Tiffany is a busy mother to 2 girls and her husband is going to school full-time to get an MBA. She is an incredibly savvy shopper who always gets a deal, so she seemed ideal to post on clipping coupons! Here's what she says:
There are three types of couponing shoppers. The first type are quick to toss them into the trash. The second type use coupons occasionally, when they see something they wouldn’t mind taking a dollar off or saving 20 percent.
And the third type are those I call ultimate couponing shoppers. Each week they anticipate the Sunday papers and store ads. They are ready to dig into the stack of ads and coupons with scissors in one hand and their coupon organizer in the other. They study each store ads matching sales with store coupons and then manufacturer’s coupons. Some of these ultimate couponers even purchase coupons online.
My couponing experience gradually evolved from the first type to the last type. I now consider myself an ultimate couponer and am not shy about announcing my savings to close friends and family. Anytime I walk into a store without coupons I sweat with the feeling of uneasiness, unprepared. Here is the enticing part: During the last three months I purchased over $1,400 worth of groceries but only spent a total of $572 for a family of four.
Tricks of the trade:
Shop in stores that doubles coupons. Ask your grocery store if they double manufacturer’s coupons. If they do, ask what is the limit. Often stores will double manufacturer’s coupons up to $1, meaning they will double coupons that says “Save 50 cents” or less. But also watch for coupons that says, “Do not double.”
Sales + store coupons + manufacturer’s coupons= even more savings! Stores allow you to use a store coupon on top of a manufacturer’s coupon for one item. So… if the store has boxes of cereal on sale buy one get one free at $4 a box and you have a store coupon that takes off $1 and a manufacturer’s coupon that takes off 50 cents, then you end up paying only $0.50 a box. You would get it for free if the store doubles manufacturer’s coupons. Look for store coupons in the front of the store, in their weekly ads, store site online, or printed out with your receipts. It will have the store name on the coupon.
Only buy it if it saves you money. Manufacturers will give you coupons, but there are times when purchasing the generic or store brand is still cheaper than using coupons. Always check. Also, look at the top and bottom of store shelves for deals. “I’m not just selling groceries, I’m selling real estate. Look high and low - literally - for good values from smaller manufacturers who can’t afford to stock their products in the eye-level sweet spot” (Reader’s Digest, March issue, Thirteen Things Your Grocer Won’t Tell You).
Carry a calculator. “Be wary of “specials.” When people see signs with numbers - ‘8 for $10’ ‘Limit: 5 per customer’ - they buy 30 to 100 percent more than they otherwise might have” (Reader’s Digest, March issue, Thirteen Things Your Grocer Won’t Tell You). And use it in the store to figure out exactly what you will pay for individual items at the register with the sales and after coupons. It may not be as much as you thought it would be.
Just because you’re getting a good deal doesn’t mean you need it. So what if you are getting broccoli for $0.30 a head. If your family doesn’t eat broccoli, then you’re just wasting money and space in your refrigerator. “You’ll end up tossing 12 percent of what you buy” (Reader’s Digest, March issue, Thirteen Things Your Grocer Won’t Tell You).
Shop with a list and stick to it. Know exactly what you are going to buy before even going into the store so you don’t end up with a bunch of stuff you don’t really need. “‘The more products you see, the more you are likely to buy,’ says Marion Nestle, author of What to Eat. ‘That’s why the aisles are so long and the milk is usually in the far corner’” (Reader’s Digest, March issue, Thirteen Things Your Grocer Won’t Tell You).
Use the internet. Retailmenot.com is a site where you can find coupons for just about any major retail stores. Shortcuts.com is where you can download coupons onto your store cards (Kroger, Smith’s, etc.). There are many more other sites and forums with people helping each other find deals online or in stores.
Get on email lists and birthday clubs. Go to retailers, manufacturer’s, and restaurant sites and sign up for their email lists and birthday clubs. They often will email you coupons and notify you of sales. Stores may send you a coupon and restaurants give out free meals or desserts for your birthday. Don’t forget to sign up your kids at children’s stores.
Buddy up. I have a friend who is into saving money just as much as me. We notify each other when we find great deals on things.
To become an ultimate couponer may not be your goal, but hopefully these tips can still help you save a few dollars here or there. If you are interested in turning into an ultimate couponer, remember it takes time, work, and practice. But the amount of money you will save will be monumental to your personal finances.
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