Eventually, I’ll reach the point where I’m saving 40-50% at the grocery store by use of sales and coupons.? I don’t think I’ll ever be that person who gets $100 worth of groceries for $10, but I’m working on it.? I know that Woody and I once managed to get about $200 worth of groceries for $80 — that was impressive as hell and I strive to accomplish that again.? Of course, it was like 2am, we were both tired but we needed food.? It was right after I moved to Colorado.
Coupons are good.? Coupons are your friends.? The thing with coupons is that you have to be smart about using them.? Now, all the “experts” the ones who get a cartload of groceries for chump change say that you should combine coupons and sales.? This is true.? They also say that everything you buy must be on sale AND be on a coupon you’re using.? Unfortunately I can’t do that.? I need things that are often not on sale or that I don’t have a coupon for.? But I get the gist, you know?
Here’s the thing… couple of weeks ago I bought some Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner.? I had a “buy one get one free” coupon which I used.? The Herbal Essences was on sale, 2 for $5 — the regular price was $3.59.? When I got home, I checked my receipt and found that $3.59 had been deducted for the coupon, not $2.50 (the sale price).? Why?? Well, when stores submit coupons like that they let the manufacturer know how much the discount was to be reimbursed.? So they’re getting their $3.59 back.? It doesn’t matter to them.? It matters to the consumer.? We save more money when stores do that.? I paid $1.41 for shampoo and conditioner, and it wasn’t the cheap stuff.
So especially with buy one get one free coupons, you want to buy on sale (I’ve actually got BOGO coupons set aside for a few other brands of shampoo and I’m waiting for them to go on sale). You’re going to sacrifice a little brand loyalty, but if you only ever use BOGO and use them when the items in question are on sale… you can save some good money.? ? If you can use them on something that’s already 50% off, you’ll get 2 free.? Here’s the math on that:? let’s say aerosol air freshener is $3 a can.? Since they’re 50% off, you’ll spend $1.50 a can.? That’s a total of $3.? When you apply your BOGO coupon, the store will discount $3 — ergo, free.
And then there’s the joy of coupon doubling, which some places do if you use their member card.? Usually there’s a limit on the coupon discount, 99 cents or $1 is the usual limit.? Which means that any coupons less than or equal to that amount will be doubled (unless the coupon says it’s not subject to doubling).? So your 55 cents off a bag of bagels becomes $1.10.? Add doubling to sales, and I can see how a person could save so much at the grocery store.? I just haven’t been able to accomplish it yet.
Last grocery trip I saved about $12 with coupons alone.? My sale savings were around $20.? Overall it was about 20% saved.? Always working for a higher percentage saved.? Always. ? Saving 50% on a regular basis is my goal.
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