Couponing Part One- HOW TO

Finally, a blog about couponing as promised, although late.

Here we go:
First, you need to check your local grocery store sales flier. Here is a local one for me, Giant Eagle

http://www.gianteagle.com/Specials/WeeklySpecialsView.aspx

As you can see, there are many "loss leader" deals.  This is your local grocery store's way to get you to shop there.  They occasionally will put items up for sale that is at a price lower than what they can supply it for.  Look for good deals on the front page, and throughout the circular in larger print and pictures. 

When you find deals you are interested in, then begin a search for coupons to match the item on sale.  You can get coupons by subscribing to the paper, asking friends, family and co-workers to save the inserts for you, by dumpster diving in paper recycling bins, by ordering coupons online, and printing online coupons.

If you go to the Giant Eagle flier I posted up above. If you go to page 2, on the upper left corner is a sale for Betty Crocker cake mix.  The price is .89 cents. If you get the paper, you would have a Betty Crocker coupon for .50 cents off a box.  If you don't have this coupon, you can buy it online at MANY coupon clipping service websites.  (I would choose one close to where you live to cut down shipping time).  Here is a Betty Crocker coupon available to buy online:

http://www.collectablecoupons.com/product-p/q%20212.htm

Most online coupon clipping services have VERY reasonable shipping rates.  Some apply a .50 handling fee, then ship in a normal .44 cent envelope.  So, for about 50 coupons or less, you pay about a dollar shipping and handling. If we bought 20 Betty Crocker cake coupons online, you would pay about .05 cents per coupon= $1.00 for all 20 coupons.  Add in the $1.00 fee for shipping and handling, your total is now $2.00.  This $2.00 can buy you 20 boxes of cake mix (if your store doubles coupons, which mine does), PLUS an .11 cent "overage" if your store allows.  So, you now have .11 overage per box of cake mix X 20 boxes=  $2.20.  What does this mean?  This means you buy MORE items in your grocery order in this coupon trip, and many times, the cash register will carry over your overages to other items.  So, you could buy a loaf of bread for $2.50 plus your 20 boxes of cake mix, and your total charge is only .30 cents!  Cool, huh?  AND, you only paid $2.00 for the coupons. Or they are free of you don't' have to buy online.

Here is an idea of some ways to get coupons online:

http://www.bettycrocker.com/coupons-promotions/coupons/default

I suggest using a "junk" e-mail account, like a gmail or something, because some sites require you to subscribe, which can clog your inbox.   There are a TON of online printable coupons.  Just search for them.  Often times, the online printables are better values than the paper insert ones.  BUT, there are limits to how many times you can print them- AND check with your store to be sure they accept internet printables.  

Some suggestions:

Our local sales fliers come out Tuesdays, both in the mail and online.  My local sales begin Thursdays. I look at the ads on Tuesdays, and order coupons on Tuesdays as well.  "Hot" coupons go quickly. Mine arrive in about 2 business days, so I can start shopping the first day of the sale, before items run out.

If you are going to buy a good deal, and your store is out of stock of the item you want, get a rain check!  Many times I have gotten a rain check, only to have a better coupon come out for that item! 

My next blog post will be about making a system that works for you- coupon/sales flier organization, and how to incorporate it into your weekly menu plan.