Post by lostanderfan on Feb 22, 2007 14:22:43 GMT -5
I saw this article in our newspaper:
DESPERATION DINNERS/ BEVERLY MILLS, WITH ALICIA ROSS
Clipping coupons makes sense if you're smart about it
Coupon research worth the hassle
It was my best coupon day ever. Thanks to those simple slips of paper I clipped from the newspaper, my grocery savings (half the total bill!) locked up the cash register. The checkout clerk had to page the store manager to approve the sale.
Grocery coupons can indeed save you a bundle on food. But it's not always as simple as reaching for the scissors and the Sunday newspaper. Alicia and I did months of research on the ups and downs of couponing while writing our latest cookbook, "Cheap. Fast. Good!"
Here are some of our favorite tips.
You can save big when stores double (and sometimes triple) your coupons. Many stores double only on certain days and for certain amounts, so watch the ads and plan accordingly.
Supermarkets coordinate frequently with manufacturers to put an item on sale the same week a coupon is offered. This added savings can be significant.
Be selective. The time required to find the specific coupon you want corresponds directly to the number you keep on file. If you clip every coupon you find, keeping track gets complicated.
Develop a filing system. I file my coupons in three categories: food items I always buy; food items I might buy if the sale price is right; and nonedible items, such as detergent, shampoo and pet supplies. Feel free to add more categories.
Carry a small calculator. Often, the best coupon deal is actually on the smallest size of the product. (This runs contrary to the common wisdom of buying the largest size for biggest savings.) You'll need to calculate the cost per ounce (or per pound or per unit) to figure out what size is the best deal with a coupon. (Double-check the coupon for any size restrictions.)
Alicia and I experienced several light-bulb moments in our coupon research. First, an item is never a bargain if you never use it.
Finally (and perhaps most importantly), if your goal is to save money on your overall food bill, realize that a coupon item is only a savings if it replaces something else on your grocery list. For example, if your typical dinner menu is meat, potatoes, bread and one vegetable, you won't save money by adding a second vegetable just because you bought it with a coupon. That second vegetable costs you more actual cash no matter how cheap it is. Likewise, if you add coupon cookies to a menu that doesn't usually include dessert, you're not trimming the bottom line.
DESPERATION DINNERS/ BEVERLY MILLS, WITH ALICIA ROSS
Clipping coupons makes sense if you're smart about it
Coupon research worth the hassle
It was my best coupon day ever. Thanks to those simple slips of paper I clipped from the newspaper, my grocery savings (half the total bill!) locked up the cash register. The checkout clerk had to page the store manager to approve the sale.
Grocery coupons can indeed save you a bundle on food. But it's not always as simple as reaching for the scissors and the Sunday newspaper. Alicia and I did months of research on the ups and downs of couponing while writing our latest cookbook, "Cheap. Fast. Good!"
Here are some of our favorite tips.
You can save big when stores double (and sometimes triple) your coupons. Many stores double only on certain days and for certain amounts, so watch the ads and plan accordingly.
Supermarkets coordinate frequently with manufacturers to put an item on sale the same week a coupon is offered. This added savings can be significant.
Be selective. The time required to find the specific coupon you want corresponds directly to the number you keep on file. If you clip every coupon you find, keeping track gets complicated.
Develop a filing system. I file my coupons in three categories: food items I always buy; food items I might buy if the sale price is right; and nonedible items, such as detergent, shampoo and pet supplies. Feel free to add more categories.
Carry a small calculator. Often, the best coupon deal is actually on the smallest size of the product. (This runs contrary to the common wisdom of buying the largest size for biggest savings.) You'll need to calculate the cost per ounce (or per pound or per unit) to figure out what size is the best deal with a coupon. (Double-check the coupon for any size restrictions.)
Alicia and I experienced several light-bulb moments in our coupon research. First, an item is never a bargain if you never use it.
Finally (and perhaps most importantly), if your goal is to save money on your overall food bill, realize that a coupon item is only a savings if it replaces something else on your grocery list. For example, if your typical dinner menu is meat, potatoes, bread and one vegetable, you won't save money by adding a second vegetable just because you bought it with a coupon. That second vegetable costs you more actual cash no matter how cheap it is. Likewise, if you add coupon cookies to a menu that doesn't usually include dessert, you're not trimming the bottom line.