With the popularity of coupon-related television shows, you have decided that clipping coupons to save on your grocery bill is the best way to go. But you don’t know where and how to get started since the coupon craze seems complicated, as evidenced by the expert coupon enthusiasts with their sophisticated filing systems.
Don’t give up before giving it a try! Here are tips on getting off to a good start in clipping and using coupons.
Be an Informed Consumer
Before grabbing a handful of weekly flyers or printing online coupons from stores like Piggly Wiggly, you have to acquire information about the how, when and where of these things. You will find plenty of blogs with useful content about couponing, such as Centsable Momma, The Krazy Coupon Lady, and Bargains to Bounty, which you can read in your spare time. Your newfound information will be useful in determining which coupons are applicable in what products, stores, and dates, among others.
Be a Planner
Many couponing beginners fail to plan and, in the process, fail on their first few tries to maximize their savings. Keep in mind that even when you save money on discounts, you will still waste your savings when you don’t actually use the products. For example, the food products you bought on sale became stale because you did not use them for your family’s meals.
The first step then in couponing is planning what your family will actually use from the canned goods to the toiletries. You should also plan for the number of times you will shop for groceries and basic household supplies; the amount of money you can spend on these items per month; and the amount of effort you are willing to put into your new couponing lifestyle.
Be Realistic About Your Expectations
Start with the top 10 or top 20 items on your grocery list instead of plunging into extreme couponing. You will find that by starting small, you will not feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices available including the decisions that must be made. You can also learn by trial and error which coupon organization works best for your lifestyle (e.g., by product category or by expiry date).
While you will enjoy substantial savings through coupons, bear in mind that you will still pay for your purchases. Be ready with your money even when you plan on paying for just 20% of your total purchases at the counter.
Ultimately, clipping coupons is like any other cost-saving measure – you have to pour your time, energy and effort into it so as to become successful at it.