10 Baseline ways to save more

Hello, my name is Amanda, and I was a coupon skeptic...

Hi, Amanda.

My favorite couponer from TLC's Extreme Couponers. Her husband lost his job, but her stockpile kept them fed for over a year. Here, she is recylcing bin diving for coupons.... I am not this committed.

It's true. I really thought that these people were making up their stories because so many of the coupons you see say "Limit one coupon per purchase," "May not be combined with any other offer," or "Limit ___ number of coupons per customer."

But with these simple rules that I learned, sometimes learned the hard and expensive way, hopefully you can get a sense of how to get started!

I'm excited for you!!


Base 1: Learn what coupons can be combined with what other offers.

Manufacturer coupons (the ones in the Sunday paper or can be printed online that can be used at any store) cannot be "stacked," or used with a similar coupon on one item. But, Manufacturer coupons can be stacked with Store Coupons to increase your savings.

For instance, Gain detergent is $6.99 at Hyvee. I have a Manufacturer coupon for $2.00/1. I cannot use two of these coupons on this one bottle of detergent. But, if I have a Hyvee coupon for $2.00/1 (typically found in the Wednesday paper circulars and ads), I can use this coupon and the Manufacturer coupon for a total of $4.00 savings.

Also, find what stores will double coupons in your area. I have one grocery store in a 30 mile radius that will double coupons up to $0.50. (So $0.50 coupons become worth $1.00, but $0.55 remains $0.55. Does that make sense? Who knows if I'm explaining this clearly...)

Base 2: Make a list of items that you will never, ever, EVER buy if its not your particular brand.

I really like Secret deodorant. I will never use any other brand of deodorant. I really like Maybelline mascara. I will never use any other brand of mascara.

Hello, my name is Amanda, and I am a brand snob.

Hi, Amanda!

These are things, deodorant and mascara, that I will not buy outside of these brands unless I plan to donate it. When you start couponing, and if you're not disciplined like me, you tend to get carried away with the amazing deals. You will buy frivolous stuff, but if you can be disciplined and stick to your brands when you deem them absolutely irreplaceable, you'll save yourself money, time, and guilt later.

Base 3: Try non-name brand goodies.

I'm serious. Unless an item satisfies Base 2, try new brands, that may not be as popular. Soda, pasta, canned goods, toothpaste, toothbrushes, body wash, and (some) laundry detergents all have identical ingredients (yes, I have checked). In fact, some of the canned goods will have lower sodium than the name brand goods! So jump outside of your comfort zone, and try a new "brand."

Just do it.

Base 4: Once you start couponing, keep a log book.

I have a green spiral notebook filled with grocery items categorized by the lowest sale prices offered by stores, the date these sales occurred, the coupons I used to get the best deal, and the price per unit. This log ensures that I will never pay more for an item than I have in the past.

For instance: Charmin Bath Tissue (24 rolls). Bought at Hen House on 7/24/2011. On sale for $5.75. Used $0.25 coupon that doubled to $0.50. Paid $5.25. $0.22/roll. (Bought 2 packs)

Unless I run out of toilet paper completely, I will never pay more than $0.22/roll of toilet paper, again. The deal happened once; it will happen again.

When I first started couponing, I would call any one who went shopping with me to tell me if we got the item for less than the current sale price. Write it down. You will save yourself, and your shopping buddies, a lot of headaches and annoyance.

Base 5: Be willing to go to multiple stores.

I go to 3 grocery stores and 2 pharmacies every week. I spend 3 hours shopping a week, including driving time. It's worth it when you get the best deal, and many grocery stores are a stone's throw away from each other.

Base 6: Make a budget and stick to it

When I first established my budget before couponing, I has $100/week to spend on groceries and necessities. I have not spent $100/week, cooking for 2-4 people (my friends enjoy my cooking) a day for at least 2 meals, since I began couponing. Now, I use the overage to buy useful stockpile items, like pudding, ketchup, cereal, shampoo, toothpaste, etc., and donate these items to my city's homeless shelters and food banks. Point is, you can get a lot on a limited budget.

Base 7: Make a weekly meal plan on items that are on sale that week

For example: This week, canned beans, ground beef, and Kraft cheese is on sale. I'm making chili.

If there is nothing on sale that you believe you can make a dinner out of, reach into your stockpile. This will be rare, trust me!

Base 8: Limit your time spent with coupons

Seriously, try and stay away from your computer or Sunday paper after you save your first 70% on weekly groceries. Like any hobby, it can take over your life. Use in moderation. I speak from experience.

Hello, my name is Amanda, and I am a coupon addict.

Hello, Amanda. Amanda... Amanda... PUT THE COUPONS DOWN!!! Walk away...

This may be a true story... I plead the fifth...

Base 9: It's almost always cheaper not to buy it

Ty's words of wisdom. Often he is my voice of reason when I'm distracted by a 50% off tag.

When I first started couponing, I bought things because I could get them for a great deal. I would break Base 5 because I thought, "It's only a few dollars over." A few dollars adds up each week, even if you're getting things for greater than 70% off. And, there is no greater sense of guilt than seeing those items in my stockpile that I have never, EVER used. Shame!

Donate it and move on... if to assuage your guilt more than anything.

If you can live without it, ask yourself why you are really buying it. Unless it's a splurge item, I try to say no. Or my voice of reason says no for me.

Base 10: Donate your extras

1) Yay, I have 10 items. I am just neurotic enough that if I had thought of 11 I would go back and delete one to post later.
2) No body needs >10 tubes of toothpaste a year. Unless you are the Duggar family and have 19 children should you keep that much toothpaste.

Items like toothpaste will always be on sale, and you will always get them for $0.50-0.75. But instead of not buying the toothpaste after you have a sufficient stockpile, please consider buying and donating.

Why? Isn't that wasting my money?

Let me tell you a story...

I volunteer as a medical aid at a free clinic. The majority of my patients are homeless, and cannot afford their next meal, let alone a tube of toothpaste. On a somewhat regular basis, I bring in soap, toothpaste, deodorant, toothbrushes, and shampoo. When the "patient" leaves for the day, they get one of each item.  As I was handing out toothpaste at the door of the clinic, one of my patients looked at me and said, "I've never had my own toothpaste. I never thought I would even hold Crest toothpaste."

$0.50 for a tube of 4 oz. Crest toothpaste. THAT is not wasting your money.

Well, my friends, I hope you find these baselines helpful when starting your couponing journey. Leave a comment if you have any questions!