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5 Minutes for Mom contributor Jennifer Donovan has recently tried her hand at couponing. Read about how it’s paid off for her with little effort.
A couple of weeks ago I was on a movie set visit with some other bloggers. Yes, it’s cool to see Hollywood in action, but I also equally enjoy the opportunity to meet or reconnect with other bloggers or online writers. On this particular trip, I enjoyed a great dinner with several bloggers including Vera Sweeney. The topic of couponing came up, and she said, “It will change your life. I promise you.”
Other People Have Done the Hard Work For You
This is the number one principle that makes couponing easier now than it’s ever been. Vera shared one website with me and another friend shared another one. Find a website you like, and use it. They will give you the offers for that week, good sales combined with good coupons, and list it out for you. Pick and choose what you like.
The sites I’ve used so far are Living Rich with Coupons and Coupon Mom (you have to register, but it’s simple). Take a few minutes to browse and see if it will work for you.
No Clipping Required
This was my big obstacle, because there were times that I printed and sorted coupons and stood in the supermarket fishing through my little coupon organizer only to fish out a coupon that was expired.
If you are using the websites above, they list the deal and the coupon. For example, Kroger has Nature Valley bars on sale, but then she also gives a link right there to an online coupon I can print, and tells me which coupons circulars have Nature Valley coupons (for example, 8/03 SmartSource).
That means that I don’t have to scour the internet for online printable coupons. I only print them when they match up with a sale. I also do not have to clip coupons. I have an expandable file folder, and I will keep the entire coupon book for each week in one tab.
Stack Manufacturer’s Coupons with Store Offers
I think CVS is the best at drawing consumers in with their offers. When the topic came up, I told Vera that I liked the idea of it, and had finally gotten good at using my printed CVS coupons and the bonus bucks my loyalty card earns me, but that was about as far as I had gotten, or honestly as much as I was interested in doing. She told me that it was really easy to work the system at CVS, stacking their coupons with manufacturer’s coupons and extra bucks. She frequently posts her bargain hauls on her youtube channel. You can watch her introductory video about How to Coupon at CVS for more information.
I love that I can save a good bit money on items I need without being extreme.
Do you coupon? Why or why not? Is it for the thrill? The needed financial savings? Does anything in this post change your mind?
Rachel Ellis Freer says
I love that there are websites that do the work for me! I have tried cutting coupons and figuring it out myself and failed miserably! I am going to have to check out these sites!
Thomas Murphy says
I love saving money with coupons!
Jill Myrick says
We have been couponing for years and love it. Anything that I can save off of the budget for groceries goes into a home fund which adds up petty quickly and we use that money for things like remodeling the bathroom etc.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
Amanda Sakovitz says
I love stacking coupons for additional savings!
Jennifer B says
I love using coupons and saving money
Tammy Woodall says
I used to sit with the Sunday paper and clip coupons what seemed like hours. Thankfully, that is a thing of the past. Getting coupons has never been easier. Thank goodness.
Sindy Murray says
I love coupons. I try to combine manufacturer coupons with store sales. I also use ibotta, saving star and checkout 51.
Laura J says
Oh great tips! We have been running so short each month, and have really been trying to use coupons as much as possible and stock up on items we use often when they are at a low price. I love when you can stack the coupons!
Helen says
Stacking coupons is a great way to save. I love to do it, but I have to be in the mood to sit down and get everything straight ahead of time.
Dandi D says
These are some really great tips for people who really want to get into couponing!
Dana Rodriguez says
I use coupons a lot but I don’t “extreme coupon”.
Kate F. says
I love coupons. I don’t go to extremes, but I do use them frequently.
Da-Hedgehogi says
I need to get back into using coupons again. I will have to check out the sites you mentioned above. I do it for the thrill mostly and just because I want to save a little.
Sarah L says
No CVS in Colorado. I like that you don’t have to clip from the paper any more.
Meagan bs says
i only coupon when i have one for something specific, i wish i could do it more but i just can’t find the time or patience for it.
Cynthia C says
Coupons have saved me money for years but I don’t use them as often as I should. I need to be better organized.
Cheryl Free says
I coupon to save money. There are tons of coupon blogs worth following besides the two you mention.
Mimi B says
I need all the help I can get! I used to use coupons all the time and just slacked off. Finding time to clip them, but I should find apps to help me out more! I need to plan a LOT better!
anne says
An excellent feature which interests me.
Tiffany DeOs says
I really need to get back into couponing. Thanks for the nudge.
Cheryl says
CVS is still my favorite store to save at, even tho the deals are not what they used to be and you have to work harder to save.
Barbara Platt says
I wish I could save like others do but I can’t get out like others do
CR Williams says
Thanks for this great information, coupling tend to be annoying to me.
Emily Smith says
I always check my favorite blogs before planning my shopping trip. I’ve saved so much money and have learned a trick or two to figuring out my own deals. 🙂
Nicole says
I love using coupons! I love online coupon codes better or store programs where you can clip online. Makes it so much easier.
Kathy stevenson says
I love using coupons and target is the best for stacking!
Sonya Morris says
I love using coupons! I don’t really do the extreme couponing but I print coupons for items we use or want to try. It has saved us a lot of money over the years by using them and shopping the specials.
vickie couturier says
I always try to use coupons when sales are going on
Marlena U. says
I love to coupon at Target! Stacking coupons, using Cartwheel and saving 5% with a REDcard!
katklaw777 says
I have been stacking coupons for 20 years…great way to save!
Liza Ramsey says
I used to coupon a lot but started slacking. I really need to get back into it because think of all the money I’m not saving!
Kimberly says
I dabble in couponing and get excited when I get a good deal via coupons. I would love to take the time to really put into it, but there are so many other things that need my attention. I hadn’t heard of Living Rich with Coupons though, so I will check that site out. Thanks!
DEBIJOT says
Couponing is second nature to me. I have been couponing for years. Combining sales with store coupons and mfg. coupons can’t be beat.
Tammy S says
I love couponing! I use a lot of electronic coupons and sites to help me find the deals. It is so much easier that they do all the hard work. Thanks for the tip on the two sites. I will have to check the out.
Rosie says
I do use coupons, and I also like CVS that with some efforts, you can really save!!!
Susan says
I wish we had CVS in Canada… I always think I should start couponing, but it does seem overwhelming. I also don’t think it works as well in Canada… I should try though.
Jennifer Donovan says
I think it does work well for household items like cleaning supplies and drug and beauty items, and so the CVS perks really make it all add up.
I am getting a little addicted. I made a last-minute stop to pick up some stuff for my grandmother and ended up getting my daughter some granola, which she had been asking for, but it sort of plagued me, thinking that I might have a coupon back at home 😉
Tanya says
I love couponing. I don’t to anything extreme but saving 20bucks on my shopping trip is well worth it to me 🙂
Jennifer Donovan says
I know! I got really excited when just one week after I started, I also used some special (and really good) coupons that were from a new grocery store opening and saved an additional $10 on top of the other digital and manufacturer’s coupons!