How to Use Coupons to Grocery Shop for Less

Save money at the grocery store with coupons.

Stores and manufactures give out coupons to entice customers to purchase products. Nielsen Company research indicates that newspaper inserts accounted for 89 percent of coupon distribution in 2009, according to a NielsenWire report, but businesses also distribute coupons online, in stores and through customer rewards. The more sources of coupons that you locate, the more likely you are to find discounts on products you already purchase on a regular basis. To save money with coupons, you need to look at prices for various brands and package sizes to determine if using a coupon offers the best deal.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Coupon organizer

Instructions

1. Collect flyers from grocery stores, usually available at the front of the store. Look through your local paper, magazines and mail. Each can contain valuable grocery coupons.

2. Clip out the coupons that interest you, using scissors. Put each coupon into its section in your coupon organizer. Arrange them by the type of food, like meat, dairy and produce, so they're easier to find when you want them. Create more specific categories, like canned vegetables, frozen dinners, juice and soups, if you clip lots of coupons.

3. Create a grocery list, detailing what you need for the week. Organize it like your coupon organizer, using the same categories.

4. Look through your coupon organizer for coupons that match each item on your grocery list. Flip to the section of your coupon organizer that holds the coupons relevant to the item you're considering. Don't be afraid to try a new brand or change your meal plan if you find enticing coupons in your collection.

5. Check with local stores to ask if they have double coupon days, when a store awards twice the value to coupons. Plan your shopping schedule for double coupon days whenever possible.

6. Compare prices on other products in the store before selecting the product that matches a coupon. Similar products or different package sizes may offer a better deal. Look for the lowest price per ounce or per serving to be sure that using a coupon gives you the best deal.

7. Look for store deals that you can combine with a coupon for larger savings. For example, many grocery stores offer special prices for people with membership cards. Shop for items that cost less due to these specials and then redeem your coupons for greater savings.

Tips & Warnings

• Check expiration dates on coupons before you use them.

• You can use a check organizer to separate your coupons into departments or types of food. It will be easier to match well-organized coupons to your shopping list.

References

• Mommy Savers: Perfecting the Art of Couponing
• ABC News: The Best Way to Organize Coupons
• Nielsenwire: The Coupon Comeback