What better way to be set up for success when it comes to couponing, than to have advice from another coupon-er. Recently, we have had the opportunity to interview and get some advice from an avid coupon mom – Jennifer. She has given some insight to her coupon experiences, as well as tips on how to get set up before you hit the stores. She’s back this week, sharing more advice.
Which stores, and how many?
Pick one grocery store and one drug store. It takes too much time to get deals from everywhere and then drive from store to store. For me it’s Lowes Foods and CVS. They are right next to each other in my town and Lowes doubles coupons up to $0.99. My prescriptions are at CVS and they have the Extra Bucks program that I love. I hit Walgreen’s for the paper, so I always check their circular to see if there’s anything worth getting, but I don’t spend a ton of time on it and most weeks only get the paper there. Lately Harris Teeter has been tripling coupons about once every 4-6 weeks. There isn’t one near me, but there is one I pass going to church, so if it’s triples I will stop on Sunday to see what I can get for free or almost free. The tip for triples is to only get the amazing deals. I have found that produce is generally more expensive at HT so I save that for my weekly Lowes trip.
Is there a way I can get some help? At least to get started?
Expect to spend some time doing this. Fast or cheap. Pick one. Saving money takes a little effort, but once you get into a system it’s great! I haven’t used it myself because I stay home and can spend time on my coupons, but I have heard that The Grocery Game is great. For a fee, the service e-mails you the deals and coupon match ups for your selected stores each week.
How can I protect my coupons? What should I keep on hand with my coupons?
I have a 3-ring binder organized by grocery store aisles with baseball card holders holding the coupons where I can see them. It has a canvas cover that zips closed so nothing escapes when my toddler throws it across the room. It also has a shoulder strap so I can have my hands free in the chance that I have to take the boys to the store with me. Inside I keep a calculator, pen, blank paper and paperclips.
How can I tell if it’s the best price?
If you’re just starting out, start writing down the prices each week for things you buy frequently. After awhile you’ll see what the best prices are for those items. I keep a list in my binder of best prices, so if I see something for that or less, I know to stock up.
Where am I supposed to keep it all?
Stock up! I have several shelves in our garage for groceries I stock up on when they are cheap. I also have an upright freezer for the same purpose. You can freeze meat, bread, milk, cheese, veggies, berries and even complete meals!
Can I use expired coupons?
Some stores accept expired coupons. Find out the policy at your store. If you can’t use them, don’t toss them! Military personnel overseas can use coupons up to 3 months expired at the commissary. Get with a few other people and pool your expired and send them to help our troops. To find some bases that accept expired coupons, go here. Be careful about the weight of the package, though. If it’s too heavy you may have to pay extra fees for postage.
There’s so much to couponing – I don’t think I can do this!
Don’t get overwhelmed. There’s always more you could do, so start with a few things and work up. To start just get one paper and clip and sort the coupons. If you only use one or two each trip, it’s still more than you were saving before! Next time try to use three. Once you get good at that, start looking for deals online or printing coupons.
And remember!
Keep track of your savings. At the top of my blog I have a grocery savings ticker. It’s very easy each week to add my total savings (on the bottom of the receipt). I can see at a glance how much I’ve saved this year. It makes me feel so good to see how much I’ve saved!
Thanks for all the great tips Jennifer! Hopefully you have been able to put others at ease when it comes to couponing. Once you get the hang of it, you are sure to enjoy it! Stay tuned next week for Jennifers’ final 7 tips to help be set up for success!
Also, don’t forget, $6,000 will go a long way if you are able to use it along side coupons and sales! Register today for your chance to win in The Great Geezeo Bailout!
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Tags: Concurrent Versions System, Coupon, Grocery store, Harris Teeter, home, Homemaking, Lowes Foods, Walgreen
