How to Save Money On Groceries By Using Coupons

The current economy is making it harder and harder to make ends meet. You have gone over the budget and have trimmed as much excess as possible, but you still need to save more. How can you do it? One way is to save money on groceries by using coupons.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Manufacturer coupons
• Store sales flyers

1. Find coupons:
   One place to find a large amount of coupons is in the Sunday newspaper. If you live in a large area with more than one local newspaper, consider getting a subscription to each one. If you have just one local newspaper available in your area, have two copies delivered to your house or buy two or more at the store.
   
   Look for coupons in the grocery store, on coupon printing websites, printed on product packaging, and on manufacturer websites.
   
   Ask friends for their unused coupons or request them through your local recycling group.

2. Ask about store coupon policies:
   Different stores have different coupon redeeming policies. Some stores will double or triple the amount listed on the coupon, though they may limit the number of coupons you can use in this way. Other stores will accept recently expired coupons. Call the stores in your area to find out their coupon redeeming policies.

3. Pay attention to weekly sales:
   Once you have your coupons and know the store policies, look through all the sales flyers for the stores in your area. Most stores have their sales posted on their website or will send them out in the local newspaper.

4. Match your coupons to the sales:
   Look for sales on items that match your coupons. Doing this will maximize your savings. If you pay close attention to the sales and match them to your coupons, you can frequently find deals where you save anywhere from 50% to 100% on a product.
   
   For instance, it is not uncommon for national brand cereals to go on sale for 50% off, giving a $3.00 box of cereal a sale price of $1.50. If you have a coupon for $0.50 off that brand of cereal and your store doubles it to $1.00, you will end up paying $0.50 per box as your final price.

5. Stock up:
   When you find a good deal by matching your coupons to the sales, buy as many as the store policy will allow. This is why you want to have multiple copies of each coupon whenever possible.

6. Plan your menu around the sales:
   As a final step in saving money on groceries, plan your meals around your coupon and sale matches. For example, if ground beef is on sale, and you have a coupon and sale match on pasta, consider making spaghetti for dinner one night that week.

Tips & Warnings

• It may take extra time to shop with coupons, but the savings you will see will make it well worth the effort.

[debinflorida]

on 8/8/2009 Great article! Also, sometimes the stores have magazines they send out that have special coupons in them. I get two from Publix that have GREAT coupons! 5*

[kaldrich88]

on 7/27/2009 great tips! 5* + rec

[tnpos]

on 7/26/2009 This needed in this day and age. Great tips! Thank You! 5! P.E.A.C.E

[godfather25]

on 7/19/2009 Fantastic ways to save money! 5*

[deedavis]

on 7/13/2009 Great advice on how to save money on groceries by using coupons. I have tried to do this, but failed.
: (( However, great tips! I think I will give it a go again using the guidelines above.