Anyone who knows me can probably tell you I’m extremely frugal. I buy everything I can on sale or clearance and use coupons whenever possible. The highlight of my grocery shopping experience is always watching my savings go up and my total go down as the checker scans my stack of coupons. I’m not an extreme couponer, though, I don’t buy things I don’t need just because they’re fee or really cheap.
My goal is always for my total savings to be at least half of what I pay. This amounts to a 33% savings and I’m more than happy with that. Though, I do have to admit when I get a receipt like this:
(a 42% savings) I’m even happier. As they say, the more the merrier!
Here is how I manage to save what I feel is a good amount without giving up things we really like or choosing cheaper brands that we may not like as much (though in a lot of cases generics brand items are just as good as the name brand):
- Use coupons for the stuff you really want, need, use or like.
- Take advantage of Buy One Get One Free promotions.
- Stack your savings. Buy things when they’re on sale and use a coupon.
- Stack your coupons. Most stores will allow you to use 1 manufacturer coupon and 1 store coupon on a single item.
- Use all the coupons you can. Many stores will also take competitor coupons so save store coupons even if you never intend to go to that store and instead use them at your store of choice.
- Stock up if you can. I am fortunate we have the space to be able to get enough of an item when I have coupons and it’s on sale to last until it goes on sale again and therefore we save money over time.
Example: Diapers
Target did a buy 2, get a $10 gift card.
I had two target coupons for $1.00 off each box
I had two manufacturer coupons for $3.00 off each box
I saved a total of $18 by buying 2 boxes and ended up paying about 18¢ per diaper on the name brand, size 3. (I try not to pay more than 20¢ per diaper and still get the Swaddlers, which I prefer. I started buying diapers when Doodle was still in my belly. Whenever there was a good sale price and I had coupons, I would buy them. I’ve stopped buying as I’m not sure how long what I have will last or how he will grow, but I got some great savings.)
Example: Coffee
Target had Starbucks coffee on sale ($1.00 off) and did a buy 3 bags, get a $10 Starbucks card
I also had manufacturer coupons for $1.00 off 2 bags
I saved $9.00 by buying 6 bags which made the price about the same per bag as the really cheap stuff AND I got $20 worth of Starbucks giftcards so I don’t have to feel bad about stopping in when I’m there buying milk with the kids early in the morning and really NEED a coffee! (and did you know you can take empty Starbucks bags to a Starbucks restaurant and get a free tall black coffee? Ups the savings even more!).
