So you've clipped some coupons, and you're ready to shop. The first thing to know is, willy nilly is the enemy of savings. Hitting the store with no plan, no idea what's on sale and not a clue as to what a store's coupon policy is will not serve you well when you're playing the savings game.
1.) Know the coupon policy.
Coupon policies vary widely from store to store or even from region to region. For instance, in my area (Kokomo, IN), Kroger, Meijer and Marsh supermarkets all double coupons up to 50¢. That means a 25¢ coupon will be worth 50¢ and a 50¢ will be worth a $1. So let's say, just for example, that Hamburger Helper was on sale for $1 a box at both Kroger and Walmart. If you have a coupon that's worth 50¢ off when you buy three boxes, those three boxes will cost you $2.50 at Walmart with your coupon. But the same three boxes will only cost you $2.00 at Kroger because they will double the value of your coupon.
Now, the Kroger stores in Fort Wayne, IN triple couples up to 50¢. So those same three boxes of Hamburger Helper with that same coupon would only cost you $1.50 there...or 50¢ a box. That's a 50% savings!!
Most stores have limits on how many 'alike' coupons they will accept. For instance, Kroger in my area will only allow me to redeem five alike coupons in any one transaction. Additionally, they will only allow you to double two alike coupons in a transaction. So let's say I have five 25¢ off coupons for Duncan Hines brownies. Kroger would allow me to buy five brownies and use all five coupons, but only the first two would double. The remaining three would only be worth their face value of 25¢.
Different stores also have different policies about internet printable coupons and 'stacking' (something we will discuss in another post). It's wise to know what each store's policy is before you start shopping so you can plan for maximum savings. Simply call the store or stop at the customer service desk and ask about their policy. Do this routinely to make sure nothing has changed, especially if you are planning a large shopping trip or are traveling to a further away location.
2.) Know what's on sale.
Shopping the ads is one of the best ways to maximize your shopping dollars. This is usually something that's requires a big shift in how people both shop and plan their meals. What do I mean by that? Well, a lot of people plan this week's menu and then go shop for it. And that's a perfectly fine way to do it. But just because you want to serve spaghetti and meatballs this week doesn't mean spaghetti, meatballs or sauce will be on sale this week. So to serve that meal this week, you will have to pay whatever the asking price is for those items. If you're lucky, you'll have a coupon for at least one of the things you need.
But, the truly successful bargain shopper will look at this week's ad and match her coupons to what's on sale, thinking not only about this week, but the future as well. Using a coupon on a sale item is obviously going to give you a better price than using that same coupon on a full priced item. So let's say spaghetti sauce is on sale this week and you have a coupon for it. Buy the sauce this week, and wait for the other elements to go on sale before penciling spaghetti and meatballs on your menu.
If something you use regularly has a really good sale price and you have multiple coupons for it, consider stocking up. Having extra items on hand will give you a lot more flexibility when planning meals down the road, and having paid less will be a great bonus.
By simply looking over the Sunday ads or viewing ads online, you will know which stores are offering the best deals at any given time. If you're willing to invest a little more time and effort, you may find that shopping at several different stores will net you the most bang for your bucks. I know in my area, Meijer, Walgreens, Target and Walmart are all within a block or so of each other. If toothpaste will be less at Walgreens than anywhere else, why not make that extra stop? But even if you do prefer one-stop shopping, buying what's on sale when you have a coupon is always going to stretch your dollar further than buying what you want when you want it.
3.) Have a plan.
The grocery store...well any store really...is designed to encourage you to spend. When you hit the front door, everything is working against you and your wallet. From the music they play to the positioning of the products, from the colors on the hangtags to the size of the shopping cart...everything is stacked against you and your efforts to save money. If you don't have a plan, you're going to lose the battle.
While a list isn't a must, it definitely is a plus. Using the ad as a guide, plan your list and know which items you have coupons for. Have a plan for how to keep track of your coupons in the store. It stinks to get out to the car and realize that $1 off toilet paper coupon never made it to the register. Try to avoid backtracking through the store by marking things off your list as you go. Every trip down an aisle presents the temptation to buy something else. Skip rows when you can. If you don't need anything in the paper product aisle, why go down it?
Don't fall for 'store speak'. For instance, just because the ad or hangtag says '2/$5' doesn't mean you have to buy 2 to get that price. You can buy just one and pay only $2.50. This is pretty much always true unless the ad says 'when you buy'. For example, pop 12 packs frequently will be 4/$10 when you buy 4. If it says 'when you buy', you must buy items in those quantities to get that price. But if it just says 4/$10, then you can buy one for $2.50.
Stores often offer 10/$10 sales that can be confusing. Most of the time, you can buy items during a 10/$10 sale for $1 each, whether you buy 10 or 11 or 16 or whatever. But sometimes, it will say 10/$10 when you buy ten or Meijer will often have a buy 10 get the 11th free sale. In those cases, you must buy items in sets of ten (or 11, in the case of the Meijer get 11th free deal). Now that doesn't mean you have to buy ten of the same item. Unless it says otherwise in the ad, you can mix and match any of the 10/$10 or buy 10 get 11th free items to take advantage of the deal. With the Meijer buy 10 get the 11th free deals, you will only pay $1 for each item you buy even if you buy more or less than 10, but you'll miss out on the free item if you don't purchase items in the correct quantities.
The Kroger Mega Events are an awesome time to stock up and save, but many people are confused as to how to maximize their savings there as well. The Mega Event will typically offer $5 off when you buy any 10 participating items. Basically what happens is when you buy 10 items from the Mega Event selections using your loyalty card, 50¢ will come off each item. This will add up to $5 off your total. However, if you don't keep your purchases in sets of 10, you will lose that extra 50¢ off each item that isn't part of a set of ten. For instance, if I buy twelve Mega event items, I will save the extra 50¢ off the first ten items, but I will be charged the higher price for the other two. It is always to your advantage to make sure you keep your Mega Event purchases in the correct amount for this reason. A simple system of making a hash mark on your shopping list every time you put a qualified Event item in your cart is a great way to stay on top of your deal.
When you add coupons to all these $1 or Mega deals, you can really make out well at the register!!
Rumor has it the Kroger Mega Event will start this Thursday (Jan. 5). They will likely offer many of the Proctor & Gamble products on the Mega that had coupons in the paper today. It makes it a great time to get in there and start saving. So start clippin' and get ready to save!!
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