Coupon Your Way to Savings
You know we're all about saving money at Balanced Cents. Couponing is a popular topic when it comes to that. Have you ever been behind someone in the grocery checkout line who paid less than $20 for $200 worth of groceries? If so, then you know the power of couponing.
I interviewed Alison Schieltz, who is our resident couponer and Roots of Personal Finance Community member. She shares her tips and tricks to help you save more money when you shop.
TC: How did you get started couponing?
AS: I used coupons off and on years ago to save my family a little money, matching coupons with sale papers. It was always too much work, so it never lasted long. I just didn't have the time to commit to going through all the coupons and all the sale papers. About 7-8 years ago, I noticed that there were couponing sites that were devoted to doing 90% of the work for you. These sites would match all the available coupons out from each source with all of the store sales and deals going on. All you had to do was make your list, grab your coupons, and go shopping. Because it became so much easier and took very little time (especially compared to the savings/reward), I was hooked.
TC: What’s your process? How do you stay organized?
AS: I check out the main site I use, www.thekrazycouponlady.com, and see what's on sale at my favorite stores to shop. It's a great site and easy to use.
After I make my list, I gather my coupons. If there is a printable Internet coupon needed, the Krazy Coupon Lady will have a link to it right in the list. If a Sunday coupon insert is needed (from the Sunday papers), I check my [coupon] binder. When I get the Sunday coupon inserts, I write the initials for the insert and the date on the front and file the whole thing without cutting. The shopping list will tell me which insert to look in on which date. This method saves me an incredible amount of time by not clipping and sorting all the coupons. I only clip the ones I'm going to use.
TC: What’s the most you’ve ever saved and what’s your average savings?
AS: A few years ago, I had a major shopping haul. I bought over $400 worth of groceries for less than $50. It took a lot of time and planning, but it was worth it. I didn't buy body wash, shampoo, and other shelf-stable items for years. That was back when Kroger still had double coupons, and I believe that was what was a "super double coupon" trip—where they would double coupons up to $1. They don't do that anymore, but I can still regularly save 75% or more on my groceries, with a lot of them being free or moneymakers.
TC: What are the best products to get with coupons?
AS: I find that depends on your family and what you use. When my daughter was in diapers, it was diapers. I would stock up on the $13 packages of diapers for $3 or less.
Toothpaste is always a great one. I will never pay for toothpaste as long as I'm couponing—it's always free, or a moneymaker. Makeup is anywhere from 90% off to a moneymaker. Body wash, shampoo, and conditioner are other favorites along with toilet paper and paper towels.
Most personal care products, medicine, and household items can be gotten for a great discount, a lot of the time either free or moneymakers. While I can't save as much on things like fresh fruit and vegetables (although I can and do coupon for those too), I can always save on the other stuff, and it helps lower my overall cost for groceries and household items.
TC: Who has the best deals and where do you go to find them?
AS: Surprisingly, the drugstores like CVS and Walgreens have the best deals. I prefer CVS, and seem to do better there, but it may just be personal preference and ease of shopping. CVS takes all manufacturer coupons, has regular sales, reward dollars, and their own store coupons. They even send personalized store coupons based on your shopping habits, give a reward dollar rebate based on your shopping each quarter, and give reward dollars based on beauty purchases.
TC: What’s the longest you’ve gone between purchases you’ve stocked up on?
AS: I haven't bought toothpaste for about six months. I don't think I'll purchase anymore for our household for at least another six months. If it's free I may get some, but that will go in my donation box. I like to donate any surplus to local food stores and homeless shelters. I'm also stocked for the next year on shampoo and conditioner, and haven't bought any for at least six months.
TC: What advice would you give to someone wanting to give couponing a try?
AS: Start slow so you don't get overwhelmed. Pick ONE store, and stick with it for a while, until you really know how and when to shop there. Make sure you get comfortable with their rewards and couponing policy before you try to add another store. Definitely take advantages of the coupon sites that matchup the sales and deals for you. This saves a LOT of time and keeps you from getting overwhelmed. Also, don't chase all the deals. If you're done shopping for the week, but you see a new deal you can run out and grab, resist it unless it's something you really need and can use—and it really is worth it. If you spend more than a certain amount of time on couponing overall, it just isn't worth it. Your time is valuable, and if you're only saving a few dollars per hour you're spending on this, stop. Or at least take a hard look and see where to become more efficient. Decide what your time is worth, and make sure you average a set dollar amount per hour you're investing.
