How to make Clipping E-Coupons Easy

Every penny counts! Without time to sit down and actually clip coupons from your Sunday paper it may seem impossible to even think about using coupons. I can remember my mother going through countless coupons and saving a bundle at the store. Coupons in those days were valid well over 6 months and now the life span of a coupon is often only a few weeks.  But there is still hope! Many companies are progressively moving to the use of electronic coupons. These can be found on various web sites and you can use the coupons by registering your shoppers card (Kroger, Safeway, etc.) and then selecting the coupons you desire.  Other sites offer downloadable coupons, so you can scroll down, select the ones you want and only print the coupons you need. This can be a time saver and a money saver . And best yet, many stores offer double coupons increasing your savings.

Available Coupon Web Sites

A few of the sites I frequent include:
SmartSource.com (printable coupons)
shortcuts.com (register your shoppers cards)
kroger.com (use your Kroger Plus card to register and download; also printable coupons)
wow-coupons.com (listing of various sources for coupons and savings for other things)

Many other sites offer coupon savings by joing the site. Simply Google “downloadable coupons” to find more savings.

Tricks for Savings

(1) Plan to spend 10 to 20 minutes prior to your shopping trip to compile your list, review weekly circulars, and review on-line coupons. Combining sale prices with coupons and doubled coupons can save a great deal when the final bill is tallied.

(2) Your list should include everything you will need to purchase. Placing the items in categories such as “Produce” “Frozen” or “Canned Goods/Dry foods” will provide you a better map to follow as you go through the store. If it is a store you frequent, try to imagine how the store is set up and make your list accordingly. For example, if produce is at the front of the store, I would begin making out my list of needed items for produce, then proceed with breads, canned foods/pasta, cereals, condiments, meats, milk/cheese/eggs, frozen goods etc. according to how the store is set up. This process will save you time during your shopping trip and help to prevent a few of the splurge buys.

(3) Keeping notes on the items you need with the coupons you have will provide a good outline to let you know if you should buy the product or hold off until the next week based on sale items or those non-essentials not on sale.

(4) If a product is on sale and you have a coupon, try to buy it even though you won’t need it until the following week (if your budget will allow). Chances are, you will lose or forget about your coupon, and the item won’t be on sale the following week.  Then you will end up spending double what you would have on the product. This doesn’t work well for perishable items, so be sure to check the expiration dates.

(5) Don’t buy products simply because you have coupons. If you don’t need it or won’t use it then you really aren’t saving any money. Unless the coupon will double and the product comes out nearly free. I use soup coupons, among others, for this. When the soup is on sale for 50 cents a can and I have a coupon for 40 cents off two cans then my total cost comes out to be 20 cents for the two cans when the store doubles the manufactures coupon [($0.50 + $0.50) - ($0.40 +$0.40)]. That is cheap enough to buy on nearly any shopping trip!

(6) Sort out your coupons using a small, inexpensive, file folder you can easily slip into your purse or carry with you when you are shopping. Prior to going to the store, sort through your coupons, print off the ones you find on line, and make notes about the ones attached to your shoppers card. Put all the ones you intend to use in the front of the file, but keep the others with you. (You may run into a bargain that gets even better with the coupons you have available.)

Taking the time to clip coupons from the papers is just as gratifying at the end of your shopping trip, but if you don’t have time or access to physical coupons, the e-version can be just as good, if not better!

Do you have tips on how to save on your grocery bill? We would love to hear from you. Please feel free to comment and provide your ideas.