Top Coupon Strategies
Utilize the following shopping strategies and watch the savings roll in!!
Let the Pros Do the Work for You
Let’s face it! We’re all a little short on time these days. And if you have toddlers running around or you’re a homeschooling mom, well then, let’s just say you have to find more ways to redeem your time than the rest of us. So, my advice is to find a couple of money saving blogs or websites that are dependable about posting regular store deals, good deal alerts and various printable coupons. This can save you lots of time and energy and help you get the hang of the coupon game.
Coupons, Coupons, Coupons
The more coupons you have to work with, the more deals you can do. First of all, familiarize yourself with all the different sources for finding coupons.
Second, figure out a way to get your hands on multiple coupon inserts every week. Either buy multiple copies of the paper, ask your friends for theirs. Ask your neighbors for theirs. Whatever you have to do. I, personally, buy three papers every week (sometimes more if it’s a really great week for coupons). Yes, that’s $6 out of my pocket, but my savings MORE than makes up for it.
If you find a FREE or cheap deal for toothpaste, deodorant or vienna sausages (joke), you’re going to wish you had more than one coupon so you could buy three instead of one. This also saves you from paying full price in the future.
Double Coupons
Homeland doubles coupons $1 and under. This means that you will receive a discount equal to double the amount shown on the coupon according to store specific policy. For instance, if your coupon is for $1 off ONE item, then you will receive $2 for that item. The discount is automatically calculated at the register.
You can save alot of dough by utilizing doubled coupons, however, there is one policy you need to be aware of. Homeland only doubles the FIRST of “like” coupons in one transaction. So if you have two $1 coupons for Cheerios and buy two boxes in the same transaction. Only one coupon will double to $2. The other coupon will only discount $1.
Pick Cherries
Picking cherries refers to shopping at a particular store according to what’s on sale that week. Use the weekly circulars (or better yet, follow a few blogs like I suggested before) to find deals that you can get for FREE and CHEAP when matched with coupons. This requires knowledge in the average price of an item at other stores and discipline in only buying what’s “on your list” and not succumbing to all the “other great deals” the store has to offer.
My advice to someone just getting started is to pick cherries at Homeland. Then do the remainder of your shopping at Crest or Walmart as they have all around good deals. You’ll be amazed at how much you will save just shopping at two stores.
Once you’re comfortable with this, then start picking cherries at CVS utilizing their Extra Care Bucks program along with coupons.
Then when you’re comfortable with CVS, check out Walgreens. Be sure to start small here as the Walgreens Register Rewards program tends to be a bit confusing at first.
Stacking Coupons
Many stores issue their own “store” coupons as an alternative way of running a sale. Some allow the use of one manufacturer coupon along with a store coupon on the same item. This is a great way to save a little more.
CVS, Walgreens and Target are the stores that allow this in our area.
When stacking coupons, always be sure to give the cashier any manufacturer coupons you want to use first. Then hand over the store coupons.
Customer Rewards
Walgreens & CVS both offer customer rewards programs to help you save money. Knowing how to “work” these programs can help you save even more. The best way to familiarize yourself with these programs is to jump on in.
With both these programs you will earn customer rewards that can be used like cash on your next order. The key to making the most out of these programs is to roll rewards earned from one transaction into more deals that will generate more rewards.
If you have any questions about either one of these programs, you are welcome to contact me.
Hello, I'm Amanda...Christ follower, Wife, Mother, Step-mother, Frugalista and the person behind the blog. My goal is to help you practice frugality in the home by becoming a smarter shopper. Every day I'll show you how to save money on groceries and other household items by using store sales, coupons, customer reward programs, rebates and other shopping strategies. I'll also share ideas and encouragement for blessing others. So welcome! I am so blessed to have you here!