Make a list of all the stores in your area, include warehouse clubs (Costco, BJ’s, Sam’s Club), drug stores (CVS, Walgreens), grocery stores (Stop n’ Shop, Shaws, Dave’s, Brigidos, Save a Lot, Price Rite, Market Basket), discount stores (Big lots, Ocean state job lot, Christmas Tree Shops), and department stores (Walmart, Target).
Visit stores in your area and record prices for the items you buy all the time in a notebook or on your phone.
Once you’ve selected “your” stores (the stores you’ll be shopping at frequently), find out what their coupon policies are:
Does the store double coupons? If so, up to what amount? Some stores double up to $.99 while others only double up to $.50.
Does the store accept expired coupons? Most do not.
Do they accept competitor coupons?
Does the store accept internet printable coupons?
4. Which stores have the lowest regular prices and best sales weekly? You’ll see this answer when you look at your notebook/notes on your phone (price book).
5. Find coupons—Sunday newspaper (some Saturday ones as well), online sites -coupons.com, store circulars and their websites, and manufacturer websites.
6. Organize coupons in your holder and remember to bring it for each shopping trip. This can take 15-20 minutes. Keep this organizer and reusable totes in your car or next to your purse.
7. Review store fliers and create shopping lists for that week. List sale items that you need and match coupons to the items on the list. Plan your meals for the upcoming week based on the sale items. (Time 30 minutes to 1 hour)
8. Know your prices. Check unit prices. If brands do not matter—sometimes a generic is a better deal than a brand name on sale.
9. Use store and manufacturer’s coupons at stores that allow stacking (ex) Target, drugstores.
10. Sign up for emails from “your stores” (this can become overwhelming to look at daily so start with a few at first).
11. Hand your coupons to the cashier this way—First coupon should be the $ amount off your total purchase (if applicable), followed by manufacturer coupons, then the store coupons (if applicable) and lastly the register rewards or extra bucks (if applicable).
12. Check your receipts. Sometimes by completing a survey about your experience you get a discount (% off or $ amount off ) to use on your next purchase.
13. In order to minimize your out of pocket expense do separate transactions. Using register rewards (from Walgreens) or extra bucks (from CVS) from the first transaction (order) to the second one.
Coupon Organizer-
You have options when it comes to selecting an “organizer”. You can find accordion styles, photo albums and 3 ring binders at office supply stores, craft stores, Dollar stores, Target, Walmart, etc. Whichever system you choose just be sure to bring it with you and keep it in your shopping cart. You can buy coupon organizers online as well or you can make your own. Start with something that will fit in your purse or you can keep on the front seat to remind you to take in to the store.
Coupon System
Clip coupons- only the ones you need and will use.
Organize them in your holder. Weekly or monthly go through and get rid of expired or soon to be expired coupons. These manufacturer coupons can be sent to military members via troopons.com. See site for details.
Use coupons when items are on sale. Look at the coupons- If they do not exclude trial/travel sizes, use the coupon on the smallest size available to get it for free or inexpensively.
Get rain checks.
Purchase an organizer for your coupons (ex) accordion file, 3 ring binder or a photo album.
Clip coupons—only the ones you need and will use. Organize them in your holder. Weekly go through and get rid of expired or soon to be expired coupons.
Only use coupons when items are on sale (unless regular price minus coupon = free or less than $1).
Look at the coupons—do they exclude trial/travel sizes or mention a specific size? If not, use the coupon on the smallest size available to get it for free or inexpensively. An example of this is deodorants.
Get rain checks—if the store hasn’t excluded them (some stores will have on their ads—limited time only, while supplies last, no rain checks). If you have a coupon that is about to expire but the item is out of stock ask to get the coupon validated by the store manager. That way you have a raincheck and a coupon when the item is back in stock.
If the scanner rejects the coupon (usually the internet printable ones) the cashier will tell you she can’t use it. Ask if you can speak with a manager, perhaps they can key it in.
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