special, you'll know if it really is a good deal.
*If your store doubles or triples coupons on certain days, try to shop during those days. I have found that the stores that usually do this, usually charge more overall by several cents per item, so if you are buying items without a coupon, maybe think of buying them at a different store. Cost-Savers and Aldi's (the bag your own groceries-no frills stores) are pretty good bets for these.
*If your store offered an advertised price on an item and it was sold out when you got there (and not listed in the paper as quantities limited), you can go to the customer service desk and get a "rain check" for that item. This is a great thing. You can then come back and get the item later for the same advertised price. Since you have the extra time, look for a coupon for that item to save even more.
*Eat before you go shopping. You will be less likely to impulse shop and more likely to be able to stick to your budget.
*Watch the Scanner! Incorrect prices being charged for items are common in grocery shopping.
Using coupons can easily shave off 10-20% of your grocery bill. That is an average savings of approximately $800-$1000 per year per family.
If you put your coupon savings into a special savings account, you could start paying off those credit card bills that are weighing down your budget or if you're debt-free, you could have a financially stress-free holiday season this year. Imagine the possibilities!!
WHERE CAN I FIND COUPONS?
Coupons, nowadays, are easily found. The most common way is to go grab your local newspaper's Sunday edition. While you are at it, ask your family and friends for their unused coupons. Throwing them away is the same as throwing good money away.
Next, hit the internet. Online manufacturer's coupons can be found for free at CoolSavings, ValPak, Coupons.com and Target, to name a few. The links can be found for these on the main grocery page and here are some really good ones.
Go directly to your favorite brand's main websites. You can find their websites listed on their products and they will usually have mailing lists available for sending freebies and coupons to your mailing address.
Also, some people like to trade with co-workers or with other moms at their kids' activities. Lastly, there are usually coupons available on pads in the grocery stores next to items they are promoting. Look out for these.
NOW WHAT DO I DO WITH THEM?
Now that you have your coupons, you are going to need to have some kind of system to use them, or they are just going to be a wasted effort and lost money.
A lot of dollar stores sell "coupon holders". In my humble opinion, these are a headache waiting to happen. It is hard to sort through these and see what is available at a glance.
I, personally, like to use a plain, old binder with a couple of plastic baseball card holder sheets inside of it. Just label the sheets with the categories you like. The coupons slide into the pockets and are easy to find and read while shopping. Add a few pieces of notebook paper to the back for jotting your list and notes down. Also, punch holes in your local store flyers and place them into your binder for easy reference.
TIPS FOR MAXIMIZING YOUR SAVINGS
*Do not use a coupon just to use it! If you can get a generic version or another brand name product that is the same for less than you can with your coupon, DON'T use the coupon.
*ALWAYS shop with a list. When your weekly advertised flyers come in the mail, sit down and see what is on sale. PLAN a menu for the week and try to incorporate what's on sale that week with what you are cooking. Stick to your list except with the exception of incredible unadvertised sale items you find in the store while shopping.
*Using coupons on sale items is the way to go. You may even be able to get some items for free this way.
*If your store has a wonderful sale going on for a pantry item you use regularly, stock up. Especially if you have a coupon to go with it. Don't buy more than you will use before it goes bad though. You are NOT saving money if you are throwing away food.
*Know the best prices out there for the items you use most often. Use my version of a price book. Put a sheet of notebook paper into your binder. Put down the side a list of the items you buy most often. Across the top, list the main stores you shop at. Next time you are shopping at one of those stores, jot down the best price that store offers on each product. You don't have to fill it out all at once. Don't stress, it will fill-in as you buy the products. Now, the next time you see an advertised special, you'll know if it really is a good deal.
*If your store doubles or triples coupons on certain days, try to shop during those days. I have found that the stores that usually do this, usually charge more overall by several cents per item, so if you are buying items without a coupon, maybe think of buying them at a different store. Cost-Savers and Aldi's (the bag your own groceries-no frills stores) are pretty good bets for these.
*If your store offered an advertised price on an item and it was sold out when you got there (and not listed in the paper as quantities limited), you can go to the customer service desk and get a "rain check" for that item. This is a great thing. You can then come back and get the item later for the same advertised price. Since you have the extra time, look for a coupon for that item to save even more.
*Eat before you go shopping. You will be less likely to impulse shop and more likely to be able to stick to your budget.
*Watch the Scanner! Incorrect prices being charged for items are common in grocery shopping.
MomsAllStop.com
Love, Laugh, Live
© May 2007 Gretchen Alawneh All rights reserved.
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This website was created using the BlueVoda Website Builder.
Grocery Shopping
Couponing 101
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