The Coupon Guru
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The Coupon Guru |
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 Lots
of us go shopping every week and just buy what we need and ignore the coupons.
The problem with this kind of 'reactive shopping' is we are always hostage to
the grocery store prices for that day. Even if an item was on sale all last
week, if it is back to full price then we pay full price. To get those big 70%
savings each week, we need to develop smart shopping habits.
Can you really cut your grocery bill in half? Actually, yes. In fact, you can
cut it by way more than that if you really wanted to.Start by using your coupons at the store with the most generous coupon policies. Although most stores accept grocery coupons, their specific coupon policies can vary dramatically. One store may accept coupons at their face value, while another store may double or even triple the face value of the coupon. Stores that offer bonus coupon policies tend to advertise these policies in their weekly ad, on their Web site and in their stores. Start by finding out this important grocery coupon information Do you offer your own store coupons? If so, where can I find them? Some stores offer special coupons in their weekly ad, on their Web site, through e-mail newsletters, and even in store magazines and flyers posted in special racks in the stores. If your store has their magazine available in the store, go ahead and fill out the subscription card in the magazine to get free home delivery. The home-delivered magazine is more likely to include grocery coupons.2. Can I combine your store coupon with a manufacturers' coupon for the same item? When you use both a store coupon and a manufacturers' coupon (such as the coupons from the Sunday grocery coupon circulars) together to buy one item, it may end up being free. Although shoppers cannot use two manufacturers' coupons on the same item, it is very common to be able to use a store coupon together with a manufacturers' coupon. Keep in mind that stores do not double their own store coupons, but they will double the manufacturers coupons if they have a double-coupon policy. 3. Do you accept competitors' store coupons? If so, look for store coupons for other grocery stores and drugstores in their weekly ads. Combine the competing stores' coupons with manufacturers' coupons at a grocery store that doubles coupons to really save. 4. Know how to read coupons. The coupon's word description takes precedent over the coupon's picture. Although a coupon may say "$1 off any variety of Brand X" it is likely to show a picture of the most expensive item in the Brand X line. If you thought your coupon only applied to the $5 item pictured, you would spend $4 on the item. However, if you bought the smaller $1 variety of Brand X, you would get that item free. 5. Do you accept coupons printed from a home computer? There are now over 300 grocery coupons available from the printable grocery coupon Web sites offering big savings, offering significant savings. 6. Do you accept expired grocery coupons? Some major stores choose to accept expired grocery coupons rather than doubling or tripling coupons. Organized coupon shoppers can save big with this policy. 7. Do you double multiple coupons for like items? Smart shoppers know that stocking up on their favorite items when they are at their lowest prices is the key to reducing their grocery bills. If shoppers have one coupon per item purchased, they will save the most at stores that double all of their like coupons. Some stores will double the first coupon and deduct only the face value for additional like coupons, so shopping at the more generous store will pay big dividends for stockpilers. Although buying store brands and using the store's discount card are important components of strategic shopping, in many cases a name-brand item on sale with a coupon is much less expensive than the store brand. I agree that it may not make sense to buy a name-brand product with a coupon if the store brand is less expensive and of equal quality, but that's not always the case. Finding cutting and collecting coupons on your own may be difficult and time consuming. To save time and energy and get more value, try joining a coupon collecting site online. Site like Coupon Mom and the Grocery Guru can give you lots of help and ideas. |
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