Top Coupon Strategies

Top Coupon Strategies

Utilize the following shopping strategies and watch the savings roll in!!

 

Know the Stores Coupon Policies

I always take my store coupon policies with me whenever I go to the store.  Familiarizing yourself with the stores you shop, will help make your shopping experience so much better.  Each store has a different policy, and some of them change often, but reading and knowing these policies with make the checkout so much less painful.  If you do happen to have an issue, you will always have your policy to refer to.  Let’s face it, most stores aren’t taking the much needed extra time to train their cashiers.  I’ve linked the stores coupon policies that I use the most.

Safeway

King Soopers - (I couldn't find one online, but I do have one.  May have gotten it from an email from corporate)

Target

Walmart 

Walgreens

Let the Pros Do the Work for You

Let’s face it! We’re all a little short on time these days. And if you have toddlers running around or you’re a homeschooling mom, well then, let’s just say you have to find more ways to redeem your time than the rest of us. So, my advice is to find a couple of money saving blogs or websites that are dependable about posting regular store deals,  good deal alerts and various printable coupons. This can save you lots of time and energy and help you get the hang of the coupon game.  I also recommend finding a site that is regional to you, and one that offers a coupon database.  A coupon database allows you to type in a specific item, and it will tell you if there is a coupon available for that item and where you can find it.

Coupons, Coupons, Coupons

The more coupons you have to work with, the more deals you can do. First of all, familiarize yourself with all the different sources for finding coupons.

Second, figure out a way to get your hands on multiple coupon inserts every week. Either buy multiple copies of the paper, ask your friends for theirs. Ask your neighbors for theirs. Whatever you have to do. I, personally, buy three papers every week (sometimes more if it’s a really great week for coupons). Yes, that’s $6 out of my pocket, but my savings MORE than makes up for it.

If you find a FREE or cheap deal for toothpaste, deodorant or vienna sausages (joke), you’re going to wish you had more than one coupon so you could buy three instead of one. This also saves you from paying full price in the future.

Double Coupons

King Soopers and Safeway double their coupons up to $.50. This means that you will receive a discount equal to double the amount shown on the coupon according to store specific policy. For instance, if your coupon is for $.50 off ONE item, then you will receive $1 off for that item. The discount is automatically calculated at the register.

You can save a lot of money by utilizing doubled coupons, however, familiarizing yourself with the stores coupon policies is the best way to abide by the rules and laws of couponing. Yes, there are laws when it comes to couponing, and if you are caught breaking these laws you could go to jail. 

Pick Cherries

Picking cherries refers to shopping at a particular store according to what’s on sale that week. Use the weekly circulars (or better yet, follow a few blogs like I suggested before) to find deals that you can get for FREE and CHEAP when matched with coupons. This requires knowledge in the average price of an item at other stores and discipline in only buying what’s “on your list” and not succumbing to all the “other great deals” the store has to offer.

My advice to someone just getting started is to pick cherries at Safeway. Then do the remainder of your shopping at Kmart or Walmart as they have all around good deals. You’ll be amazed at how much you will save just shopping at two stores.

Once you’re comfortable with this, then start picking cherries at Walgreens utilizing their Register Rewards along with coupons. Sometimes Walgreens Register Rewards program tends to be a bit confusing at first. Don’t get frustrated, take your time.

Stacking Coupons

Many stores issue their own “store” coupons as an alternative way of running a sale. Some allow the use of one manufacturer coupon along with a store coupon on the same item. This is a great way to save a little more.

Walgreens, Target, Kmart, Family Dollar, and Safeway are the stores that allow this in our area.

When stacking coupons, always be sure to give the cashier any manufacturer coupons you want to use first. Then hand over the store coupons.

Customer Rewards

Walgreens offer customer rewards programs to help you save money. Knowing how to “work” these programs can help you save even more. The best way to familiarize yourself with these programs is to jump on in.

Walgreens Register Rewards & Coupon Policy

With this program you will earn customer rewards that can be used like cash on your next order. The key to making the most out of programs like this is to roll rewards earned from one transaction into more deals that will generate more rewards.