Have you ever walked into Walmart, having to pick up a couple of items, and you think to yourself, why do I have to buy this? It's a necessity, shouldn't I get this for free?
Well, nothing in life is free, but these tips to beginner's couponing will get you pretty close. Whether you're saving up for college, a car, or just saving for the heck of it, take a little bit of time, do some math, and invest in this activity. Your bank account will thank you.
1. Find the cheapest grocery store or market in your area.
In my case, this is Harris Teeter. VIC card holders have these deals right at their fingertips. Customers can sign up for VIC and E-VIC Emails and get emails once a week on specials! After getting these specials you can compare prices and what would be a "steal" based on the coupons that are on coupons.com. For example, Harris Teeter will almost always have a sale on name brand cereal for $1.97 for an E-VIC special or 2/$5 for a regular special. You can go onto coupons.com and print off a coupon for .75/2 or $1/3 and save! Harris Teeter will ALWAYS double coupons UP TO a $1 so anything .99 or below is a super easy way to save $1.00-$1.50 per item if you have a .50-.75 coupon on the item. Also, super doubles are great to check out, especially on more expensive items like tampons, shampoo, etc. Other grocery chains offer specials just like this, depending on their small print. Other most heard about saving spots are Walgreens, CVS, Target, and Kroger.
2. Search for coupons.
Like I mentioned before, store's websites are like maps; start there. It's almost always necessary to search elsewhere, go a little more in depth for details, on exclusive coupons websites like coupons.com, Grocery IQ, and Coupon Mom. My motto is check out coupons.com once a week just to see what they have that you buy on a regular basis. Printing a coupon that's $2.00 off one week will be good for 2 to 6 months and can eventually save you $4.00 during that super doubles week. If you start to get the hang of the basics of couponing you can get a little more in depth and start getting rain checks on items that are on sale. What's a rain check? Yes, if you go into the store, you can save a coupon up until you actually need it. It's all about paying attention.
3. Get a rewards card.
Wherever you choose to shop at the most, get the rewards card. Those tiny little things hanging off your keychain should make a "ka-ching" sound. Harris Teeter's VIC card offers more deals than you can handle. Sign up online or sign up in-store and be sure to fill out your rewards account profile, especially the birthday section. A lot of stores (like CVS) give you a special reward on your birthday!
4. Know how to download the right apps.
Hello, all smart phone users (I hope that's everyone since it is 2016). Download rebate apps like Ibotta and Checkout 51 and digital offers by completing quick, easy tasks like watching a short video or taking a one-question quiz. Then, after you’ve purchased the specified product, upload your receipt and wait for the cash to roll in. If you love Target, make sure you download the mobile savings app, Cartwheel. Get instant savings by adding offers directly to your unique barcode that’s scanned at checkout.
5. Study the store coupon policies.
Small print is always there trailing right behind you once you think you've snagged the perfect deal. Find your store’s policy here. Most are pretty straightforward and similar to other stores, but definitely take a look before marching up to the cashier. For Harris Teeter, there are some rules. You can only use up to 20 coupons a day and can only use the same coupon three times per transaction. If this sounds confusing, it's basically saying that you can only use the same $2.00 Downy coupon with the same barcode three times in a transaction (but that doesn't mean you can't go back for a second purchase and get more for less). See what I did there?
6. Communicate with other couponers.
Start a coupon exchange with friends or family! By having multiple people cutting and collecting coupons, you will have access to more deals. Cut out all coupons that relate to food and personal hygiene, as well as any restaurant coupons. Sort the coupons into categories, such as: dairy, frozen, breakfast, treats, breads and drinks. The coupons should then be place together in sections. You can also use tabs or folders to make them easier to locate while shopping, sometimes even as a group.
7. Start shopping smart!
If you want to get real serious, grab a binder or a folder and organize your coupons by date, item, or store. Stack coupons with discounts for huge savings. The Krazy Coupon Lady is an awesome website and does the addition and subtraction for you. Just clip or print out the coupons this website tells you to save, and buy the quantity specified for the product you're interested in.
Before you know it, you will have some spare change in your pocket. Take that extra cash and go on a vacation, invest in stocks, or buy that trampoline your kid has been dying for! Millions have took up this as a stress reliever, saving thousands of dollars per year. What other kind of hobby can you think of that makes you richer?
