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weekly ads and stock up when something you use is on sale, and especially when you have a coupon for those sale items. Some stores will let you combine a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon (ie Target and Walgreens). Other stores price match if you bring in their competitor's ad. Pricematching is good if original store is out of stock and your coupons expire before rain checked items come in. It's also good to save on trekking all over town to get sales when you could get them all at Super-Walmart, for example.
Ask if your favorite store offers a reward program. Baker's offers a club card you swipe every time you shop to get their discount prices. HyVee's checkout spits out Catalina coupons to use on your next purchase when you purchase certain items. Register all of your grocery and drugstore cards at Upromise.com, and they deposit 1% - 5% of purchase price of thousands of different brands into a college fund for person of your choice!
Some lucky shoppers get to take advantage of "Double Coupon Sales" or even "Triple Coupon Sales" where store actually doubles value of coupon, up to a certain amount. For example, store may advertise "Double Coupons up to 99¢!" Any coupon value 99¢ or lower, will be doubled, but $1.00 and up will be normal value. The store themselves eat doubled value as an incentive to pull in shoppers.
Be sure to browse Clearance Sections of your store. Target is known for having deep discounts on their end shelves hidden in store. Also, if your coupon boasts "Valid on ANY size", buy trial size! Be sure to calculate if you are getting a deal. Sometimes, it may still be cheaper to buy a generic brand of something, than to use a coupon on a name-brand something.
If price of a product is more than value of your coupon (ie Shampoo is 99¢ and you have a $1 off coupon), it is up to store whether they will give you whole value of coupon (where you make a profit) or just deduct cost of product. Either way, store will be reimbursed for full amount of coupon plus standard 8¢ redemption fee they receive. So, even though cashiers act like they hate coupons, it's in store's best interest to accept them.
Rebate and Refund forms are another way to "cash" in on savings. These are obtained same way coupons are, only they are not as plentiful. The best ones offer "Try Us Free!" Read fine print, as most require you buy product within a specific time period, and mail in cash register receipt (with purchase price circled) along with UPC barcode from product. Mail in as soon as possible, so it doesn't get forgotten about before deadline. Many, many people forget to mail in their forms or don't read fine print and miss out.
Stores, like Ace Hardware and Office Max, offer their own rebate booklets where you can take advantage of multiple offers with one form to get cash back. Some stores, like Walgreens, Shopko and Menards, offer their "cash back" in form of store credit. You can turn around and use your store credit next month to buy new products that are FAR (Free After Rebate)! And you can combine coupons with rebates!
"Triple Plays" are music to Couponer's ears. This can mean that 1) product is on sale, 2) you have a coupon and 3) store offers a monthly rebate program. Or 1) there is a store coupon, 2) you have a manufacturer coupon and 3) you have a mail-in rebate for that product. The possibilities are endless. And most possibilities turn out with totally free products.
Unfortunately most perishable items do not have coupons for them. But you can still save! Watch when meat is marked down. Markets must sell their cut meat after so many days, so you can get meat 50% off or more on cut off day. If you don't need any meat for next few days to use it, freeze it to use later! Also watch for big ten pound tubes of hamburger to go on sale, as it is a lot cheaper per pound. Buy some freezer bags and divide it up into smaller portions and freeze.
Long timer couponers have year long supplies of certain stockpiled items, like toothpaste, razors, shampoo and cleaning supplies. When they are out of an item, they simply "shop" their stockpile closet. Not only did they save money buying item, they saved time not having to run to store to buy it again.
And There's More Coupons!
Watch for coupons to save when dining out at your favorite restaurant, to get a free membership to gym, or even to save 25% off new clothes at mall boutiques. These are also found in Entertainment booklets, newspaper ads and printable online.
Now, that you know how to save on most everything you need or want, there are also virtual coupons! Most online merchants offer promotional codes to be used during checkout process for percentages off your purchase or even free shipping. ShoppingBookmarks.com categorizes thousands of coupon codes for hundreds of merchants. No need to go out now. Sit in front of your computer and have your good delivered to your door for less!
Kim Rowley (aka ShoppingKim.com) lives in Pierce, Nebraska, with her 4 children. Kim has saved thousands of dollars due to her thriftiness. Kim owns ShoppingBookmarks.com, an online coupon portal, and is a consultant / contributor for Proctor & Gamble's Brandsaver Division.
