Keep Your Money Friday

Couponing 101


Week 4: Saving at the Grocery Store

Now that you know what not to do at the grocery store, where to find coupons and how to organize your coupons its time to start shopping.

Know You Stores Policy

You can't get the best deal if you don't know all of the available resources at your store. You can ask at the Customer Service Desk, look online or email the company. All policies vary by store, chain or region. For example, Publix in Florida does not double coupons but outside of Florida they do. There are also stores you didn't think took coupons that do, like Family Dollar and Dollar General. Here are a couple of things you should try to find out about your stores policy:

1. Does your store stack coupons? Stacking coupons is when you use a store coupon in conjunction with a manufacturers coupon. This allows you to get twice the savings, if you read may coupon ,match ups for Walgreen's you see that stacking a coupon can get you free or cheap items.

2. Does you store have a loyalty card? At some stores this is the only way you can get the advertised sale price.

3. Do they accept competitors coupons? This is when a store accepts coupons from a competing grocery/drugstore store in their area.

4. Will they take internet printed coupons? This is a biggie for most stores especially Walmart, but they do take them. Also I know that it varies by store for Winn-Dixie.

5. Does your store double coupons? Some stores will double the face value of the coupon, making that coupon twice the face value. Most stores double up to $0.50 and also have a limit as to how many of the same coupon they will double. But there are some stores that double up to $1 and the few occasions at K-Mart when they double up to $2

6. Does your store triple coupons? There are even the lucky few that have stores that will triple the value of your coupon up to a certain value. Most stores that triple will go up to $0.35 and also have a limit as to how many of the same coupon they will triple.

Make A List

A grocery list is a sure way to get you in and out of the store in a breeze. You don't want to go in for eggs and milk and come out without it. When planning your grocery trip make sure you have your grocery stores weekly ads in front of you. In order to maximize your savings you need to buy whats on sale. That also includes not buying all your items at the same store. If the store down the street has a better sale for something you need go there instead.

Match up the the sales with the coupons you have in you binder, box etc. If the store has something on sale for 10/$10 you don't need to buy 10 of them to get the sales price. You can just buy 1 or 2 and still get them for $1 each or even better with a coupon.


Build Your Stockpile

Once you've found a great deal this is the time to stock up. Not the usual 1 or 2 but more like 10-20. This is ideal if it's non perishable items and you have the space to store it. Building a good stock pile is not easy and doesn't have to be done right away. Start at your own pace and gradually work up. Also don't stock up on things you don't need. Some people get carried away at saving and buy more than what they need or what they don't need. In the long run you not saving.

If you do buy things you don't normally need or have to much of give it to your family members, friends or local food bank or Goodwill. The biggest benefit of saving more you can give more.


BOGO Sales

When an product is bogo you can use a coupon for both items being purchased, one for the free item and another for the item your paying for.


Look For Clearance

Look for marked down items. Grocery stores general put out their clearance sales on Tuesdays or Wednesdays to get ready for an upcoming sale or get rid of a discontinued item. If you have coupons for some of the marked down items you can really save big.


Get a Raincheck

If a store is out of an item that is on sale get a raincheck, this way you can come back at another time to get that product for the sales price. This also allows you to get more coupons to use with the raincheck.