Use Those Coupons!
Coupons are everywhere. Industry experts estimate a whopping 400 billion coupons will be distributed this year... and this comes just in time!As more of us struggle to keep up with the rising food prices, using coupons is a quick and easy way to save big bucks. Since January of this year, more than $173 billion in coupons have been delivered just in those newspaper supplements and mailings alone.
With the average face value of food coupons now at 91 cents each and non-food coupons worth an average $1.61 the savings can add up quickly.
Tom Lemke, a talk-show guest on Oprah, explained years ago how he bought more than $400 of groceries for less than $100 using coupons. And, while Lemke's level of success is rare, coupons can easily shave 15-20% from every grocery bill. That's an annual savings of over a $1,000 for a family of four.
Check your supermarket couponing rules carefully – these days many who used to double coupon value are limiting the doubling value to those coupons under $1. For even more savings look for coupons that can be redeemed on products that your store have put on sale and offer additional savings with their frequent shopper card program. But here’s the catch – many shoppers have to give up their favorite brands in order to go with what’s on sale. With a little preplanning you wont have to: Stock up on your favorite brands when they are on sale and you wont have to sacrifice the quality you are used to.
Follow these five simple strategies, and you'll be surprised how much you can save:
#1 Collect coupons from as many sources as possible.
You may find them in your newspaper, newspaper supplements, magazines, mailbox, mail-in rebates, in-store samplings, circulars, on-shelf tear pads, coupon dispensers and on-line services. NCH reports that 96% of coupons are never used -- get your fair share!
#2 Discard coupons for products you don't use.
If it's the wrong product, wrong flavor, whatever, toss the coupon. Check expiration dates, too. If you don't expect to redeem the coupon by that date, throw it out. Don't feel guilty discarding coupons. The object is to save money on products you want and use.
#3 Keep your coupons organized.
Don't just throw coupons in a drawer. Divide them by product type (cereals, frozen dinners, salad dressings, etc.) and then put them in order of descending value, keeping the highest-value coupons in front. Note the expiration dates and put those expiring soonest up front. Put those with the "no expiration date" last.
#4 Experiment with new brands and new products.
This is one of the easiest (and cheapest!) ways to discover new pleasures. Be open to new brands (including store brands) or new package sizes. Most supermarkets insist that manufacturers distribute high-value coupons when they introduce new products.
#5 Put your kids in charge
Give your kids your shopping list and the pile of inserts, newspapers and magazines and let them search out the offers. Give them a percentage of what you save as their allowance – you’ll be teaching them a valuable lesson on savings and the whole family will reap the benefits.
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More from the Supermarket Guru:
#1 Collect coupons from as many sources as possible.
You may find them in your newspaper, newspaper supplements, magazines, mailbox, mail-in rebates, in-store samplings, circulars, on-shelf tear pads, coupon dispensers and on-line services. NCH reports that 96% of coupons are never used -- get your fair share!
#2 Discard coupons for products you don't use.
If it's the wrong product, wrong flavor, whatever, toss the coupon. Check expiration dates, too. If you don't expect to redeem the coupon by that date, throw it out. Don't feel guilty discarding coupons. The object is to save money on products you want and use.
#3 Keep your coupons organized.
Don't just throw coupons in a drawer. Divide them by product type (cereals, frozen dinners, salad dressings, etc.) and then put them in order of descending value, keeping the highest-value coupons in front. Note the expiration dates and put those expiring soonest up front. Put those with the "no expiration date" last.
#4 Experiment with new brands and new products.
This is one of the easiest (and cheapest!) ways to discover new pleasures. Be open to new brands (including store brands) or new package sizes. Most supermarkets insist that manufacturers distribute high-value coupons when they introduce new products.
#5 Put your kids in charge
Give your kids your shopping list and the pile of inserts, newspapers and magazines and let them search out the offers. Give them a percentage of what you save as their allowance – you’ll be teaching them a valuable lesson on savings and the whole family will reap the benefits.
Get more info from TODAY on iVillage
More from the Supermarket Guru:
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I find coupons generally a waste of time, energy and paper. Usually they're for expensive/brand name items I can still buy for less as a store or generic brand.
I'd rather see companies put the money they spend on coupons into reducing the price of the product.
I'm with Karen. I find that purchasing the generic or store brand products, I come out a lot cheaper than I would using the name brand along with a coupon. Instead of a coupon, they should leave the trees alone and simply lower the price for the specified amount of time. Makes more sense to me.
today I got $78 of items for $0. That's right - for free. And the items are things we use all the time - deordorant (sp?), milk, tomato sauce, raisons, cough syrup, glade refills, toothpaste etc.
coupons save me hundereds of dollars a month. Last week at the grocery store (that does not double) I got $198 of good, healthy food (no junk)for $35 and this week I'll spend about $50 for $300. it takes almost no time - I spend about an hour to two a week putting together my coupons and shopping. I subscribe to refundcents.com and they show you how to do it and put all the deals together for you. the grocerygame.com is a good place to start if you are new to this. HTH someone :)
great info thanks
Gosh - throw away a coupon? I could never. If I KNOW I won't use a coupon for SURE, i leave it on the shelf for someone who would.
I clip coupons - and I study my sales. I know the patterns of my local stores, and know when to pick certain things up. You have to know when your store is going to have things on sale, and jump on it with coupon in hand!!! My stores double coupons up to .50 (so a .50 coupon = $1, but a .55 = .55) So for example if something goes on sale for $1 and I have a .50 coupon for it, it becomes a free item. I NEVER pass those up, free is always a good thing. There are a lot of blogs out there (including mine - just google cheapsk8mom) that can help to show you the deals, if you're willing to learn. To think that a coupon is a waste of money and paper just shows that you haven't really given it a proper try. I haven't had to pay cash for razors, shampoo, makeup, gosh the list goes on... thanks to coupons.
e-commerce is getting more and more popular. this creates the need of having good tools to help shoppers make right decisions while buying online. reizit.com is a place where shoppers can recommend or bury a product, share experience and discuss shopping deals.
very nice post thanks!!!
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Who clips coupons anymore? I have been going to http://couponsearcher.blogspot.com/ and printing them out. I only print the ones I need. I think that is greener than all those coupons that go to the trash.