O.K. let's face it; few people want to sit around clipping coupons in order to save a few bucks at the grocery store. I mean, if I manage to save $5 this week through my efforts, is this worth my time? The true answer should be no!
But if by going through those coupons you could save $100 a month or more, then would it be worth your time? The purpose of this article is to show you how taking the effort of using coupons can be worth your time.
I will show you this through vital time saving techniques. You will also learn how to avoid the number one mistake almost all people make when using coupons.
Try Not to do This!
The mistake that most grocery shoppers make when it comes to coupons is a very common 3 step process:
* Step 1: You receive your new coupons on Sunday and clip all the ones you think you will want to use.
* Step 2: You go shopping, and then you purchase the items with the coupons you clipped.
* Step 3: You throw out the other 50 or 60 coupons that you did not clip because you don't think you will want or need them anytime soon.
Why is this the Biggest Mistake?
Some people wonder how this can be the biggest couponing mistake. The truth is that there are many reasons why this couponing "norm" is the absolute biggest mistake you can make while using coupons.
Reason number 1
The first reason this is the biggest mistake is because of the concept of bad timing. Don't get me wrong, the grocery stores that carry these products will think that your timing is perfect.
Why is this? This is because the stores want you to use these coupons as soon as you get them. The grocery stores plan on you using your coupons within the first 10 days of receiving them. The store may even plan part of their weekly ad according to which coupons have come out.
A lot of work goes in to the weekly ads that the grocery stores create. They are constantly changing prices and thinking of new ways to catch your attention and get you in the door. Once they get you in the door, then there goal is to make as much money as they can.
The Items not on Sale
The grocery stores will rarely offer really great sales on the coupons that you just received on Sunday. Don't get me wrong, occasionally you will find a sale on for an item that just had a coupon come out, but it is usually just an average sale. Maybe this is what got you into the door!
As a power shopper, you will want to wait until an even better sale. I believe that many stores make sure that they do not offer great sales on certain items because they know you are probably going to use your coupon anyway.
They know that the average shopper uses their coupons within 10 days of receiving them in the local newspaper, and they will use this information to try to make as much money as possible.
So, you are drawn in to a store on let's say Thursday or Friday, maybe even Saturday because these are big grocery shopping days. Maybe you chose your store because of a few great deals they had in their ad.
You buy the good deals and then you go to use your coupons. You have a coupon for $1.00 off 2 boxes of Quaker granola bars for example. There doesn't happen to be a sale, but you still think that $2.99 a box is a reasonable price for granola bars. So you then buy them and with your coupon you buy 2 for $2.49 each. At the end of this transaction, the grocery store is making a very nice profit for two reasons.
* The first reason is because they sold you 2 boxes of granola bars that usually sell for only $2.50 per box at many stores
* The second reason is that they will be reimbursed from Quaker the $1.00 for the coupon plus a handling fee for accepting that coupon. In the end, the grocery store has received more than $3.00 for each box of those granola bars that usually only sell of $2.50 each.
Learn Timing
About once in every 12 weeks period is when you will find one of the lowest prices you can get for any given grocery item. When this happens you will be able to combine the coupons you receive with the absolute lowest prices for items that you normally buy.
How can I easily find the best deals? Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough. That is what we are here for, to teach you these almost "unfair" shopping techniques, techniques that many stores probably wish you didn't know about! These are the technique that you will be able to use in order to at times almost effortlessly save more than 70% off of your grocery bill!
For right now, just remember that timing is everything with coupons. Almost everyone uses their coupons immediately, and you will very rarely see a great sale for an item the week that the coupon comes out.
Reason number 2
The second reason why the couponing "norm" is the biggest mistake you can make is because when you throw out any coupons that you do not think you will need anytime soon, you are basically throwing away money.
An example of this throwing away of money is when you throw out, for example, that $1.00 off Aquafresh toothpaste. You may easily think "I have 2 tubes of toothpaste, which is plenty to last me a while". But, with many items, like toothpaste, you will begin to learn as a power shopper that you can get these items absolutely free, but only when you decide to save your coupons.
The Time for Door Busters
It is usually about 1 month after the coupon comes out that a grocery store may decide to have a "door buster" sale on that item. Last time I used my $1.00 of Aquafresh toothpaste I was able to purchase about 8 tubes of the expensive type (the "teeth whitening" type that usually sells for $3.49) all for free! Why would you ever want to pay for certain items ever again if you could constantly get them for free?
If you want the freebies, do not throw away your coupons! I would hold on to your newest coupons for 8 months. I've seen coupons that have been good for that long. I was able to purchase yogurt for free for almost a whole year because the coupons did not expire for many months after they were issued.
Reason Number 3
There is a third reason why using the normal method of couponing is not a good idea. The reason is that you will consistently find yourself using coupons right away for brand-new items that have just hit the stores.
At times, the manufactures will offer a coupon to try the item absolutely free, and in this case, you are obviously good to go. My favorite is when Hershey's came out with the Hershey's Cacao Reserve chocolate and they gave coupons to receive this item absolutely free!
This rarely happens; the truth of the matter is that most companies will not let you try the item absolutely free at first. They will usually send out a really great coupon just when a new product hits the market. They trust that with a good coupon and a new product to try, that there is a high probability of you purchasing that product.
The Patterns with New Products
The companies usually follow a set pattern and this is where most people make a couponing mistake:
First: The company releases the new item simultaneously with a coupon. They request that the grocery stores keep the new item at retail pricing for a while, then after a couple of months, they will let the grocery stores put the new item on sale.
They request that the item is kept at retail price because of the simple fact that most people are willing to pay a slightly higher price with the introduction of an intriguing new product.
Second: After the "wave" of people that are willing to pay the introductory price has passed, the manufacturer then lowers the price or has it put on sale to allow for a second "wave" of people to try the new product. This second wave of people is the type of people that are willing to try the new product if the price is right. Almost nobody at this point still has the coupon that was issued months ago, almost everyone except you: the power shopper!
The manufacturers will continue to follow this same pattern so that they can get as many people to try their new product as possible. All you need to do is be patient and use your coupons when the price is low. The beauty of this whole system is that you will probably be able to try the new product for 1/4th of the cost or, at times, absolutely free!
Multiple Newspaper Subscriptions
Having multiple newspaper subscriptions is the easiest way of getting lots of free items from the grocery stores. When I receive free items, I do not get really excited if I only receive one of that item for free. When was the last time you jumped up and down for joy because you received a free can of soda at a community party? Exactly, you didn't.
But, if at the end of the party there are cases of sodas left over and you learn that they are free for the taking, then you get a lot more excited because you just scored $10 worth of free sodas!
That is the same idea when it comes to getting free items at your local grocery store: you should try to get as many as you can!
Every newspaper subscription you have gives you access to tons of grocery savings. We suggest having access to at least 3 sets of coupons every week. The easiest way to obtain 3 sets of coupons every week is through purchasing multiple newspaper subscriptions. These newspaper subscriptions are relatively cheap and are well worth the investment.
In our eBook we give you access to two great websites that will let you subscribe to almost all newspapers across the United States at 50% to 75% off, costing you usually around $1 per Sunday paper delivered to your door. We suggest purchasing the Sunday only editions of the newspaper because this is the day of the week where you will receive your coupons. Through comparing the prices on these two websites, you will be able to get the best deal on newspaper subscriptions!
Also in our eBook, "Saving Money through Power Shopping" we show you have to receive free access to a website that will show you where all of the current coupons are located, by category! This valuable resource perfectly implements the concept of timing. As an example, if you find a good deal on shampoo at a local store, all you need to do is type in shampoo and it shows you all of the current coupons to match that sale!
This valuable resource makes it so that you never again have to spend hours clipping and organizing your coupons! This program will always tell you which date, page, and publication to find the right coupon! This information along with other resources in our eBook make it so that you can start power shopping today!
Until next time!
Daniel Pereira
http://www.CouponstoFreeGroceries.com
Daniel Pereira is author of the book "Saving Money through Power Shopping: How to Immediately Save 40-70% on Your Grocery Bill." To learn about more grocery savings tools and techniques, visit his website at: http://www.CouponsToFreeGroceries.com
