I don't spend 40 hours a week on coupons, yet I can some how find 3 hours to make it so I'm only spending $80 a month for groceries and extra's instead of a few hundred.
- I don't know how I can stress this more.. buy the Sunday paper! I promise coupons won't jump out and bite your fingers! If you don't feel like buying the Sunday paper out of fear that you're not going to be able to use any of the coupons in it, go to http://www.sundaycouponpreview.com/ and you can view the up coming coupons for that week's paper. Gives you a head start as well so you can know if you are going to want 1 or 5 papers.. if you see coupons in there that you would use multiples of. Remember, you can use more than one in a trip (on multiple items).
- Ask! Friends and family, one or both, recieve or buy the Sunday paper on regular basis. Most people will clip one or two coupons, or none at all and throw the rest out. Most coupons are good for more than the month that they are put out in...
- Keep track of your coupons and know what you have. By no means cut 100 coupons for things you don't use, but at least have a general idea of what you would buy on a regular basis.
- Learn your grocery stores.. quick, how much do these things cost normallly? A gallon of milk, dozen eggs, yogurt, bread, ice cream, or a lb of chicken breast/ burger? Not very many people can tell you that from store to store.. ---Right now a gallon of milk normally runs me $2.70, Dzn Egg's is more than $1.70+, Yogurt is .50-80 ea., **buy bread at an outlet bakery store.. you can get it for $1 or less a loaf.. even the really good bread! no coupons needed***, Ice cream at one store can cost $4 and I know at winco the same thing is going to cost $2.50 or less. Chicken normally runs $3-4/lb and burger $4-5/lb. Looking in the fresh case for things such as chicken, burger, bacon, etc. can actually save you money in the long run. Buying "family" packs of things you aren't able to see the product in full and you never know what you could end up getting. Just because it's fresh, doesn't mean you can't freeze it for a later point of use.
- You're going to have to spend some time looking at weekly circulars such as Albertson's (which also has double coupons every once in a while *double up to a $1, like getting $2 off an item) Safeway (you can load coupons on to your safeway card so you don't have to clip them at home, and sometimes they have more to offer) Walmart does ad-match as well (WM doesn't always put out a weekly circular, so check your paper accordingly). Yokes has "Fresh Friday's" which is where butter, milk, cereal and other such items can be found on sale quite frequently..
- Just because it say's "Buy one get one 50% off or Buy one get one free.. doesn't mean it's a good deal. Retailer's often mark up the price to get you to think you are getting a good deal. So if in the end you honestly end up paying more than the item is worth, did you really get it half off? Or for free?
- Be aware of coupons, I see this often with dog/cat food, that say "buy 3 cans, get 1 free" or "buy 8, get 1 half off". Makes about as much sense as throwing your money out the window if you don't A) need it B) already buy it! Yogurt is another thing that seems to be an eye-catcher. 10/5.. meaning, buy 10 single things of yogurt for $5.. that would be an awesome deal, if I didn't originally pay only .40 cents for each one! Marketing at it's finest.
- FREE-- who doesn't like free? In the last month or so, I've gotten enough absolutley free samples of everything from Tide, Make Up bags (actually full make up bags with products I'd use.. not cheap stuff!), Dawn, Cascade, Mr.Clean Erasers, Shampoo, Conditioner, Coupons, Lube, Givalia Coffee, Starbucks Coffee, Fabric Softener, Downy Unstopables, Mouthwash, Face Wash, Body Wash, foods, candy, etc. and most of these come with some great coupons as well!
- Most importantly: Make a list! Don't try and remember the things you're going to need or plan on getting. More than likely, you forget your list and that's when room for error starts to creep in. Stick to the list when you get in the store and avoid going while hungry!
Smart Source - Online Printable Coupons
RedPlum - Online Printable Couponshttp://www.redplum.com
Proctor and Gamble - Online Printable Coupons
Right At Home - Printable Coupons
Bargain Blessings - Select your store and see how their "deals" for that week actually rate.. should you stock up? Or just buy it if you need it?
My Plum Rewards - Enter your zip code and automatically find coupons for places to eat or get coffee.. a lot of coffee shops in my area have B1G1 1/2 or Free, or $1 for a Medium drink, Free Drinks or $1 off, etc. Sent right to your cell phone, you just chose the coupon. No limits!
One of the better B1G1 Coupons.. $3 for 2 Bottles of Patene Shampoo/Conidioner (Multiples of them)
Rough Draft of Shopping List
