Save $7,000 a Year Using Grocery Coupons
Posted by: Christina / Category: Money Matters, Running the HouseholdMy curiosity has been piqued by this blog post in which we are introduced to the “Coupon Queen” and the fact that she saves $7,000 a year on her grocery bill simply by using coupons!
My first question: how do you keep track of your savings? Do you have a shoebox full of the year’s grocery receipts?
I am trying to be a believer because since I started clipping coupons again I have noticed an average savings of $35 each week. Not bad since it all adds up, right? But holy cannolli, Batman, give me the scoop for saving $7 grand!!
This Coupon Queen could make a small fortune sharing her strategies for saving money at the grocery store. I’m willing to let her keep one trade secret to herself but come on, share the wealth with all the other stay-at-home moms that are struggling to make ends meet. I like to write…I’ll put the words on paper for you! Anything to get you sharing the goods!
My second question: Do you bring your children shopping with you? If so, doesn’t the constant droan of “Mom, can I have ____?” get on your nerves?
Every Sunday my husband hands me the two piles of coupon fliers and if I’m good and organized, I’ll sit right then and start clipping. Normally I’m not that good and they are stuffed into a cabinet until the next shopping day when I’m scrambling to see if I can find any coupons to use. I don’t like being this disorganized, especially if organization can save me some money, so a remedy is in order.
One of the problems, I find, is that there are bunches of coupons for products that I simply do not use, so those end up in the trash. And the coupons that offer 25 cents off 2 boxes just don’t seem worth it to me, even if they are doubled. Give me $1 or more and now you’re talkin’. Or is it that I need to just think of the bottom line savings?
My third question: How big is your coupon file container? Is it small with lots of expired coupons (like mine) or is it magumbo size so you need a table of contents to find what you need?
I have also heard of some programs where for some kind of fee you can buy coupons for products that you use regularly. I can’t get my head around that idea either because you’re paying for coupons that will save you money; won’t you end up spending more money buying coupons??
Well, until the Coupon Queen contacts me about writing her bestselling book, I’ll continue to clip away. Hey, how about a cross-blog conversation revealing some useful tips? I’m game!
October 28th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
I am really interested into how in the world she saved that much. We don’t get the paper, but my MIL does and I have never noticed many if any coupons. I am sooo needing to save money on groceries.
October 28th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
I’ve never used coupons in my life. I just never thought they were really worth it. I can’t even wrap my brain around someone saving that much money on groceries! Interesting.
October 29th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
I used to track the amount of money I saved from coupons. I had an Excel spreedsheet set up for each month. Every time I came home from the store, I would take my receipt and enter the savings in. The spreadsheet was set up to add for me so it was just enter and see the savings. It was fun to watch how much I saved. I don’t have enough time to track it now, though
October 30th, 2007 at 8:29 am
The trick to using those small-amount coupons is to have all your coupons with you when you shop. When that particular item is on sale, buy the 2 required and use the doubled coupon.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
you have to check out this site. Lots of great info on saving with coupons.
http://www.moneysavingmom.com/
Ive been reading it for 3 weeks now, and it has saved me a great deal already.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
http://sensetosave.blogspot.com/
oh, and this one is good too.
November 5th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
Hello there, how are you? I’m well. Getting into the Christmas spirit oh-so-early as all the stores here in Toronto are decorated and playing Christmas music!! Yahoo!!!
I came across your blog while doing online research on behalf of DODGE.
Here is what I’M doing… At the risk of sounding spam-ish, and i promise, it’s not… here goes nothin’….
I work for Matchstick, a word of mouth marketing agency working on behalf of DODGE to launch the all-new 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan. We’re selecting 50 social and influential moms in the NYC area to receive a week-long test drive of the all-new 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan!!!! (essentially, they are calling it a “living room on wheels”). All that we ask in return is your feedback about your experience. (what you thought, what your friends thought, your family, your kids, your neighbours, everyone!)
If you’re interested, and would like additional information please visit our website at http://www.matchstick.ca/dodge.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at janelle@matchstick.ca
thanks lots and lots and whole bunches.
I HEART NY.
peace and light,
janelle
March 16th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Good grief girl–you’re going about it all wrong. Fist rule of couponing…clip nothing until you need it. Second rule, get someone else to do all the work for you. There are so many services out there, and free sites, that track sales AND coupons so you don’t have to. They match them up then tell you where to find the coupon. Email me if you have questions.