The question of whether or not cutting coupons can save you money at the grocery store is not debatable. The fact is if you cut and use coupons wisely you will save money at the checkout line. What is debatable is whether or not cutting coupons is right for everyone; some individuals simply do not find the savings worthy of this slightly time consuming task. For those of you who find the savings are worth your time the following tips to organize the process can make a big difference in how much money you can shave off your grocery bill each trip.
Start Clipping- It would seem obvious but many people who “try” to use coupons don’t get the most benefit simply because they forget to clip the coupons they save. If you find yourself saving grocery fliers or pages of unclipped coupons you have probably already discovered that if you wait too long to actually clip the coupons many go to waste as the stack of unclipped coupons grows into a stack of expired coupons. Designate a few hours each week where you can sit and clip all your coupons before their value is lost.
Get Organized- It is important to be organized while clipping coupons so that the stacks of unclipped coupons does not turn into piles of clipped coupons. You should organize and store all of your needed tools in one easy-to-access location. The only tools required are a scissors and some form of storage container for clipped coupons. Some consumers purchase a coupon organizer while others use labeled envelopes to help stay organized.
Organization Method- You don’t want to get to the grocery store with your coupons only to discover you can’t find the one coupon you were sure you had. Take a few moments when you are at home to organize your coupons to streamline the process of finding them once you are at the store. You may choose to organize the coupons in groups such as paper products, personal care items, frozen foods and pet supplies. Perhaps you prefer organizing your coupons in alphabetical order by product or manufacturer name. Choose whichever method works best for you.
Buy only what you need- Coupons will not save you money if you end up making purchases that you would otherwise not consider. Some coupons require you buy a certain number of products in order to save money. If you wouldn’t normally purchase that number of items or find you really do not need an item, do not make the purchase because you have a coupon for the item.
In an economy where everyone is trying to save a few bucks, cutting coupons is an easy way to reduce your grocery bill. By following the steps above you should be able to streamline the process so that it only takes a few more moments of your time to see some real savings.