BEGINNER TIPS – COUPONING 101

It’s amazing to me that so many people don’t use coupons! I’ve had friends that go on and on about the expense of weekly grocery trips, yet the thought of coupons hasn’t crossed their mind! My brain is just frugally founded, so I just can’t comprehend it! But, I think some of what keeps people from using coupons is taking the time to GET the coupons ( cutting them out, etc. )

So, I’ve compiled a list of tips to get starting using coupons and keep it very simple to start. I save $75 – $100 bucks EVERY grocery trip and can’t imagine paying the original price before my coupons are scanned. Coupons are just dollars with a different look to them! I know that if you’ve never used coupons, you can snag some in your Sunday paper and/or Print Coupons Online and save at LEAST $30 to $50 dollars this week.

Of course, for my friends and family that don’t use them….you can still just say “I don’t use coupons, so you can have them” and I’m happy to take them from you. To me, it’s the same thing as handing over cash!

Here are some tips to help you get started:

Practice strategic shopping. This is the art of buying what’s on sale and then using coupons to get a further discount on those sale items. For instance, this past week, Harris Teeter had Buy one get one free sale on Arm & Hammer Cat Litter. This is a huge expense with my two furry family members. One box is $10.99. I had 2 Coupons for $2.00 off. So, I got (2) Two boxes of Cat Litter for $6.99 ! That’s a very simple and basic start..we’ll learn more complicated and aggressive tips later!

Be flexible about brands. That means being willing to try new toothpaste or new toilet paper as a way to use a current coupon. It’s worth it if you can save $1 off a household essential.

Make your shopping list first and then clip the coupons you need either through coupon Web sites or from the newspaper. Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Ingles and others now make it very easy to shop their weekly circular online. You browse the sales and click on items you need. It will automatically create a Printable Shopping List for you! You can also add your own items to it. Very helpful!

Keep them organized. There are many different ways to organize your coupons and you have to find what works for you. Keep it in your car,so you never forget them and you can easily retrieve them at the checkout.

Sign up for your store’s saving card to receive coupons on the mail.

Know your store’s coupon policy. Some stores double coupons daily and other stores specify a day of the week and may even TRIPLE them!

Shop at the least busy shopping times. For instance, I REFUSE to go on Friday after 5. That’s payday for the majority and their weekly grocery trip. I’ve found that I come out with less unplanned items and am more focused on savings if I’m not getting aggrivated with the crowds. The slower times allow me time and quiet to compare prices as well.

If you’re new to couponing, be patient and don’t compare your savings to others. It may take a few trips to the store before you really have your own system down pat.

Happy Savings!

Now Go PRINT SOME COUPONS !