Trust me, I think coupon clipping is boring. However, after reading quite a few blogs, I was intrigued how much money could be saved when you match coupons with store sales. In fact, I was annoyed that since I worked a busy 9-5 job, I never stopped to even look at how much money I spent on food!
My hubby and I would run into the grocery store and buy whatever we wanted. We had no budget and we just grabbed what we thought we needed. I can remember many times where we threw away a bunch of food because we just forgot we even had it. I felt so wasteful...
With a renewed goal of meal planning and using coupons, I started saving $200 a month, and now I save close to $350. This extra money goes straight to our savings; and it feels so empowering to stock away money!!
We live in a society of "buy now, save later!"... people rack up their credit cards and pay them off little by little. Recent statistics show that people save less and spend more. We decided to do the opposite. Save, save, save, and spend only when needed. No credit card spending unless we pay the balance off immediately.
Savings may be small in the beginning but with knowledge, time, and lots of practice, coupon shoppers are saving a ton. Even if you don't NEED to budget, just think of what you can use your extra money for!
Recently we had our well (we don't have city water) die on us. It was an unexpected $2600 out the window. We had been keeping our savings so high that it didn't even stress us out. It felt great.
Start Collecting Coupons.
Right now I subscribe to my local town's sunday newspaper. Each week there are usually two different coupon inserts in metropolitan newspapers with a third insert available once a month. Soon I will bump up to two subscriptions, because extra coupons enables a shopper to take advantage of the great deals in bulk. This helps build a big food pantry. I use to think a large food pantry was wasteful, but really it is just the opposite. Once you have built up a nice stockpile, you can "shop" from your own pantry! It also makes you take an inventory of what you already have before you go shopping.
Another great source of coupons is the internet. Printable coupons and coupon offers can be found at many manufacturer and coupon related websites. Here are a few:
- http://www.coupons.com/
- http://www.redplum.com/
- https://www.pgesaver.com/
- http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/coupons/
- SmartSource
Additional coupons and in-store savings can be found at most grocery stores. For Metro-Detroiters/ Ann Arborites: VGs, Kroger, and Meijer all have great online coupons! Coupons called blinkies are available in red machines set up in aisles in the stores. My husband loves grabbing those for me!
Also, apply for grocery store courtesy cards. Most grocery chains have these free cards to provide extra discounts and savings at their stores. Hello extra savings!
Get Organized.
Ah, my Achilles Heel: organization!
If you are like me, your purse is a black hole of random things; you can never find your keys....let alone your cellphone! Organization does not come naturally for me...it is a slooowly learned skill.
To really rack up the discounts and boost your savings account, organization is mandatory! Successful coupon users have a place to keep and organize the coupons. This can be a box, binder, folder, or flexible file. Plastic flex-type coupon organizers can be purchased at any store for $1-$4. Many hard-core coupon users make their own binders filled with baseball card pages. (Instead of cards, they have coupons). A box with dividers can be made or purchased. Whatever is used, the coupons are divided and placed in categories which provide for easy location while shopping. I label each section by the aisles in a grocery store: "produce, meat, baby products, cereal..."
I am not quite at the binder stage, but I am quickly approaching it with my overflowing flexible file!
I love this:
Coupon Organizer
Once I get coupon packets in the mail, I cut them up and file them in their coupon organizer. This way all of the coupons are available when shopping. If a surprise deal or sale is found, the coupon is ready to go. Others cut only the coupons they are sure to use and leave the rest in the coupon inserts. I tried this out and it just confused me...I felt like I had a scrapbooking project going on! To each their own!
Also, don't forget to purge the old coupons. Check every week or so for old coupons and take them out.
Storing your Deals.
Food Storage is key. When a great deal is found, buy in bulk. This is why saving up multiple coupons is necessary. Buying a lot of one thing at a great price can lead to never having to pay full price again. For example, buying 2 months worth of chicken or cereal at a great price means they will not need to be purchased again until you run out. This means no more running into the store and buying things at high prices.
However, with meat, you will need a big freezer or an extra freezer in your garage for storage. We bought one for $250 after my first 2 months of budgeting our food expenses. I'm sure you can find one for even cheaper than that!
Plan Your Attack.
You don't have to use a coupon just because it exists.
If there is a coupon for an item that is not a great deal and is not needed, don't use it!! Sometimes other brands are still cheaper!
Watch the sales at different grocery stores. Network with local coupon blogs about what the hot Loss Leader is that week.
I am lucky to have some wonderful moms with great blogs to follow in my area of Michigan:
For example, a Loss Leader can be Meijer advertising steak for $1.99/ lb. and Quaker granola bars for $1 a box. Time to stock up! Pair the sales with the coupons to get great savings.
Check out the coupon policies at local stores. A few stores double and triple the value of coupons. Some stores will combine a manufacturer's coupon with a store coupon.
Read your coupons. Some will say "one coupon per purchase". Each item bought is a purchase. If 10 of an item is purchased, 10 coupons for that item may be used. Most coupons will not say "one coupon per customer" but check to be sure.
When coupons are collected, organized and used in these ways it is easy to slice your monthly grocery budget in at least half. Add it to your savings or splurge on something that you deserve.
Online Deals.
For non-food shopping, I usually am online. I price check everywhere before I make a purchase.
Some excellent sites:
- http://www.buzzillions.com/ Great "Consumer Review" site that gives Top Ten lists of certain products. For example, you can search "best baby cribs" and look at what has the best reviews. From there, you can click on a product and see where it is available for the cheapest price!
- http://www.retailmenot.com/ Before you make ANY online purchase...check this site out!!! They will give you any available coupon codes for the website you are shopping at. awesome, awesome site.
- http://www.amazon.com/ Great for double checking prices and used books are the cheapest here.
- http://www.cottonbabies.com/ Great Cloth diapering site, free shipping.
With better prices, free shipping, increased internet shopping security, no hassle of going to the store and further discounts available with coupons codes, online shopping is my favorite!!
Kid's Clothing:
- Kohls
I first started shopping at Kohls about 3 months ago. I use to never go there! Hello uptapped resource! A wise sister in law showed me that with a Kohl's Credit Card; you can save 15-30% ON TOP of clearance prices for clothes!!!
I shop here strictly for Carters, Polo, & OshKosh Brand Baby clothes, which I absolutely love. I never buy an outfit unless I get it for about 50-80% off. I also go straight home, go to kohls.com, and pay my balance right away.
