As college students, living on a college budget is a constant struggle. For many students, having three meals a day, buying brand name beauty products, and going out is a privilege. With a tight budget and an overbearing hunger, saving money is a must. The best way to save money is through couponing. Coupons, as portrayed in "Extreme Couponing" on TLC, can save you hundreds of dollars throughout the year. As great as the savings can be, couponing can be difficult without a little guidance.
I had the opportunity to interview Amy Gordon, a lover and expert of extreme couponing. Gordon has been couponing for over two years. Gordon and her family were going through serious financial issues, with only one source of income providing for a family of five. Through watching "Extreme Couponing," Gordon taught herself to coupon and began saving money for her family.
In the past two years, Gordon has been able to save her family around 10,000 dollars. “If we were both (her and her husband) to lose our jobs today, we wouldn’t have to buy personal items probably for two years,” Gordon said. Throughout the interview, Gordon was willing to share some tips to help you get started and set you on your way to being a little richer.
1. Get your coupons.
Before you embark into the madness of the couponing world, you have to gather coupons. The best and easiest source of coupons is your daily newspaper. Newspapers, especially Sunday newspapers, usually carry coupons from big name and local stores alike. You can sign up to receive different kinds of newspapers to maximize your quantity of coupons and they will be delivered right to your doorstep.
You can also go online, visit manufacturer websites, and print off coupons. Coupons.com is definitely one to keep your eye on; and sign up for rewards cards and download apps. Don’t hesitate to be old fashioned and walk into a store and ask for coupons either. The more, the merrier.
2. Organize!
A pile of different coupons can become overwhelming very quickly. The best way to avoid frustration and confusion is organization. Gordon prefers to place her coupons into a binder. She suggests you categorize your coupons and place dividers as you separate each section. Baseball card holder sheets are perfect to fit coupons and prevent them from getting crumbled at the bottom of your wallet or purse. Other coupon-loving folks prefer to use a file box. A file box is already divided into sections that are easy to use and shift through when placing or choosing your coupons.
3. Learn the policies.
In order to save money, you have to play by the rules. Before diving into shopping, make yourself aware of the rules each store has. It can vary significantly depending on the store. Read your coupons carefully. All coupons usually state the limit and size of the product you are buying. Don’t forget about expiration dates either. The key to saving is double couponing. There are loopholes you can work around to maximize your savings. There is a distinct difference between one coupon per item and one coupon per transaction.
For instance, “at Publix you can use eight like coupons, so you can get eight items with eight coupons. But if there is a Publix coupon, you can use eight of those with eight of your manufacture coupons and now you’re doubling your coupons and that’s how you get stuff almost for free,” said Gordon.
4. Time for checkout.
Before you splurge and put your new couponing skills to the test, know what coupons and items you want to purchase. Make a list if necessary of all the things you want to get and how much of it you want to get. Remember, sometimes you have to buy a certain amount or item to get another one. Gordon does her research before going into the store. “I go into the store site, go through their ad, see what’s on sale and then go back through and see if I have coupons that match the sale and go from there,” Gordon said.
Be courteous to those around you. Make sure you let the cashier know you will be using different coupons and dividing your transactions. Other customers will give you weird looks and become impatient, but you stay focused and it will all work out.
5. Final tips.
Once you realize how much you can save through couponing, you are going to want to take the entire store home. However, learn to limit yourself. Start off slow with small transactions. It is highly unlikely that you will be saving hundreds within the first couple of months. “My first six months I was excited walking out the store saving 40%,” Gordon said. Be patient. “Do not let it overwhelm, you. You have to spend a little to save a little,” Gordon said. One transaction at a time and you will be on your way to couponing. Who knows, you might even make a guest appearance on "Extreme Couponing."
