What's your secret to saving with coupons?

[Beckypooh1972]

Ok, so I've got my new binder, I'm buying newspapers and collecting coupons. I never manage to get the price of an item under about $1.00. If I have a good enough coupon to get the item free - it's sold out.

So, how are extreme couponers walking out of stores with full carts of groceries for which they paid less than $5.00?

I googled "secrets of extreme couponers" and I did find a reference online to how they were able to beat the system due to the way manufacturers create the barcodes. Some extreme couponers were able to use the coupons on non-identical but same "product family" items so the coupons actually worked but not in the manner the manufacturer intended. The article I read said that last year the manufacturers went to a new barcoding system to prevent the fraud.

Even after reading about the barcode issue, I'm still stumped. I don't want to create a huge stockpile but I would like to experience some significant savings at the store. For those Disers that save significantly with coupons ($100 or more a month), how do you do it? I've made a few observations in general about couponing - let's see if you agree:

1. Sometimes you have to spend money to save money... meaning you might have to use a disproportionate amount of your grocery budget to take advantage of that great deal on pasta.

2. It doesn't work if your spouse isn't on board... it drives me crazy to collect all these coupons and then my husband just goes out and buys $30.00 worth of items - when I had coupons at home for this stuff.

3. You can't get the hidden deals unless you have an hour or more to scour store shelves and can focus 100% of your attention on your shopping trip ... I rarely get to go to the grocery store without the whole gang in tow (husband and 2 five year old boys) which limits my attention span and time considerably!

4. Timing is important! Some of the CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid deals are great but you have to get there early enough to get that great sale item. I've spent hours pouring over ads and matching up coupons only to get there and my whole plan is thrown because they are out of stock! Once they are wiped out of the item - they never seem to be able to restock it - which is so frustrating!

Anybody disagree or have any observations to add? I'd love some tips to help me save more with my coupons! By the way I don't just coupon to save money - I've started shopping Aldi more for basics and I'm seeing real savings there. (For my family, we save about $9.00 a week in Florida on milk, eggs and bread alone) But I really want to save with my coupons too!

Thanks!

Becky

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I think one of the biggest things you have to do is learn what stuff costs & figure out the pattern of sales. My wife is really good at that stuff, but I haven't a clue. One thing she's discovered of late is that Wal*Mart has been jacking prices UP in anticipation of coupons. If something is normally $2.00 and there's a $1.00 coupon in this week's paper, you might find it priced at $2.50 or $3.00 when you go to use that coupon. Great strategy on their part, but not such a great "deal" anymore.

Never "stock up" on anything just because a coupon lowers the price. If you can get it free, sure. But, if it's just a "good deal", you'll wind up spending money now you wouldn't have had to spend until later. The same sales & coupons will come back around in a few months, so no need to get 3 or 4 years worth of stuff at one time (again, unless it's free or nearly so).

We still haven't figured out how to get free soda, meat, fresh produce, or many of the other things you see the extreme couponers getting on those shows. But, we have knocked $30-40 off $100 worth of groceries pretty regularly and occasionally better. Anxious to see some more tips here

 

[Southernmiss]

You have to live in an area where the stores make it easier to save with double and triple coupons and deals on meat/produce.

These deals are not available in every area.

I look for them, but they just are not available in my area. I do better with sales and knowing the low prices of Walmart on the products I use.

 

[SweetPeasMom2]

Few things I do, and I don't get it down to $5 either.

-I use SouthernSavers. She matches the sales with the coupons. That way I know I'm getting it at the best price possible w/the sale and coupon. It's a free site. There are others, this is the one I prefer.

-It takes time to build up your coupon stock as well as your stockpile. So you may be spending the same amount at first (maybe a little more). The idea is to build your stockpile up so that you aren't buying all the time. Sales come in cycles. Like a PP mentioned, know these cycles (around 12 weeks). So if your family eats lots of Ragu sauce and it's BOGO w/a coupon that makes it rock bottom, buy what your family will need to get through those 12 weeks.

-Don't be brand loyal, for the most part. If you can get Charmin at a better deal than Angel Soft, by all means by it. However, if your family will only eat Ragu, then don't buy 5 jars of Prego.

-Don't necessarily be store loyal. If you can, shop at more than one. Don't go out of your way and spend more in gas than you'll save, but if you have two stores w/in the same area and can get a better deal one week at one vs the other, do it. I am not a fan of Kroger but when they have their 10 for $10, I will take a look and sometimes stock up from there.

-Know your stores policies and deals. Do they double, triple coupons? Do they match coupons? Can you stack (store and manufacture) coupons? What is their BOGO policy (can you buy 1 item and get it for 1/2 price or do you have to buy the 2nd item?).

-It takes time. It won't happen the first week, month, or several months. It takes time to learn the sales and get your stockpile built up. But once you do, you'll be very happy you did.

Lastly, remember that the extreme couponers, for the show anyways, some of it is added for the tv. Some of those people have way more toothpaste than they will ever need and use. It does expire. However, those that are donating a good bit as well are great.

Hope this helps.

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

I don't do the binder system. It just never worked for me. I used to get LOTS of coupon inserts from my friend who worked at a recycling place. I would NOT clip them. I would leave them as is, group them together and carry them in a tote. It worked for me. I also belong to a couple of couponing websites that do sale and coupon matchups. I ALWAYS stock up on things that we us a lot of when they are on sale. For example, cereal is a huge thing in our house--we consume a lot of it as there are 6 of us who eat it. A couple grocery stores here double coupons and they will run sales on General Mills cereal. So, say they are having General Mills cereal on sale for 2 for $4. There are usually a ton of coupons out there for General MIlls cereal so I will use many of the 75cent ones which double to $1.50 so a box will only cost me 50cents. I NEVER NEVER NEVER pay over $1 for a box of cereal--I refuse to. LOL! My husband loves my couponing and totally supports me doing it even though it can at times take a little longer.

 

[Disneefun]

The things you see on TV are entertainment. Much of it isn't real. When the show filmed a couple of episodes in the Lowes Foods around here, Lowes admitted that they broke their own coupon policies for these people, allowing them to use many more than they normally would and in combinations that aren't usually permitted. (They later apologized and said they had no idea what they were getting into when they agreed to do the show and that once the crew was in the stores, the crew basically pushed them to give people this stuff for free and break the rules for "good TV.")

So, remember, what you see on TV isn't going to happen for the vast majority of us in real life.

 

[AverageDiser]

I figure I'm doing great if I can save 40-50%. I do two major couponing trips a month, at least one to a store that doubles coupons about 30 minutes away. I plan those trips for probably 2-3 hours. I use couponmom.com to look up sale prices and coupon matches. The site is very easy to use, and FREE. You can list the prices from % saved, I think that's the easiest way. Southernsavers.com is the other site I use a lot, particularly for the kroger trips.

1. I save the .50 cent and under coupons specifically for the trip to the store that doubles, and usually try to go when they run a Buy 10 Save $5 promotion (Kroger).

2. For the local trip, I use Wal-Mart, as they will price match. The secret to the price matching(for me, anyway) is to take the fliers with you! No, you're not supposed to have to take them, but I've found it speeds up the whole process immensely. I mark the things I'm price matching with a black sharpie marker, makes them easy to find and show to the cashier. I try to keep the price matches from each store seperate in the cart and at checkout to streamline the process. I also try to go at a slower time (middle of the day or late at night), and get in a line without anyone behind me, and when someone does get in line behind me, I let them know I'm going to use a lot of coupons and price matching, they usually appreciate it.

3. I also do CVS every week. I go on Sunday when the flier comes out, and try to be there before 2pm. In the beginning you will have to spend money, but there are several websites that post $5-$10 scenarios you can use. Try simplycvsshopping.com, thriftytexaspenny.com, and southernsavers.com, they all post scenarios. Within probably two-three months, I had a stockpile of ECBs- it's usually anywhere between $15 & $20, and I only spend maybe $2 on the taxes. I cannot tell you the last time I paid for shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, razors, floss, toothbrushes or toothpaste. I also keep a donation box going for the local Christmas charity.

4. I also use a binder, it's organized by store aisles, with all the like products together. It takes me prob an hour a week to maintain it, but I love how easy it is to find the coupons I'm looking for. I'll be the first to admit it takes time to coupon effectively, I probably spend 10 hours a month. I rarely find coupons for things like meat/eggs/dairy/fruit, but the money I save on everything else makes up for it!

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

I always try to pair coupons with items on "shopper club" sales.

I keep multiple coupons ready for preferred items in my binder, so when an item does go on sale I can stock up a bit.

Like the OP said, it's more about not spending as much $, not so much buying more things to "save" with coupons. I suggest writing down how much you spend on groceries for a couple months, and then working on getting the total $ down.

 

[beaucoup]

Don't buy it if you don't need it just because there is a coupon. If you already have enough of that item to last until the next sale or next coupon, don't spend money buying & stock piling even more of it. The sale & coupon will come around again. They always do.

 

[java]

My goal with coupons and sales is to save 50% off my bill. Rarely do I get a close to nothing kind of trip unless it's just a small mid week- just for the sales kind of trip. But hey we have to eat too.

The biggest saver for me has been the catalinas- buying things in groups on the same trip resulting in $$ off a future shopping order. This week I should get free diet coke.

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

Don't buy it if you don't need it just because there is a coupon. If you already have enough of that item to last until the next sale or next coupon, don't spend money buying & stock piling even more of it. The sale & coupon will come around again. They always do.

 

[hpfan100]

I would try some of these tips I use. My budget is 120 a month for groceries, household, cat food and litter. I'm a family of 1 but my mom visits often and I give her plenty of goodies. I also am a vegetarian so that saves some meat money but I eat tons of fresh produce. I'm also a big fan of natural/organic foods and almond/soy milk.

Tips-
1. rainchecks at CVS never expire...great way to save as needed especially if the shelf is empty
2. use the little coupons at a store that doubles if you can
3. find a good website that caters to your area...it took me awhile to find a good one for AZ but now I have 2
4. set aside an amount of time you are comfortable using towards couponing (I set aside about 3 hours a week) I clip while watching TV and check for deals while facebooking and checking email
5. keep a list/notebook of your favorite items and the prices of them including sales so you know if it is really a good deal
6. shop at the same couple of stores...saves time after few trips since you learn your way around very quickly, also helps you select good cashiers
7. I do all my shopping on the same day..Sunday usually

Coupons have been a life saver for me...it allows me to travel 4-8 times a year and still be able to pay my bills on a teacher's salary.

Good luck to you!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

2. For the local trip, I use Wal-Mart, as they will price match. The secret to the price matching(for me, anyway) is to take the fliers with you! No, you're not supposed to have to take them, but I've found it speeds up the whole process immensely.

DEFINITELY take them with you. BTW, if you ever buy a Sunday paper from Wal*Mart, you'll notice there are no competing sale ads or coupons in it

 

[njmom47]

Where we are, there are websites that you can add cyber coupons to your club savers card. Also, our local grocery chain has a program where if you buy x amt of certain brands, you accumulate points, and then you can choose a reward. I always choose the $2.00 off your next purchase (or 4 or 6 dollars). Usually at least 90% of what I buy is either on sale or I have a coupon for. I have a plastic box with attached lid and dividers for types of coupons that are organized by aisle (I shop in the same store every week).

 

[carrie1626]

I've always used coupons and still do, although there don't seem to be as many good ones like years ago.

Also, I decided to start cooking more from scratch and that means we have left overs and cost wise it evens out fairly well. I simply do not want to feed my family all the pre-made frozen stuff out there anymore. Also, I'm way more conscious of the non-necessities, with or without a coupon.

 

[budafam]

I have always shopped off of sales alone so couponing wasn't a huge stretch for me. I now normally save as much as I spend when I go shopping. Yesterday I spent $63 on groceries and saved $74 because I doubled coupons. I started a facebook group for our local community and so many people have learned how to do it through there. It's been really nice because I see a lot of my friends on there actually "getting the concept". I have a binder and though it takes time, it works the best for me. I've tried to leave the inserts intact and I just don't like it when I can't page through and see all of the coupons I have available.

 

[Beckypooh1972]

Never "stock up" on anything just because a coupon lowers the price. If you can get it free, sure. But, if it's just a "good deal", you'll wind up spending money now you wouldn't have had to spend until later. The same sales & coupons will come back around in a few months, so no need to get 3 or 4 years worth of stuff at one time (again, unless it's free or nearly so).

I agree! I have learned my lesson on that. I bought some of that white chocolate cream cheese that the Philadelphia brand put out as a new product. Since I don't eat a lot of bread I really can't use it on anything -- I just eat a spoonful of it when I want something sweet! It was free with coupons however.