Update to Couponing Post

Steve Wiley posted a story earlier about a woman who is a 'Super Couponer'.  I thought that I would 'update' his post by posting some tips on couponing.  Here's what I found....

How To Be A Super Couponer
There’s shopping, bargain shopping and then there’s extreme couponing – a breed of savvy shopping that goes beyond just clipping coupons. It has gotten so popular that extreme couponing now has its own reality show! TLC’s new reality series “Extreme Couponing” follows shoppers as they plan and plot their way to extreme savings. Each episode introduces viewers to America’s most extreme “super couponers,” who demonstrate their shopping skills and share why they are so driven to grab the deals. ShopSmart magazine offers these “Super Couponers’ Top Tips”:

Check your grocery store’s policy: Some stores will double and even triple coupons on an item (usually up to a certain amount, typically 99 cents, max). But sometimes that’s only on certain days of the week, so find out ahead of time and plan your shopping accordingly.

Save your coupons for when items are on sale: Plan ahead using weekly sales flyers to match deals with available coupons. But also take your entire coupon file to the store with you; many stores don’t advertise all deals.

Take inventory mid-month: Many coupons expire at the beginning or end of the month, so take time in the middle of each month to see what coupons in your stash need to be used ASAP.

Track price cycles: Items usually go on sale at regular intervals. Keep a log of the price of items you buy most often, so that you know how much they usually cost, when they will likely go on sale, and when a sale is really a good deal.

Watch closely during checkout: Cashiers sometimes neglect to properly scan all coupons and store-loyalty cards. And if you accidently picked up the wrong product size, you could end up wasting a coupon.

Don’t automatically reach for store brands: ShopSmart’s tests over the years have shown that store brands are often just as good if not better in quality than national brands. But with the right combination of sale price and coupon savings, a national brand might actually be cheaper.

“Stack” coupons to maximize your savings: Some stores include additional coupons in their weekly circulars and in the e-mail newsletters sent to loyalty-card holders. You can use a store coupon on top of a manufacturer’s coupon for even more savings.

Shop at stores that accept competitors’ coupons: Strange as it may seem, some stores do so; after all, they want your business! Make one of them your go-to spot and take other stores’ exclusive coupons with you when you shop. Sign up for loyalty cards at all of the stores in your area to get insider deals.

Use coupons on trial sizes: Unless a coupon stipulates that you can’t, using a coupon to buy trial sizes of items could make them free.

Don’t toss those expired coupons: Your store may still accept them – don’t be afraid to ask.