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Save Money with Extreme Couponing

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a family of four can incur nearly $141 a week, or $613 a month, in grocery expenses. Talk about a bite out of your take-home pay! With extreme couponing, you may be able to save as much as 50-70 percent of that amount, paying as little as $42 on that weekly bill of $141. Regardless of your family size, you may be surpised at the potential savings awaiting by following the steps below.

Step 1: Decide how you will collect your coupons.

While clipping coupons from the Sunday newspaper may be what most readily comes to mind, you can also request coupons directly from the manufacturer, search online databases like coupons.com (or do an Internet search for coupons for a particular store or product), or contact your local recycling center and ask if you can pick up recycled newspapers.

Step 2: Contact your local grocery store.

Call or visit the store's webiste to request a copy of their coupon policy. These policies provide instructions on the types of coupons accepted (i.e. print-at-home coupons, competitors coupons, etc.), those not accepted, guidelines and limitations (i.e. only one coupon per item, number of coupons accepted, etc.).

Step 3: Create your grocery list.

Consider building your list with sale, clearance, buy-one-get-one-free and seasonal items. You can contact your local grocery store manager for details, or consider visiting the store's website and reviewing their advertisements. Keep your eyes open for stores that may offer double and triple coupon stacking promotions for additional savings.

Step 4: Clip your coupons.

This is the simplest step! It's a good idea to keep coupons for different brands in the event one provides a greater opportunity for savings.

Step 5: Sort your clippings.

A large binder with clear pockets, dividers and labels will help you quickly access your coupons when shopping. You can also organize your coupons by date, alphabetically or by category (dairy, cereals, meats, personal items, vitamins/medications, pet items, etc.).

Step 6: Learn the lingo and strategies.

Extreme couponing experts employ a wide range of methods:

  • Stacking: The practice of using multiple coupons on a single purchase (i.e. a store coupon and a manufacturer's coupon).
  • 'Catalina' coupons: These are typically manufacturer's coupons that print at the checkout, and are triggered by the items you purchase.
  • Stockpiling: Buying non-perishable items because they are on sale, rather than when they are needed.
  • Rain checks: A written note from a store regarding an out-of-stock item that guarantees the customer will be able to pay the sale price when it is restocked.
  • Double/triple coupons: Certain stores will double (or even triple) coupon values during promotional periods, which are typically advertised.

    • Regardless of your financial situaition, consider setting aside an hour each week to clip coupons. You may need an additional 30 minutes to organize your coupons before heading to the grocery store. Try not to think of the process as boring or time-consuming, but as a way to boost your standard of living without working extra hours on your full-time job.