I get my love of coupons from my parents. My parents are coupon masters, diner coupons, supermarket coupons, store coupons. You name it, they can find it for you on sale. I learned at a young age that with a lil patience and the right coupon you almost never have to buy anything at full price. I pride myself on the ability to do a huge weeks shopping at the grocery store for less than almost anyone. I buy holiday gifts months in advance utilizing the coupons I find in flyers and the ones I have signed up to receive online. I almost always buy my clothes on sale. The trick to coupon shopping is not to be one of those people who only buys something because they have a coupon.

For example…Ohhh buy 4 heads of lettuce and get 2 free!! Come on, there is no way you are going to eat all 6 heads of lettuce in one week. And if you don’t they will go bad and you will loose your money by throwing them in the trash. The trick to coupon shopping is to look for things you need and wait for a coupon or discount code for the things you really want. The flip side is not to miss out on something terrific waiting for a coupon. I once put back the most fantastic DKNY top that was already on sale because I wanted to wait for clearance. What happened? I didn’t get the top and I constantly find myself in situations where I think, boy this would be a perfict occasion to wear that top! It still burns me.

There is a happy medium and here it is. Collect coupons regularly. Create an envelope or folder specifically to store your coupons. I have a habit of taping this month’s coupons to the fridge so I will see them before I go out. Don’t forget to collect your coupons. Most supermarkets provide you with coupons at the checkout, Blockbuster gives you a coupon with most movie rentals and some reciepts actually have coupons on the back. Before you go to the supermarket check the manufacturer websites for promotions and coupons and don’t forget the free flyers available in stores. Make a list of the things you need to buy, whether it be groceries, clothes, gifts, etc. Then match up your list with whatever coupons you have. It might send like a lot of effort to save a few bucks but it really isn’t.

Do you get the Sunday paper? Well there are a ton of advertisements and coupons in the Sunday paper. Before you throw it away take a few minutes to flip through these sections and cut out the coupons that catch your eye. In the long run it will save you a ton of money. Many stores are now implementing some sort of free customer savings program where signing up for a newsletter can provide you with monthly coupons. Besides, who doesn’t love getting a good deal? It is a great feeling to walk up to a register with an item that is already discounted and then save an extra 10, 20 or even 50% percent because you remembered to bring a coupon. Gotta love saving money!

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