Couponing Tips to lower your grocery/shopping bills!!!

Couponing tips to lower your grocery bill.


Some of these are obvious, but bears repeating!


1.  Get a coupon organizer.  Some people use envelopes, folders with labels, a case-it binder (like mine, and pictured in a previous post) Index card holder, accordian file or large wallet, or even one of those cheapie organizer for a buck at the dollar store. 


2.  Figure out what works best for you as far as labeling goes... I personally use a binder and use tabs for Pantry, fridge, makeup, cleaning, smell goods, etc.  I then use baseball card sheets (and some photo sheets to hold larger coupons) and I put them in the appropriate section by what I call an item.  For example.. In the pantry section I put all "chips" in the C area, because that's what I call potato chips.  I put Grands Biscuits in the Fridge section in the B area, because I say Biscuits.


3.  If you go with a binder, get a zip three ring pencil holder to put in there, I have in mine, a magnifying glass (some of the exp dates are hard to see for me) a small pair of scissors, a calculator and a pen.


4.  Find stores with the best and most generous coupon policies.  I personally use Kroger because they double coupons, BUT.. some items are cheaper at Walmart even without the coupon being doubled.  Know your stores and their policies.  For example:  My kroger will only double 2 like coupons.  If I have 5 .50 coupons off of angel soft toilet tissue(1.00 a piece), and I buy five.. I am only getting 2 of them for free.. the other 3 would cost me .50 each.  IN this situation I would ring up 2 separate orders, and get 4 free and come back another time and get the 5th one.  This is what works for me.


5.  Combine your coupons with sales items.  For example:  Pop secret popcorn is on sale at Kroger 10/10.00 (you do NOT have to buy 10 of that one item to get the sale price, they all ring up at 1.00 each) I use my (2) .50 coupons (which are doubled) to get them free.  Maybe I already have 2 boxes at home.. that's okay.. this is part of "stockpiling".


6.  Check out online coupons and booklets.  You can add online coupons to your Kroger card, AND use a paper coupon as well.  Most likely netting you the item for free.  I use 2 places  www.shortcuts.com and www.cellfire.com  They do other stores than Kroger (Kroger is just all I have in my area) 


7.  Know that whatever coupons you get in this sundays paper are likely to be on sale in the next 2 weeks.  DO NOT pitch them because the item isn't on sale now, and also hold off on using them until you can combine them with store sales unless you just absolutely need it now.


8.  Print coupons online (These are called IP's.. Internet Printables) There are usually some awesome coupons to be found.   A lot of times you can just google "printable coupon for xxxxx" and it will bring up something.  Also check out your favorite products website ex:  www.bettycrocker.com  They most always have printable coupons so you'll try their product.  Below is a list of places I go to print off coupons::::


www.redplum.com
www.smartsource.com
www.upons.com
www.couponmom.com


9.  Buy in bulk for items that are free/super cheap.  This is part of stockpiling.  As I've mentioned before, if you can get 20 cans of spaghetti sauce for free.. then do it!!!  However, don't stockpile or buy items you don't normally use just because you can make it cheap.. however, if you can make it free, get it!  Someone probably uses it, and if no one in your family does, then donate it to a shelter.


10.  Buy enough of a product cheap/free so that it should last you till the next sale.  Sales are cyclic.. you can bet the super cheap spaghetti sauce is going to be super cheap again within 6-8 weeks.  Make sure you have enough to last.


11.  Invest in a freezer!  Purchase all your meat on sale and freeze it.  Tip** When freezing a pound of hamburger, press your thumb into the center of the meat, making a large indentation.. this will help your meat thaw faster.


12.  Be somewhat flexible about your purchases.  You may find a product slightly cheaper (or maybe even more expensive but with the coupon makes it cheaper) that is even better than your usual!  Ex:  I used to only buy Ragu, till about 15 years ago when I had a coupon for Prego.. now I use nothing BUT Prego.  There are always products we will never budge on.. mine are Heinz Ketchup, Kraft American Cheese slices and Prego lol


13.  Keep your coupons on you at all times!  You never know when you're going to come across a deal and wish you had your coupons!  This is especially true when roaming the drug store, they clearance out items so frequently that you've almost always got a coupon for it, making that shampoo that they're simply bringing out a new bottle design on and now have on clearance for 1.00.. FREE!


14.  Review your spending habits.  If you're going to the grocery store 3 times a week.. STOP IT!  Figure out a time that you can go in (after you've viewed sales ads and planned your weekly or monthly menus) and get everything you need.  Yes, I know there's going to be quick trips for milk, bread etc in between, but no reason you're going every other day to buy that night's supper fixings... if you're doing it that way, it's cheaper to eat McDonalds!


15.  NEVER NEVER NEVER shop online without first finding a discount code.  My daughter LOVES/prefers American Eagle.. I always find a discount code when ordering her clothes.  You can find discount codes by going to google and typing in, "American Eagle discount code" or whatever other store.    Here are some places I typically find discounts for ANYWHERE I shop online at:


www.retailmenot.com
www.couponcabin.com
www.promotioncode.org


If you're paying shipping or not getting at least a 15% discount by taking 2 minutes to search online for one, then you're nutso my friend!! lol


There is so much FREE money out there, in the form of coupons, codes, rebates etc.  Isn't it time you take advantage of that??


Till next time...