Not-So-Extreme Couponing

Photo by: Leesha Seibold

Some people don't care for it, but I love collecting and using coupons. In the long run, "couponing" will save me hundreds of dollars. It's simple enough that anyone can do it.

Being a full-time student and mother to a 5-month-old, it's important to recognize when able to save money. Collecting coupons from random ads in the mailbox and printing off coupons from online sources has saved me a ton of money, and every penny counts.

Today, I spent a small amount of time at home on the computer searching for coupons that would be honored at the local Walmart. I also tweeted about my experience using the hashtag #iliketocoupon. My favorite website for coupons is coupons.com.

How do I save even more money?

To save even more when shopping, along with using coupons, I choose to shop at a local grocery store that price matches.

What is price matching? Price matching is when you go to check-out at the store, then you pull out an ad from another local store. If you see that the ad has something marked cheaper than the current store you are shopping at, they will match it and lower their price for that advertised item. 

To do this you must bring in the paper ad, whether you print it from the internet or pick it up yourself, and present it to the cashier. If it is on your smart phone, they do not have to honor it. Also, be sure to pay attention to the ad dates. Some are only advertised for a limited time, whereas others are advertising their everyday deals.

How about money saving apps?

Photo by: Leesha Seibold

Having a smart phone is just about the norm now. With that being said, having money saving apps is a must. 

I originally put the coupons.com app on my phone, but found it near useless considering you must print the coupons in order to use them. I now like to use the retailmenot app. It's not exactly the same as a coupon, but has many benefits. Most of the time it can be combined with other offers as well.

How does it work? After presenting coupons, where applicable, pull up the app and open to the store you are currently at. You usually will have many options on discounts, such as half-off or $10 off. Not all stores participate on the app, but I have found most of the places I shop have at least something.

Photo by: Leesha Seibold

This only applies to Walmart shoppers, but after you finish checking-out, be sure to scan your receipt with their Savings Catcher app. Usually doesn't give you too much back, if any at all, but the few cents and dollars add up after a few shopping trips.

Success!

I count today as a success. Filled my home with groceries and saved a total of $23.

Did this help you? Inspire you to become coupon savvy? I'd like to know!