Couponing is one of the biggest methods of saving tons of money on clothes, shoes, grocery, office supplies and other products and services. Naturally, we will not be talking about extreme couponing: there are people who do this as a full time job and they are even known to save thousands of dollars each week thanks to their hobby and passion. The scope of this guide is limited to ways to coupon for beginners. So without further delay, here are a few couponing tips, tricks and methods to enhance your supermarket experience.
1. Never dedicate your shopping to one store
You might have a favorite store in your neighborhood but if you want to save money through couponing you will have to visit several stores. Be prepared for this if you want to save big. Being loyal to one store each week is great for the store not your budget.
2. Find out all about your store’s coupon policies
Know as much as you can about your local store’s policies regarding coupons, price matching and special store programs and discounts. These are not laws but they are important. Many times, the employees do not know these policies so it is vital that you do. Many stores offer more than just coupons-they also want you to use rebates, instant saving schemes, rewards etc. So knowing the store policies works wonders. Coupon policies are clearly mentioned on store’s website, but you can also call the store headquarters to find out about them.
3. Invest in a good printer
If you plan to save serious money with coupons, then you must invest in a good printer first. You will be giving the printer a serious workout every day printing hundreds of coupons so make sure it is up to the job. Here are some ways to save on printing:
- Print in grayscale than color
- Set default printer settings to Economy mode as it conserves ink.
- Print on scratch paper like old mail, kids’ leftover school papers etc
- When using to print from websites like Coupons.com, choose to print in groups of 3
- Shop during back to school sales to buy ink, toner, printing supplies etc
4. Organize – Be a smart shopper
As a beginner to couponing, you may want to invest in folders and binders as well. This way you can save time at checkout. We also recommend making an Excel sheet with following tabs:
- Store
- Brand on sale
- Size
- Unit cost
- Date
This will help you see pricing patterns for each of your favorite brands from your local stores.
5. Join the store e-coupon and loyalty programs
These are the coupon programs available only for that particular store. You will need to create an online account on their website and also enter the customer loyalty card number. For example, Safeway has their ‘Just For You’ program and SuperValu stores have offers you can redeem at jewelry stores etc.
6. Don’t forget coupons from receipts and products
Many items also carry coupons-such as cereal boxes, pasta bottles etc-so be on the watch out and do not throw them away before clipping the coupon. You can also save your store receipts since there are coupons printed on their back. Make sure you use these receipt coupons immediately as their ink tends to fade.
7. Subscribe to the right magazines and newspapers
Many local free magazines and newspapers have coupons in them. Here are the best magazines for coupons:
- Martha Stewart
- Women’s Day
- Good Housekeeping
- Cosmopolitan
- RedBook
- Parents Magazine
- Family circle
Following newspapers have some of the best coupon inserts especially on Sundays
- New York Post
- Bergen Record
- Daily News
- Daily Record
- The Express Times
- The Jersey Journal
Get a subscription to the Sunday newspaper and the coupons will come to you.
8. Use the Internet
People who want to start couponing need to be familiar with using the computer and Internet. Many online resources prominently feature cool savings for couponers. The best sources include:
- SmartSource
- Cool Savings
- Grocery Smarts
- PP Gazette
- RedPlum
- Coupons.com
- Coupon Mom
- Grocery Game
- Savings Angel
You can sign up to email alerts and RSS feed to get information when new coupons are being made available.
9. Use manufacturer coupons
Often, manufacturers give coupons so if you want to save on some big ticket item, visit their website. Thankfully, lot of stores honor manufacturer’s coupons and you might even get double or triple the savings when combined with the store’s discounts. This coupon tip is well known in extreme couponers’ circles but newbies and beginners can use them as well and save a lot of money in these hard economic times.
10. Get a mentor
Many moms in your neighborhood can give you tons of tips and advice to help you save with couponing method. Speak to one of them for inputs. You can also visit Coupon forums like this one. There is a lot more to couponing than that which meets the eye. For more information, use the following resources:
- Couponing for Beginners
- 20 Grocery Store Savings Ideas: Grocery Coupon Savings Tips By Tammie Taylor (eBook)
- Coupon Mom: Couponing Beginners Bootcamp (eBook)
11. Know when to use the coupons
Sometimes, stores tend to increase the prices of items to which they offer the coupons. So it may not be profitable using the coupon that week. A coupon has an expiry date between 30-90 days. So you need not use it right away and especially not in the week the coupon comes out. Wait for a bit and you will definitely end up saving more. In fact; when used properly, you could even walk away with some items free of cost! Learn to buy non-perishables in bulk when you have coupons to them. (The downside is that your family might tire of eating the same brand but in the interest of saving money, it is a worthwhile sacrifice. You can plan your meals accordingly to ensure that boredom never sets in).
12. Be wary of illegal couponing activities
There are many illegal activities surrounding couponing. Some extreme couponers collect multiple coupons to items they don’t need and then sell them to interested buyers for a small handling fee. Be careful not to be fleeced by these people because the amount could very well exceed the amount you save with coupons.
This was our basic guide to couponing. With time and practice, you will learn to master it. Good luck!