Play the matching game – match your coupons and get the best out of it
Once you have your coupon inventory together, the next step is to find out when and where you can match those coupons with items already on sale.
Thanks to the migration of weekly sales ads to the Internet, you can instantly see what is on sale at your local store. The vast majority of stores have their entire weekly sales ad readily available online. You need to set aside a couple of hours each week to browse a few supermarket sites. The goal is to match coupons in your coupon organizer with items on sale in the ad. You can actually memorize the coupons in your coupon organizer if you browse through it 2-3 times a week. A mental alert in your head should sound off when an item in the ad matches a coupon in your organizer. It's almost like playing one of those kid memory games.
You just go through the ads looking for items that match your coupons and when you see a matching item make note of it. When you are done looking at the ads simply go through your list of matching items and pull out the corresponding coupons. It's then just a matter of taking your matched coupons over to the store.
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CouponMom
CouponMom is a leading couponing forum started by coupon extraordinaire Stephanie Nelson. It's a very good and FREE online resource that will help you easily match coupons in your coupon organizer with items on sale (including unadvertised specials) at your local grocery store. For example, if Colgate toothpaste is on sale for $1.00 at your local supermarket, and there is a $1.00 coupon for Colgate toothpaste out there CouponMom will tell you the exact date of the insert that has the $1.00 coupon.
All you have to do is grab that dated insert from your organizer and clip the coupon. To find out what items are on sale or even FREE with a coupon, click on "CouponMom" at CouponCodeWorld.com.
Visit your local stores regularly
Some of the best deals are never mentioned on CouponMom site or in the weekly sales ads. You should occasionally visit your local supermarket with your coupon organizer in hand to browse the aisles. There could be real bargains located in the clearance area the store. Ask the customer service desk where the clearance spots are located and check those places. You'll score big savings when you match a coupon with clearance close out items.
Keep track of sales cycles.
Stores often put the same items on sale over and over again. You will consistently save money if you know when to expect certain items will be marked down. Simply write down in a notebook or spreadsheet program the dates when items you frequent purchase
were marked down. Order extra coupons from coupon clipping services 1-2 week in advance of when you think a specific item will be going on sale.
Make a shopping list ahead of time
If you go into a store without a shopping list you are doomed from the start!
It's critical to have a shopping list that specifies each item you plan to purchase, sale price, matching coupon discount, and anticipated check out total. Also, you should make your shopping list based on the layout of store. Organize the items on your list by category (meat, dairy, bread/cereal, snacks/candy, paper goods, personal hygiene, cleaning supplies, health&beauty, and miscellaneous items, etc).
You'll be in and out of the store faster. Also, if you stick to the list and don't buy anything not on the list you will always come out a winner.
Know the store policy for coupons
There is nothing more frustrating then when you reach the checkout with your coupons ready to score those sweet savings only to get this instead: "you've reached the maximum limit for coupons" or “we don't accept internet coupons”. Other people waiting behind you will give nasty looks. You may have to either put things back or pay full price. Not a pleasant experience!
The store coupon policy is often online. Simply visit the store website and click on Coupon Policy and print
it. Bring the policy along when you shop because some cashiers don't even know the store policy. The coupon policy for leading grocery store chains will be included in the next post of this blog.
Make sure the store has the items on your list.
Most people visit the supermarket expecting items on their shopping list to be readily available on the shelf.
But that is not always the case and you might leave the store without several items on your list. Some coupon are for new items are frequently hard to find at local stores. You actually do have more influence than you might think over the availability of items at your store.
The majority of supermarkets have a system in place that allows shoppers to request specific items or extra quantities for a big shopping trip. Ask the store manager to pre-order items you want to stockpile so you won't have to worry about those things being out of stock on the day you shop.