Using Coupons to Save Money

We’re being told that inflation is in check, even though prices seem to be going up steadily, particularly at the gas pump and the grocery store. However, it’s “core inflation” that remains low, the economists tell us, which reflects the price of goods minus food and energy. After all, who buys food and energy? Oh, that’s right, we all do, and it’s often our two biggest expenditures.

There is a way to save on food, and perhaps gas as well, by doing something people have been doing for over one hundred years – using coupons. With a little planning, clipping, and clicking, you can put quite a dent in your next grocery bill. You may even be able to get a break at the pump while you’re at it.

• Pick up the Sunday paper
• That’s where you’ll find the coupons, as well as the grocery store circulars. You’ll need both. Grab the scissors and start clipping those coupons. Obviously you’ll be concentrating on the type of products you regularly buy, but brand loyalty may have to take a backseat.^[1]
• Online coupons
• For a while, many grocery stores would not accept online coupons printed from websites or mobile coupons available on smartphones, but that’s changing. Stores can validate legitimate coupons, and the coupon sites themselves require you to sign up. This helps reduce the possibility of multiple print-outs.^[2] Some of the more reputable sites are RedPlum.com (who also do the hard copy newspaper inserts), Coupons.com, Couponsavings.com, and Grocerysmarts.com.
• Make that double
• Check area supermarkets’ coupon policy. Some double coupons up to a certain value, while others occasionally triple coupons. There are a few that will even match prices from a competitor’s circular.^[3]
• Brand websites and social coupons
• Brands sometimes offer online coupons on their websites, and increasingly offer social coupons through their Twitter and Facebook accounts. If it’s a product you use often, like and follow them through their social media sites, and keep an eye out for special offers.^[4]
• Organize
• Get yourself a coupon binder or wallet to organize your clippings. There are several categories you can use, but the most logical is by product types, such as dairy, frozen, or breakfast. If you favor a particular store, you might arrange then by your favorite location’s layout.^[4]
• Cross reference
• Now grab those store circulars and match up the coupons with items that the supermarket has on sale. If you’re in market with competing grocery chains, it may be worth your while to split your shopping between the competitors. Include all types of stores that sell groceries in your area. Drugstores like Rite-Aid, CVS, and Walgreen’s have sale circulars and accept both print and online coupons. Large retailers like Wal-Mart, Target, and K-Mart do the same.^[4]
• Store loyalty programs
• Many local supermarkets now ask you to join a “shopper’s club” in order to take advantage of their advertised specials. Getting the card will also allow you to obtain online coupons from the store’s website.^[5] These can be loaded onto your card and redeemed automatically. Be careful though; you can’t use a manufacturer’s coupon and the store’s online coupon together. The online version usually takes precedent.^[2]
• Food that gives you gas—discounts
• In many cities, grocery stores are either installing gas pumps or teaming up with a gas station chain to offer discounts that are tied to how much you spend on groceries. The programs vary. Some offer 10 cents per gallon off for every $100 spent in a given month, for example. Others offer a percent discount that increases as you hit certain levels, say $50, or $100. Usually the gas is competitively priced, but occasionally it’s a few cents more, which of course eats into your discount.^[6]

Coupons can help cut your grocery bill in half, and give you a break at the pump. All it takes is a little effort, and a bit of planning.

About The Author – Check ‘n Go

Check ‘n Go has been a leader in payday loans online and check cashing services for more than 15 years, helping to build trust and legitimacy to the consumer lending industry through its work with the Consumer Financial Services Association (CFSA). Check ‘n Go sets high standards for responsible and ethical lending in a rapidly expanding cash advance, installment loan and payday loan business. Check ‘n Go works hard to provide consumers with check cashing, auto title loans, payday loans, and other financial needs.