I’ve been neglecting my posts of late but it has been due to a member of my family fighting a very aggressive brain cancer. As I try to maintain some semblance of normality I found myself wishing there was a coupon that would grant us more... time with the ones we love...
Wouldn’t we all want that?
I thought that I’d challenge the idea that couponing is hard to do. It really isn’t. I think that baby stepping into it – doing a few price matches one week, a few more the next then introducing coupon and price matching is a way of easing into learning to be AWESOME at it.
I recently showed up to a couponing class with my organized and pretty scrapbook style coupon binder and I remember that there were those who were in love with it and those who said they would never take the time to do it and just threw their coupons in a shopping bag to take with them. Organization is involved but it is more about STRATEGY.
SUCCESSFUL COUPONING STRATEGY
SET A BUDGET Determine your weekly grocery limit and stick with it. Limits force you to be more creative with coupons and with ways you can stretch your resources. Setting a budget also helps you to live within your means, get out debt and save for your goals.
START SMALLTake baby steps. You are busy enough! Don't be stressed if you miss a sale or you did not use a coupon. Sales come week after week. As you learn, techniques become secondhand and your savings will increase.
LEARN the STORE RULES. Coupon policies are always changing and are frequently misunderstood. Go to the store websites to see if you can find their coupon policy online. Print it out and take it with you when shopping. Some cashiers may not know their own coupon policy well and take away your benefits by mistake.
MATCH UP SALE ITEMS WITH COUPONS This is where watching the flyers and staying connected to other couponers allows you to catch that amazing store sale for $1.00 that you can match your $1.00 coupon against and get for free. This is the real savings of couponing.
BUY the SMALLER PACKAGE. Isn't larger the cheaper? It normally is. However, when you are using coupons, you want to pay as little out of pocket as possible. For example, a large body wash is $3 while a small one is $2, and you have a $2 coupon. Even though the larger one seems to be more economical per oz, you should purchase the small one with your coupon instead. Paying $0 is better than paying $1. You can always find more coupons to purchase more and pay little or nothing.
TAKE ADVANTAGE of OVERAGES When the coupon's value is higher than an item, overage occurs. The overage can be applied to non-sale items to lower your total out-of-pocket expense. Stores I know that do this are Wal-mart and Giant Tiger! They are your friends.
BUY WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO GET WHAT YOU DO WANT For example, there is a razor on sale for $2 and you have a $4 coupon for it. You may not even use razors but you can take advantage of its overage for non-sale items that you really need, organic/gluten free products, which are rarely on sale. The unwanted items can go to your gift pile or charity box.
ASK for A RAINCHECK Rain checks normally last for 30 days. It allows you to purchase the item at the sales price even after the sale ends. They normally put a limit on how many you can get. If you plan on using a store coupon that also expires soon, you may ask that a note be added to the raincheck to honor the coupon.
Don't forget the clearance section Most stores have a clearance section. Check it whenever you visit the store. You may find free items there, i.e. with the right coupons. (End of aisles too).
KNOW YOUR CASHIERS Most cashiers don't understand how couponing works. Some of them may even despise you, but that's far and few. Don't let that discourage you. You know you are not doing anything illegal. Couponing is a legitimate way of bartering as long as you play by the rules. Note the following:
o Men cashiers accept most coupons.
o Young women accept most coupons.
o Avoid old/middle aged women. (Message me if you want names locally)
o Most cashiers seem sympathetic to shoppers with children in tow.
o If you believe a cashier has unfairly not honored a coupon, ask them politely if they could double
Wouldn’t we all want that?
I thought that I’d challenge the idea that couponing is hard to do. It really isn’t. I think that baby stepping into it – doing a few price matches one week, a few more the next then introducing coupon and price matching is a way of easing into learning to be AWESOME at it.
I recently showed up to a couponing class with my organized and pretty scrapbook style coupon binder and I remember that there were those who were in love with it and those who said they would never take the time to do it and just threw their coupons in a shopping bag to take with them. Organization is involved but it is more about STRATEGY.
SUCCESSFUL COUPONING STRATEGY
SET A BUDGET Determine your weekly grocery limit and stick with it. Limits force you to be more creative with coupons and with ways you can stretch your resources. Setting a budget also helps you to live within your means, get out debt and save for your goals.
START SMALLTake baby steps. You are busy enough! Don't be stressed if you miss a sale or you did not use a coupon. Sales come week after week. As you learn, techniques become secondhand and your savings will increase.
LEARN the STORE RULES. Coupon policies are always changing and are frequently misunderstood. Go to the store websites to see if you can find their coupon policy online. Print it out and take it with you when shopping. Some cashiers may not know their own coupon policy well and take away your benefits by mistake.
MATCH UP SALE ITEMS WITH COUPONS This is where watching the flyers and staying connected to other couponers allows you to catch that amazing store sale for $1.00 that you can match your $1.00 coupon against and get for free. This is the real savings of couponing.
BUY the SMALLER PACKAGE. Isn't larger the cheaper? It normally is. However, when you are using coupons, you want to pay as little out of pocket as possible. For example, a large body wash is $3 while a small one is $2, and you have a $2 coupon. Even though the larger one seems to be more economical per oz, you should purchase the small one with your coupon instead. Paying $0 is better than paying $1. You can always find more coupons to purchase more and pay little or nothing.
TAKE ADVANTAGE of OVERAGES When the coupon's value is higher than an item, overage occurs. The overage can be applied to non-sale items to lower your total out-of-pocket expense. Stores I know that do this are Wal-mart and Giant Tiger! They are your friends.
BUY WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO GET WHAT YOU DO WANT For example, there is a razor on sale for $2 and you have a $4 coupon for it. You may not even use razors but you can take advantage of its overage for non-sale items that you really need, organic/gluten free products, which are rarely on sale. The unwanted items can go to your gift pile or charity box.
ASK for A RAINCHECK Rain checks normally last for 30 days. It allows you to purchase the item at the sales price even after the sale ends. They normally put a limit on how many you can get. If you plan on using a store coupon that also expires soon, you may ask that a note be added to the raincheck to honor the coupon.
Don't forget the clearance section Most stores have a clearance section. Check it whenever you visit the store. You may find free items there, i.e. with the right coupons. (End of aisles too).
KNOW YOUR CASHIERS Most cashiers don't understand how couponing works. Some of them may even despise you, but that's far and few. Don't let that discourage you. You know you are not doing anything illegal. Couponing is a legitimate way of bartering as long as you play by the rules. Note the following:
o Men cashiers accept most coupons.
o Young women accept most coupons.
o Avoid old/middle aged women. (Message me if you want names locally)
o Most cashiers seem sympathetic to shoppers with children in tow.
o If you believe a cashier has unfairly not honored a coupon, ask them politely if they could double
check with their supervisor.
o Try to remember their names and be friendly. When you are memorable, you are more than just
o Try to remember their names and be friendly. When you are memorable, you are more than just
another customer. Express that you are grateful they are helping you budget for your family – this
works for me ALL the time.
o Sort your coupons and match them with the items you buy at checkout. This saves the cashier a lot
o Sort your coupons and match them with the items you buy at checkout. This saves the cashier a lot
of time and patience.
WHEN TO SHOP? The best time is in the evening or morning. The store is less busy and cashiers seem to be more relax and friendly. There is no long line behind you to give you pressure. Avoid pension day and baby bonus day. BELIEVE me these are not fun days to be in line.
Practice, Practice, Practice.
WHEN TO SHOP? The best time is in the evening or morning. The store is less busy and cashiers seem to be more relax and friendly. There is no long line behind you to give you pressure. Avoid pension day and baby bonus day. BELIEVE me these are not fun days to be in line.
Practice, Practice, Practice.
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