My husband lost his job awhile back and I decided I was going to cut costs in our grocery bill. I had NO IDEA how to use coupons. I thought I was supposed to look through the coupons, only cut out the ones for the products that I use and throw the rest away. I thought if I saved $1 here and there it was better than nothing, right?
I WAS SOOOO WRONG!!
When you realize you're wrong about something, the best thing to do is change your ways! Here's how:
1. Clip most (if not all) coupons.
Even if it isn't the brand you love, you may be surprised when you try something different. It's amazing how good FREE or really cheap name brand food costs! :) There are typically only two kinds of coupons that I don't clip to keep for myself: pet food (We don't have pets. Kids are enough!) and a lot of medicine coupons. I do keep some medicine coupons, such as vitamins, natural remedy type of medicines, some pain medicine and children's medicine...other than that, I toss it or give it away. We're not big on medicine.
2. Buy more than one paper!
I know what you're thinking..."You're going to be paying more money in newspapers than you are saving with coupons!" This way of thinking is NOT true when you know how to use coupons. Buying more than one paper allows you to stock up on products. It's a smart thing to do! I typically at least buy 2 and I get a lot of the same coupons in "The Bag" every Sunday, too. So, that gives me 3 like coupons. There are weeks that I only buy one paper, but that's not the norm.
3. Do NOT make your weekly menu out by thinking of all of the meals that SOUND good to you! Only make your weekly menu out after you have taken a look at the store ads and you SEE what will be good for your wallet.
Even if you don't have a coupon for an item on sale, you will still save a lot of money by trying to not buy anything for retail price unless you absolutely have to. Stock up on items while they are on sale...and if you have a coupon to add to the sale, you can score some extra sweet deals!
4. I also had a fear of being *that* annoying coupon lady holding up the checkout line.
I have realized that if I go early to the grocery store, the shelves are well stocked AND I don't have to deal with rude and impatient people behind me. However, if I do go at a busy time, I still am not ashamed to use my coupons. I am using the money that God has given our family wisely. That's nothing to be ashamed of! I wait in line just like everyone else and I have every right to be there for however long it takes for my coupons to be scanned. I try to be kind and warn people behind me and if they choose to stay and have a bad attitude about it, that's on them!
5. Stocking up does not mean that you have to be a shelf clearer!
After a month and a half of couponing, I am well stocked, but I do not clear shelves. Sometimes I go back to the store on 2 days instead of just one if I can get free items or *almost* free items. The Extreme Couponing show isn't realistic. Those people have cart after cart of the same item. Stores typically have a limit of how many like coupons that you can use in one transaction. You can do multiple transactions, though. But even then, some stores limit the number of transactions you can have or some coupons have a restriction of how many like coupons you can use per visit. PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOUR COUPONS SAY!!!
Which brings me to another topic...I'll save that for a later post! I don't want to overwhelm you! :) Up next: Coupons: Use them. Don't abuse them!
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