How to Use Coupons for Food
While you can't cut back on the amount of food you eat each week, you can cut back the price you pay for that food. Coupons are just as good as cash, and they can save you a lot of money if you know how to use them correctly. Before your next shopping trip, take a few minutes to create a plan, and then use coupons to reduce the price of your food.
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Instructions
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Place coupons in the correct categories in your coupon organizer. If you don't have a coupon organizer, you can place the coupons in separate envelopes. Label each envelope with the appropriate category. Some common categories for coupons include frozen foods, dairy products, breakfast foods, beverages and canned foods. This helps you quickly find the coupon you want when you are in the grocery store.
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Look at your local grocery store's sales circular. Pay particular attention to any food items that are on sale that you have a coupon for and write it down on your grocery list. It helps if you put a C next to the item so that you are reminded that you need to get out your coupon for that item.
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Check to see if any of the grocery stores in your area offer double coupons. Many stores will double coupons up to $1.00. Occasionally, a store will offer a triple coupon weekend. Watch out for these so that you can maximize your coupon savings.
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Go to the grocery store and purchase the items on your list. Pay attention while going up and down the isle for any items that may not be on your list, but have coupons attached to them. Some food items come with a coupon attached to the box that you can use instantly at the checkout counter.
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Present the cashier with your store savings card, if applicable, and the coupons you are using for that shopping trip before the cashier begins to ring up your items. The cashier will double check that you purchased the items you have coupons for as she rings up each item and will scan the coupons at the end to give you your final food total.
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Tips & Warnings
Always check your coupons to make sure they have not expired before you use them.
If the store brand version of the food you want is cheaper than the name brand item after the discount has been taken, don't buy the name brand item. In this case, the coupon is not saving you money.
References
- Photo Credit veggie stand image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
