by Mike Gincel, contributing writer
Within the past few years, a new trend has cast upon the nation. This trend is called extreme couponing. Extreme couponing is when a person with stacks of coupons get their groceries for nearly next to nothing. But how did this trend start and how did it get so popular so quickly? More importantly, how can a college student learn the ways of an extreme couponer but on a much smaller scale?
The trend started when TLC aired a new series on their network entitled Extreme Couponing. It profiled two shoppers and showed how they cut their grocery bills by up to 95% just by using coupons. There were people who cut their checkout from $2,000 down to zero. This program intrigued me and it made me wonder if I could accomplish the same thing back at Saint Leo University. I thought I would give it a shot and see if I could start clipping coupons like the pros in order to save a few bucks.
I started couponing at the beginning of the semester and it gave me the biggest rush at the checkout. I started small and only saved $20 on my first shopping trip. But then, as I started researching couponing more and more, I slowly learned the secrets on how to slash grocery bills by 50%. My biggest trip was at the Super Wal-Mart just three weeks ago, where I purchased $218.93 worth of groceries, health and beauty and cleaning supplies. It was quite the rush when I handed over a stack of coupons and walked out paying only $78.49.
A lot of people on this campus have asked me: How do I do it? How do I start couponing and start saving money? Here are my top seven tips for starting out on your coupon journey:
Purchase Sunday Papers – This is where most coupons come from. Coupon inserts are added to every Sunday paper. I recommend starting out with two or three papers. That way you can get double or triple the inserts. I tend to research online what inserts are coming out that week. I have worked my way up to six inserts a week, but I usually save one or two for future weeks of shopping as items go on sales weeks after the coupons come out.
Research, Research, Research – This is an important one. Now that you have the inserts, you will want to now start looking at the sale ads and looking at online databases. Simply google “coupon matchups” and enter the start date of that week (example: “coupon matchups 10/8”). Several coupon blogs match coupons from this week and previous weeks to in-store deals.
Only purchase what you need and stockpile small – Start off by purchasing only products that you use often. It would be an absolute waste to coupon for items that you don’t really need. Unless you are getting that item for a low price and you plan on donating it, don’t purchase it. I tend to coupon for laundry products, bottled beverages, snacks and cleaning supplies. The supplies I tend to use the most frequently. Also, when a deal is really good, you should stock up for a few weeks rather than buy one or two. That way you have enough to last you until the next big deal or coupon comes out.
Promotions, they are everywhere! – CVS, Walgreens and Winn-Dixie are the big stores that have in-store promotions when you buy certain products. CVS has the ExtraCare bucks, Walgreens has the Register Rewards and Winn-Dixie has Fuel Perks. If you buy certain items under their program, you can earn coupons for money off your next purchase. Match these items with coupons for some amazing deals. (Example: Last week, CVS had Gillete Razors for 9.99. If you bought one, you got a $5 in Extra Care bucks. I had a $4 off one razor coupon. I ended buying that razor for only $5.99 and had $5.00 to spend in the store, so I only spent 99 cents out of pocket.)
You can coupon at the dollar store – Did you know that you can use coupons at Dollar Tree, Dollar General and Family Dollar? Those places have the best deals all around but the products are limited. Make sure to look at those places too for great bargains on cleaning supplies, water bottles, health and beauty, laundry soap and common household items.
Know the coupon policies – This is a tough one. All stores have different policies when it comes to redeeming coupons. Read up on the policies as store managers and cashiers are cracking down on them more and more as couponing becomes popular. Make sure you follow the rules and be sure to have a copy of the policy with you when you shop to make it easier.
Have a coupon binder – I thought this one was silly. A binder? But it makes managing coupons easier. Get a simple 2 inch binder and stock it with baseball card holders. They are perfect for holding coupons, spare inserts and more. I always tend to have a calculator, a pen or two, and weekly ads in my binder at all times.
Couponing has become a major success for many shoppers, myself included. I have saved over $400 on my groceries this semester alone and I do not plan on stopping anytime soon. If you keep at it and you do your research, you can start saving money too. Do not get upset if transactions do not go the way they are supposed to, because it will happen on occasion. Above all, it is important to have fun with it and always remember that it will make a difference in your overall budget. I hope to see you at checkout.
