Have you ever clipped coupons and taken them to the store only to find that even with the coupon, generic or store brands are still cheaper.
I have!
It gave me the notion that couponing was a waste of time and only lured you into buying things you don’t need. I couldn’t have been more wrong, I just didn’t know the system.
Get Organized
The first step in couponing is to clip your coupons and get them organized. I use a binder with baseball card holders to organize my coupons. After you get organized, wait until those products go on sale.
Use them when products are on sale
Almost every store has a weekly circular with store sales. Scan the circulars and match your coupons to products that are on sale. For example, your drugstore has Huggies diapers on sale for $7.99 down from $9.99. You have a $3 off manufacturer coupon for Huggies which brings your price down to $4.99. Good start!
Huggies on sale $7.99
MFR coupon – $3.00
Final price $4.99
Stack them with a store coupon
Many drugstores and grocery chains offer their own store coupons (found in-store and online) that can be stacked with a manufacturer coupon. For example, your drugstore has a $1 off coupon for Huggies diapers and you have a manufacturer coupon for $3 off. The drugstore will allow you to use their coupon AND the manufacturer coupon on the same purchase. So Huggies are on sale for $7.99 and you apply the drugstore coupon for $1 off and also the manufacturer coupon for $3 off, that brings your cost down to $3.99! Even better!
Huggies on sale $7.99
Store coupon – $1.00
MFR coupon – $3.00
Final price $3.99
Take advantage of quantity discount promotions
These same drugstores and grocery chains will sometimes offer quantity discounts. If you buy so many of one product or a group of products you can get an extra amount off of each item. Or they may give you a cash equivalent coupon to use toward your next purchase. So, in our final example, your drugstore has Huggies diapers on sale for $7.99 and if you purchase three packages, you’ll receive a $5 cash reward good on your next purchase. You can also apply your coupons.
Huggies $7.99 x 3 = 23.97
Store coupon $1.00 x 3 = -3.00
MFR coupon $3.00 x 3 = -9.00
Store cash reward $5.00 = -5.00
Final price = 6.97
That’s $2.32 per package, down from a regular price of $9.99. That’s a 76% savings. Now these scenarios don’t happen every day, but they do happen. I’ve just stocked up on 6 months worth of diapers and this is exactly what I paid. The key is being prepared with your coupons and taking advantage of the great deals when the opportunities arise.
Other ways to save
We’ve talked a lot about saving with coupons in store, but many of us do our shopping online. Fortunately there are coupons and promo codes for everything from dog food to cheap holidays to apparel. You can use the same strategy online by applying promo codes to sale items. I’ve saved hundreds of dollars on vacations that were already discounted simply by searching for promo codes before hitting the “buy” button. I also strategically shop for staple clothing items by signing up for emails from my favorite retailers. I get notified of online sales and often after the sale kicks off, I’ll get a promo code for an additional 15-30% off. That’s when I stock up.
Hi, I’m Cathy! I’m a former career-driven professional turned stay-at-home mom. Living on one salary has its challenges, but it is possible to live the good life while spending less. Cool to be Frugal is all about how we’re thriving, not just surviving, on a single income.
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Some people get the notion that if they clip a coupon they have to use it. Not true. We clip a ton of coupons that go unused. Seems like a waste, but the reason we clip them is that we are looking for the possibility to do exactly what you’re suggesting, which is combine them with another offer such as a sale or promotion.
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