Before you go to the grocery store, it is important to make a list of the things you plan to buy. Then you can focus on getting everything you need while resisting the lure of impulse purchases.
A few things to keep in mind:
1) Compare grocery coupons to the store flyer to be sure you maximize your savings. As you go through your coupons consider whether those soon to expire should be used now. Make sure every coupon you plan to use now goes on your list. I recycle junk mail envelopes for my grocery lists and stick the coupons I plan to use on each trip inside the list envelope.
2) Plan your menu and then review recipes against items you have on hand so you will be sure to add everything you will need to your list. Nothing is worse than starting a recipe and realizing you must interrupt cooking and then pay top dollar at a convenience store for an item you forgot to pick up on your grocery trip.
3) Sometimes you will spot a great buy you did not plan in advance, and you will want to take advantage of the savings. That is okay as long as you weigh every unplanned purchase carefully and are certain the purchase makes sense (is something you will use) and makes cents (will save you money in the long run). Because you will sometimes come across these unadvertised specials, it is important to have all your coupons with you if possible to maximize your savings.
As with clipping coupons, the little time you invest in making a list will pay you back with time and money saved.
Showing posts with label coupons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coupons. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Clip Coupons and Save Dollars
These days, coupons have become bigger than ever. With so many merchants doubling coupons and given the ability of the internet to target you with coupons related to every interest, there's no way to avoid the fact that coupons can save a savvy clipper hundreds of dollars a year.
Where do you find coupons? You can start with your Sunday newspaper. You will want to pull the flyers for the grocery, drug, department stores you visit each week and the coupon inserts. Then go through and clip the coupons for products you are likely to purchase. Compare the coupons to the sales in the store flyers to maximize your savings. You can hold your coupons in a recycled envelope for the time being.
Coupon books are often distributed in stores; you can check for these at the front of the store. You can also search online for more options.
Start simply if you are new to this. Stick to products you currently use and stores you frequent. As you improve you can add stores. For example, maybe you don't usually shop at the drug store next to your favorite grocery store because the prices are usually higher than another pharmacy up the road. As you start clipping coupons and following the sales, you may decide that it is worth it to go to that higher priced drug store once a week, while you are visiting the grocery store next door anyway, so that you can combine steep discounts with coupons on two or three items.
Within a few weeks you will find that an hour spent clipping coupons pays a respectable wage.
Where do you find coupons? You can start with your Sunday newspaper. You will want to pull the flyers for the grocery, drug, department stores you visit each week and the coupon inserts. Then go through and clip the coupons for products you are likely to purchase. Compare the coupons to the sales in the store flyers to maximize your savings. You can hold your coupons in a recycled envelope for the time being.
Coupon books are often distributed in stores; you can check for these at the front of the store. You can also search online for more options.
Start simply if you are new to this. Stick to products you currently use and stores you frequent. As you improve you can add stores. For example, maybe you don't usually shop at the drug store next to your favorite grocery store because the prices are usually higher than another pharmacy up the road. As you start clipping coupons and following the sales, you may decide that it is worth it to go to that higher priced drug store once a week, while you are visiting the grocery store next door anyway, so that you can combine steep discounts with coupons on two or three items.
Within a few weeks you will find that an hour spent clipping coupons pays a respectable wage.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)