If the thought of clipping coupons, makes you groan, consider this: these days, if you worked at it, you could actually make money by using them. With double- and triple- coupon deals, and the internet making everything easier, there's no excuse for paying full price.
Try simple swaps to save even more on items you normally buy.
Consider Stephanie Nelson, who shaves $100 off her grocery bill each week. To save 80 percent or more, she matches her coupons existing deals at the supermarket. And better yet, she estimates she needs just 15 minutes a week to organize coupons and another 30 to match them up with store sales. If you don't have the patience her site, couponmom.com, boils the whole process down to ten minutes.
These tricks will help you save money at the grocery store.
Try This Easy Game Plan
1. Get a coupon organizer - and no, a plastic baggie doesn't qualify. Try something stylish, like the ones on galison.com, to keep you motivated.
2. On Sunday mornings, log into the Virtual Coupon Organizer at couponmom.com. After selecting your state, you'll find a list of coupons that were inserted in the Sunday papers in the largest city near you.
2. Match that list to the circulars from your Sunday paper that list sales at major stores, and check couponmom.com for sales at select supermarkets, then order your coupons accordingly, making certain to check the expiration dates on them.
3. Plan menus for the week according to the best bargains and hit the stores!
Now that your saving, try adopting these penny-pinching habits.
Some Other Tips to Keep in Mind
- Over the course of one month, jot down the highest and lowest prices you pay for major items each week. Keep this list in your organizer so that when a price hits bottom you can buy in bulk.
- Collect Sunday circulars from non-coupon-clipping friends or from a recycling center, and check to see if your store has a coupon-swap bulletin board.
- Trade coupons online at sites like thriftyfun.com.
- Try $1 a pot bean-and-turkey soup! On double-coupon days, you can get canned beans for a dime, and you can often find coupons for free broth.
Do you have more tips on how to save? We want to hear them!
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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.
