While trying to find ways to stretch my grocery budget, I decided that I needed to consider redeeming grocery coupons. I used to think it wasn't worth my time and effort, but I decided to give it a try. Over the past few months, I have saved a lot of money while shopping for food and household staples. I know I have saved at least $400. On one shopping trip alone, I managed to save $90 while using coupons. I accomplished this feat by being a savvy shopper. I only bought items that were on sale, and only if I had a coupon for the sale item. These were for items that I use on a regular basis, so I stocked up in advance.
Here are some coupon tips I've been using to save money. I hope you can use some of them to save while grocery shopping, too.
Search the internet for coupons- Try searching for "print free grocery coupon" while browsing the internet. You receive a lot of results for many websites that offer free printable coupons. If you have kids at home, you will love finding the cereal coupons. Most coupon websites limit you to two printings of each coupon, but a few will only allow you to print a coupon once. The coupon sites update their selections often, so after you have printed the limit, check back again in a few days. More than likely they will be offering more coupons for you to print.
Check newspapers and magazines- Newspapers are a valuable source for finding coupons, especially the Sunday newspapers. Look for their inserts. If you have friends or family members who don't redeem coupons, ask them to save their newspaper inserts for you.
Search for a specific product- Many companies offer printable coupons on their own websites. Try searching for a coupon using the brand name of the product you're looking for. I've found great coupons using this method. Most companies offer a newsletter that you can sign up for. This will notify you know when their new coupons become available.
Sign up for electronic coupons- A new way of clipping coupons has become available. If you shop at a store that uses shoppers cards, you can sign up with a few coupon sites and have coupons you select loaded directly onto your card. Kroger is a great store for using this method. They have partnered with Shortcuts.com, P&G eSaver, and Cellfire, all of which offer electronic coupons to load onto your shoppers card.
Double your coupons- Shop at a grocery store that will double coupons. Many stores will double coupons up to half a dollar. Most will double coupons all week long, but it not, many stores offer double coupons at least one day a week. Be sure to shop on a double coupon day. This goes a long way toward stretching your grocery dollar.
Find out what's on sale before you shop- Read weekly sales circulars. If an item is on sale and you are interested in it, check to see if you have a coupon that you can use. This can severely reduced the cost of an item, if not making it totally free. Do this on double coupon day for the most savings.
Write a grocery list- Be sure to write a grocery list and don't go off using coupons just because you have them. Using them willy-nilly won't save you a dime. If you have a coupon for an item on your list, be sure to write down the amount next to the item. This will help you make sure that you receive the most benefit from your coupons. To realize that you had a coupon for an item you just bought, but forgot to use it, is a very bad feeling.
Use coupons before they expire- If you don't keep your coupons organized and use them before they expire, they won't do you any good at all. Pay attention to expiration dates.
