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Savvy Shopping: How to begin couponing

By Lisa Schryver, Source: Tribune Media Services

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 9.8 percent of the average American family’s spending goes toward food. But experts say families can save a significant portion of that by looking for bargains and taking advantage of coupons.

Matthew Cheng, founder and president of eCoupons.com, says that, yes, coupons do take time to find and clip, but the payoff in the end can be well worth it.

“The best time to clip and shop is when you get the Sunday paper or in the package of flyers for local stores,” he says. “Start clipping, sorting and organizing before your shopping trips. The best days to shop and save are when grocery stores offer double or triple coupon specials.”

Typically, such promotions run once or twice a month for one or two days at a time, Cheng says.

Additionally, Cheng urges consumers to keep the coupons they do not use because you can trade them online for ones you do want.

Sure, coupons can have an impact on your grocery bill, but what’s the secret to getting the most for your money? Kim Danger, family savings expert for Coupons.com, says a little preparation can go a long way. In fact, the 14 million users of Danger’s site save an average of $200 a month by simply being coupon savvy.

Here are her tips for getting the most from your coupons.

1. Print coupons from online coupon sites, as well as store sites like Kroger and brands like General Mills. The coupons are free, available all the time and new offers are regularly added.

2. Look high and low in the store. Retailers pay for product placements on grocery shelves, so the cheaper items are often in the less convenient visual locations – e¬¬xcept in kid-friendly aisles where your child’s line of vision is also valuable.

3. You can also find coupons on Facebook, and even iPhone applications.

4. Use a coupon accordion to file your coupons. Keep it in your purse so you have them on you at all times.

5. Organize your grocery list by store section and aisle to save time when you shop, and avoid tempting aisles if you don’t need anything in them. Be sure to avoid shopping when you’re hungry and beware of potential budget busters on the end-caps and near the checkout.

6. Use reusable grocery bags to be environmentally friendly. Some stores even offer a discount or incentives for bringing your own bags.

7. Combine coupons with items already on sale in your store for double savings. Additionally, consider planning your menu around what’s on sale to keep your budget in check while also making healthy meals. Remember to plan in a night or two of leftovers to cut your kitchen time and use up extra food in the fridge. Tossing away spoiled food is like tossing away money.

8. Ask your local store about double coupon days, and see if they will match prices from competitor stores to save you multiple trips.

9. Keep a price book of your frequent purchases, and figure out when items are at their lowest. Store pricing goes in cycles, so it’s wise stock up when the price is lowest. Add a coupon to save even more.

10. Sign up for e-mail newsletters from your favorite brands to get special offers and coupons. And apply for store loyalty cards for extra discounts.

© 2009, Tribune Media Services