Couponing can be really rewarding. Once you learn how to coupon, it’s simply a matter of weekly maintenance. Get started with these five steps and watch your grocery savings grow.
Understand the Basic Principle of Couponing
When groceries go on sale, use coupons and stock up – that’s it in a nutshell. This is not extreme couponing as seen on TV. It’s not necessary to buy huge amounts. Sale cycles repeat about every six weeks. Determine your family’s grocery needs and buy enough to get through to the next sale. For added savings, use coupons with every transaction.
Save Coupons: Subscribe to Your Local Sunday Paper
The bulk of manufacturer coupons are found in your local Sunday paper insert. It will take a while to accumulate your “coupon stash.” So, begin this step as soon as possible. Date and save the entire booklet for both Red Plum and Smart Source, every week. Do the same for the monthly Proctor and Gamble insert as well. Meanwhile, continue to learn how to coupon.
Create a “Buy Price List” for Groceries You Use
This step is crucial. To be successful at couponing, you must know the rock bottom prices of the groceries you buy. Fact: more money is saved when items are purchased on sale than from using coupons alone. So the goal is to purchase groceries only when they are at their lowest price. And, strive to use a coupon for each item purchased. How do you know the rock bottom price? Create a Buy Price List. To start, every time you buy groceries, write down the price you paid for each item. When you buy that item again, change the price on your list if you got it at a better price. As time goes on, this list will become your reference for the lowest “Buy Price” on all your groceries.
Sign Up for Grocery Store Loyalty Cards
If you don’t have one already, get a loyalty card for the grocery store where you shop. Simply go to customer service and sign up. Most often, without a card, you will not be eligible for discount prices offered in that store. It’s not necessary to get a card for every store in town. If you try to shop everywhere, you risk burnout and will end up hating the couponing world and quit. Don’t do that!
Choose a Coupon Website and Learn How to Coupon
There are many great websites out there such as CouponMom and FabulesslyFrugal. My personal favorite is SouthernSavers.com. This is a free website that teaches you how to coupon. It’s a wonderful resource. Link to printable coupons, learn terminology, watch a tutorial or sign up for a workshop in your area. Everything you need to know about couponing, it’s all there.
Learning how to coupon is not an overnight process. It can be confusing and time consuming at first. Be patient with yourself while you find an approach that works for you. Customize a system to suit your needs and stick with it. When done correctly and consistently, couponing does save money. Start with the steps outlined above and expect to have some fun!
Sources:
Jenny Martin, Buy Price List , SouthernSavers.com