Last week, I ran into a friend at the grocery store. Of course, I stopped to say hello and chat for a few minutes. I noticed that, just like me, she had her grocery list and a stack of coupons in hand for her weekly trip.
Under the stack, I saw she had a weekly circular from another store across the street. That store tends to be a little bit pricier but has great coupons for meat, poultry, pork and seafood. And, the best coupon is the $5 off $50 purchase coupon that is usually valid over the weekend.
When I mentioned that she brought that circular with her by mistake, she told me the greatest thing I had ever heard. The store at which we shop takes competitors’ coupons! I had no idea. Suddenly I was like a kid in a candy store. I was giddy with excitement.
My friend is such a good “couponer.” She lays out the circulars, compares them with her coupons, plans her week’s meals and makes a list. She is so good. But, the most important thing she does is to stick to that list.
I do my best at couponing and get great deals every so often. I am a novice at it but I try each week to see how well I can do. Since I am a stay at home mom, I need to get the most out of every dollar to help our family’s budget.
Couponing is definitely a science. It is so much more than having a stack of coupons in an envelope at the store. Couponing is gathering circulars, coupons, the Internet, a pen and paper in order to come up with a plan. It is stocking up when I have coupons for items on sale that my family uses daily.
To figure out the weekly list and menu based on what deals I get with the coupons I have requires preparation, time, and lots of patience. But, if done correctly, the instant gratification at the check out is huge. To see my total come up to $48.44 and know that I just bought $85 worth of groceries is a job well done. I do my part to stretch out our money each month and feel good when I know I did a good job.
A couple of weeks ago, I was at CVS when I noticed huge bottles of my shampoo and conditioner on sale 2 for $7.00. As luck would have it, I had a couple of BOGO coupons in my coupon organizer. I was so excited. I opened up my organizer and went straight to the personal hygiene pocket to get these coveted coupons (by the way, I paid only $1.75/bottle with the coupons).
My coupon organizer is a good one. The pockets are divided into sections according to product categories. In each pocket, I put the coupons for that section in chronological order according to the closest expiration date. I think it works well enough except when I see something that I missed in the circular or a sale at another store at which I happened to be. At that point, I have to sift through the pile of coupons to find the ones I need. It becomes a little cumbersome.
I have googled coupon organizers quite a bit and found much better ones. They look like big notebooks with business card holders so that each coupon is visible and easy to access. The trouble with those is that the holders are huge. Carrying it into the store is like carrying a notebook to class.
Looking back at my organizer, while coupons are easily accessed prior grocery trips, they are not too accessible while at the store. On the other hand, the organizer fits in my pocket book very easily so I don’t have to carry a big book on top of my groceries.
There has to be a better organizer out there that can combine both systems. It is so nice to see all of the coupons in front of me but I don’t want to add one more thing to the 10 bags I have to get to my car. Maybe the best thing to do is make my own organizer and have the one I want.
Now, to find the time to create this perfect organizer……………
Manufacturer grocery coupons are provided by the company that produces the offered items. They are meant to encourage shoppers to purchase their products and possibly continue to buy these same items in the future. The manufacturer strives to gain more sales from shoppers who try the product and like it better than one they might have used in the past.
Manufacturer coupons are typically available on the product package or in a coupon holder near the product on the grocery store shelf. Coupons directly from the manufacturer are also often available on the company’s web site and by email to those who sign up for a product newsletter.
The coupons offered by the manufacturer can be for a specific savings amount or for a free item with the purchase of one or more of the same product. Another type of coupon encourages consumers to purchase one product from manufacturer and receive a different product from the same company for a discount or free.
Consumers can save even more on products by watching coupons from the local or store ads and planning to use them along with the manufacturer coupons. Using the coupons when the items are on sale also helps shoppers increase the savings on their purchases. Shoppers should also keep in mind that each package they buy might have a coupon, but they can often only use one coupon for a purchase of multiple packages. They can keep the coupons from the additional packages for savings at a later date.
Another advantage of manufacturer coupons is that the duration of the discount offer is often longer than coupons from weekly newspaper ads and individual store sales fliers. Shoppers can use the product coupons right away or save them and watch for sales that will boost savings even more.
Manufacturer grocery coupons give shoppers even more opportunities to increase their savings.
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- arbyreed /Foter
If you have ever clipped coupons, searched the Internet for coupons, or saved those coupons that show up in your mailbox on occasion, you already have the right idea. However, if you are not taking advantage of double coupons, you are really missing out on a major money saving move for your household.
The idea of doubling coupons is a simple one: Many retailers will designate special days upon which they will redeem your coupons for double the amount stated on the coupon. In many cases the retailer may state that there is a specific dollar limit on the deal. For example, they will double all coupons up to one dollar in face value. Even with a limit like this in place, the savings can be massive, especially if you do some careful planning before your shopping trip.
When you look for coupons, do some Web searches for the items that you regularly buy and use — your staple items. When you find a coupon for these types of items, even a small one, print it and save it! If you find it in the newspaper or a circular, clip that coupon, even if it’s only for .25 cents. Remember that this coupon is going to be doubled, and it is for an item that you definitely need.
Always shop with a list, and before you hit the store, make it your goal to have at least one coupon for each item on your list. Of course, this may not always be possible. However, if you are willing to substitute some brands and try new things sometimes, you may find this easier than you think! When you are at the checkout line with a full grocery cart and a stack of coupons, you will be amazed what those double coupons can really do. Even the small coupons add up big when you’re doubling — it is worth taking those few extra minutes to get savings this big.
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They can be found everywhere! From the beauty section of your nearest department store, to the grocery halls of your closest Costco, a miniature version of the full sized product. Samples vary from product to product, such as, a taste of a chocolate chip cookie, a miniature sample of your favourite shampoo or a little bottle of that Chanel perfume that you absolutely adore. It’s the perfect way to try before you buy!
Ever received a free bag of popcorn in the mail? Or receive a sample of anti-aging cream that you swear you are too young for? Samples come in all shapes and forms. From food samples to household products, practically everything can now be found in sample size. Some cosmetic websites will send you a sample of a particular lip stick shade so that you can ensure you will buy the full size version of the one you like.
- frankgumola /Foter
Free samples can now be acquired anywhere. The internet is full of websites just trying to give things away. Some websites specialize in only free samples. They will rummage and comb through other websites to bring these offers to their own. A one stop shop, if you will, of samples from different genres of products from your foods to the newest brand of toilet paper. Other sites will connect you to limited time free offers from various stores and restaurants. There are many deals to uncover and plenty of free loot to be found.
Giving out free samples has recently become a staple in many companies’ marketing strategies. Many larger corporations are now attempting to attract new customers by offering free samples via coupons and even through online offers. They will send you a miniature version of their full product hoping that you will enjoy it enough to buy the full size and become a new returning customer.
So keep your eyes open, stay on the hunt and most of all, enjoy!
Have you ever gotten home, put the groceries away and realized you had forgotten the milk?
Or looked at that super-sized bag of potato chips and thought, “I probably should have left that behind?”. Ever got home and looked painfully at the receipt from the grocery store and realized you may have purchased items you could have done without? Planning a grocery list can help prevent each of these scenarios.
Raid the kitchen and make a note of each of the products you are in need of. By planning ahead and making a list you will be one step closer to making the most of your shopping trip and preventing a repeat visit to pick up that one essential item you left behind the first time. Carry a pen with you when shopping and cross off items as you place them in your cart. This will ensure you are not doubling up or having to double check before checking out.
Trying to slim down or stay in shape? Creating a grocery list is an excellent method to staying on track. When you do not shop with a grocery list, impulse purchases become common and frequent. By planning ahead of time what you will be purchasing at the grocery store, you can ensure that you are only picking up those healthy items, and not giving yourself a reason to wander into the cookie aisle.
- Puggles /Foter
Grocery lists will not only ensure that you are purchasing items you need, but will also keep you within budget. By planning ahead what you will be purchasing, you can calculate approximately what you will be spending and allow you to make cuts on items that you may not necessarily need. Also, when creating a grocery list prior to heading to the supermarket, you have the opportunity to search for and collect grocery coupons that will help you save that extra buck or two!
So before you hit the grocery store, make a list and check it twice!
You might be wondering if you have the personality type to become a successful coupon shopper. The truth is, anyone can be a successful coupon shopper as long as you understand your personality type and craft a shopping trip around your individual traits and habits.
There are usually 2 types of coupon shoppers. The 1st is the newbie coupon shopper who is just learning how to use coupons and doesn’t quite understand the intricacies of being successful at the grocery store. The 2nd type of shopper, is the expert shopper. These people walk into the grocery store with a clear plan and vision and attack the store with great vigor. They don’t deviate from their list and generally they know all the products they are going to purchase before they even walk into the store and have grocery coupons to pair with the store discounts.
One of the best tips for the newbie coupon shopper is to plan your weekly meals around the protein that is on sale for that week. Usually, your grocery store will have a different protein on the front page of their circular each week and this protein will usually be at an excellent value. You have a couple of choices: you can either use the protein that’s on sale in all of your meals for the week (which can get kind of boring), or you can purchase enough of the discounted protein and freezer wrap it when you get home so that you can use it over the next 1 to 6 months.
Our family prefers to do the 2nd method as we don’t like to eat the same protein every day for a week. We have found the best way to keep our meets fresh is by utilizing a vacuum seal product which you can find at your local variety store. Sometimes, we will even pre-marinate our meats before we freeze them so all we have to do is take them out of the freezer, defrost them, and grill them up.
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If you want to be a successful coupon shopper then their are a few important rules you will have to adopt when you are at the grocery store:
Stock your pantry when the price is right – If you purchase in bulk when you find a good deal and pack your pantry full for 2 to 3 months then every time he you go to use that product it’s like you are buying it on sale over and over again. This is the secret to a successful coupon shopper and why they always have a large stockpile of goods that they have purchased at an extraordinary rate.
Be prepared to save – Having a super awesome grocery shopping trip doesn’t happen by accident. If you want to save a ton of money and pack your pantry full of those amazing deals then you’re going to have to spend some time before heading to the store to plan your shopping trip. The coupon experts will compare the weekly flyers with their grocery coupons they have clipped and also see if double coupons can be used to create the trifecta of savings.
The 2 tips mentioned above aren’t rocket science, but if you use them and practice them you will find that your shopping trips become more successful and less expensive.
