Coupons + Store Specials = Savings Double Whammy
5 Comments | Written on October 7, 2011 at 9:00 am, by Rachel Achmad
courtesy of Rachel Achmad
Five years ago, I quit my job to become a stay-at-home mom because daycare costs for my young twins were eating up my whole paycheck. However, I still needed a way to afford all the groceries that were being eaten up by the young twins! Enter: couponing.
I began clipping coupons regularly and saw savings at the register. This was great, but earlier this year, it got even better. A friend asked me to help research an article she was writing about couponing. In the course of our research, she found expert couponer Jill Cataldo and her instructional DVDs, which helped me take my couponing to an almost meta-physical level.
Jill taught me the two most important practices that result in huge savings at the register:
- Combine manufacturer’s coupons with store sales to decrease your price paid per item.
- Buy enough items to last until the next sale, so you can “shop at home.” Typically, stores will have items on sale at least once every three months.
My two cents? Be sensible as you are creating your “shop at home” stockpile. We’ve all heard about extreme couponers who freak out the cashiers with grocery carts full of products for which they pay just pennies. Really, who needs a cart full of Febreze and Pop-Tarts, even for free? Who even has this kind of storage space?
Things taste better (or work better, in the case of personal care items) when they’re fresh, and it’s just bad karma to take everything. If I have more coupons than I need for a certain item, I leave them on the shelf at the store for the next shopper to benefit from.
The breakdown: Full-price Cheerios (the brand of cereal my family prefers, and I don’t try to fight it) are $3.59 per box x 6 boxes = $21.54. With store special, $2 per box x 6 boxes = $12. With .50/off per box coupon doubled AND store special, $1 per box x 6 boxes = $6. Total savings = $15.54.
Some stores don’t offer doubling, but might offer store coupons (such as CVS or Target.) You are allowed to use both one store coupon and one manufacturer’s coupon per item.
Rachel Achmad coupons in Western Massachusetts, and blogs about deals in her region at www.momscheapthrills.tumblr.com.
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How to Coupon | Tags: Chicken, Quick and Easy, Rice
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5 Responses to “Coupons + Store Specials = Savings Double Whammy”
Have you ever thought about creating an ebook or
guest authoring on other blogs? I have a blog centered on the same
topics you discuss and would love to have you share
some stories/information. I know my visitors would value your work.
If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an email.
I have been couponing for over 30 years. But I have never ever been in an area that doubles the coupons. I literally gave up on coupons because I was spending more than usual on an item just to save 50 cents. Itboiled down to buying a brand name, saving 50 cents, and still spending 30 cents more for an item that I could have bought generic and no one would be any worse for the wear. The best deal happened just last week when our local Albertson’s rounded coupons regardless up to $1.00. Can we as consumers weigh in on a stores decision to honor coupons for more thn face worth?
I just found this blog today, and am already loving all of the helpful information. I just have one small bone to pick — when you leave the coupon on the shelf, it may not be as helpful as you would like. The associates in charge of stocking shelves usually identify abandoned coupons as trash and will throw them away. While some coupons may make it into the hands of the next customer, most don’t stay there long enough to be of any use. Fortunately, many stores have now installed coupon bins near their entrances. You are welcome to drop coupons there as well as search for any ones you may have missed. If a store doesn’t have a coupon bin, many stores still have a notice board where you could pin your leftovers.
Thanks for putting together such a great blog, and keep up the good work!
I have to say way to go to those moms or dads that hunt for coupons to save money, but please respect the cashier that is checking you out! I work as a checker at a grocery store and it’s great to be able to help others save money, but please make sure your coupons Match the items you’re purchasing and check the expirations! Manufactures do not reimburse stores that receive expired coupons. Showing up w/ a good attitude and the right coupons makes everything go so much faster and more pleasant for you, the checker and the customer next in line.
Jan you are absolutely right! I typically use a handheld scanner and go through the self-checkout in my store, but I mention in some of my other posts the importance of organizing yourself BEFORE getting to the register, so as not to inconvenience the checker.
Thanks for reading and commenting!