3. Print coupons. A number of coupon resources are available online, allowing you to pick the coupons that most interest you. Other retailers, like Kroger, offer digital coupons that you have to access on the web, then load to your savings card. You can also use a manufacturer’s coupon on top of this savings.
4. Speaking of, be sure to double up. Some stores will double your coupons. The coupon club ladies say your best bet is to shop with coupons valued at 75 cents or more.
“The other day, Giant Eagle had toothpaste on sale. It was $1.50, but if you had a 75 cents coupon, 75 cents and 75 cents is $1.50, you got it for free,” said Debb Ogle of Strongsville. She saved more than $1,000 on groceries at one retailer this past year. See here story to savings by clicking here.
5. You can get many things for free. Heather Timko, a librarian who organized the coupon club, said it’s easy to find coupons for items like beauty products, deodorant and toothpaste. Since many of these items are regularly on sale, use a coupon and you can snag them for free. (I usually always get my toothpaste and deodorant for nothing at all–and those are with the freebie coupons at my disposal.)
6. Many retailers price-match items. Bring in a copy of the sales ad when you shop. Just talk to a manager about the deal. Even if a retailer doesn’t blatantly say they accept the match, pitch it to a manager. They may take the deal!
7. Nope, it’s not expired. Some retailers allow people to use coupons beyond the expiration date. Dillons and Kroger are known to let you use a coupon two weeks past expiration. (Trust me, I used to be a cashier way back when…)
8. Double up. Some businesses allow you to stack a manufacturer’s coupons–the one you get in the newspaper ads–along with a store coupon. This can lead to many freebies.
9. Read other’s savings tips. Many women, like the infamous Coupon Mom, blog about their secrets to savings. They’ll share sales ad and coupon tips on their sites. Timko said this is where she gets a lot of her money-saving ideas.
10. Bring your own bags. Some stores will give you a 5-cent discount for using your own bags–they can just be bags from a prior visit. Note: if do use bags over again, be sure to wash out your cloth bags on occassion. They can soak up juices from old foods and meats, making it a cesspool for bacteria.