Money Monday: It's Not Lame to Use Coupons at the Grocery Store

Money Monday: Couponing

So I'm sure you've heard it all before, people who coupon are crazy. They are the people who hoard groceries like prized treasures and think obsessively over nothing else but how much money they'll save on their purchases. That does not have to be the case. You do not need to spend 40 hours a week, planning an 8 hour grocery trip, where you'll amass hundreds of ketchup bottles. However, it is worth noting that the more time you put into couponing, the more you'll get out of couponing. Despite that caveat, as a young adult trying to navigate working more than 40 hours a week, getting all the household chores done, spending quality time with my husband, and trying to maintain somewhat of a normal social life, I really don't have a lot of extra time to dedicate to couponing.

I would call my approach to couponing pretty casual. Vinnie and I subscribe to our local paper, but only for Sunday delivery and it has become a Sunday morning tradition to go through the coupons. Vinnie is the designated deal searcher and I am the designated coupon cutter. All the coupons I cut I keep in a little expanding folder that I can keep in my purse. It is separated into sections for toiletries, cold food, dry food, etc. It's easier to find what I need by having it organized. I don't base the coupons I cut based on my grocery list, instead I choose them based on what we typically buy throughout the year. I don't usually cut coupons for food or toiletry items that are new or that we've never used unless we want to change things up. I also don't cut the coupon if it requires us to buy more than 3 items, especially cereal, because chances are we don't eat that much of it or won't use it in time (if it is a perishable item). 

You can also strengthen the impact of your coupons through store loyalty or other store coupon programs. Target has the Cartwheel app that assembles all the savings available at the store which can be combined with manufacturer's coupons. Store loyalty programs also give you additional savings and also sends coupons in the mail. Using our Shoppers Club Card at Wegmans saves us at least 10% on our groceries every month. 

Buying the Sunday newspaper isn't the only way to get your hands on coupons. You can print them out from online as well, and probably get more than were in the paper anyways. I don't use any of those sites but I'm sure it's worth it. Maybe when/if our family expands it will be worth my time to use online coupons. Also, check your local library for coupon inserts that have been donated. Sure, some of the coupons you want may be taken but you could also find some for items you use on a regular basis. I donate my uncut coupons to my library every week and try to be conscious of the coupons I am cutting. If it is for something I use but don't need to buy before the coupon expires, I will leave it uncut. 

Couponing may seem like a waste of time but it really does save money in the long run. Over the past two months, it has saved Vinnie and I approximately $50, which is a meal out or extra money to put in our vacation savings account. And that's just with a minimum amount of effort put into it. If thirty minutes a week can save enough money to buy a nice meal out, isn't it worth it to try?

Anyone have any couponing tips they'd like to share?

Happy Monday!