Couponing has become my hobby. I’m certainly not as savvy as most professional savers (yes, professionals), but I’ve found it to be quite enjoyable. I’m starting to get more of a feel for the spirit of couponing as well; as such I thought I’d share a bit of what I’ve learned (this after fielding several questions about coupons from various friends, coworkers, and family). Here are some of my thoughts:
1. You can combine one manufacture and one store coupon per item. Yes, really you can! For example, if you go to Target.com you can print off target coupons, than combine that coupon with a manufacture coupon, for example from your Sunday paper.
2. To get a good deal try to match your coupons with sales. I don’t intuitively know where the deals are, I let professional do the work for me. Mom blogs make it their business to match sales and coupons and they tell me what to do! I’m just really good at following directions.
3. When you find a stock up price, well stock up! A stock up price is when you can get an item for free or 75% less than retail.
4. Begin by buying one newspaper every Sunday and begin practicing your math.
5. Your time is valuable and sometimes saving a few dollars isn’t always worth your time.
Tonight on the way home from work I thought of this deal at Rite Aid (pictured below). I paid $2.80, however, I shouldn’t have paid anything (I did and redid the math after I got home, and yep the total should have been the big Zero). I had an elderly cashier who became confused by the coupons and sales, he was very pleasant, but didn’t really get it. I had a long line behind me and I knew my guys were waiting for me at home, so I told the cashier it was ok, and handed him $3 bucks, in the end it wasn’t worth my time to argue over $2.80. My total before coupons was $30, so I still did ok.
