Grocery Shopping with Online Coupons, Etc.

I have always used coupons. I am not able to boast buying $200 worth of groceries for $5.00 but I am happy with my savings - usually around 30%. Sometimes I will go to drug stores to only buy BOGO items or ones with rebates and I'll save 50% or more.

I have my own system for organizing coupons, though I realy like the Coupon Mom website. If I wasn't so set in my ways I would use the Coupon Mom system with a bit of modification. I've got 2 young kids and can't devote the time right now to switch to her system, though I hope to someday. I do however read her blog and forum every week to learn about special deals, coupons, freebies, rebates, etc. If you are just starting, I would recommend reading her free ebooks as well as the info in the forum for new couponers. You will find tons of ideas from other members and also learn ways that some people have modified her system to be more convenient for them. For example, some people save the cupon inserts from the Sunday paper every week without cutting any coupons and then refer to the inserts when they need them. Other people cut out and file the coupons they would normally use and still save the inserts in case unbeatable deals come up they might be intrested in.

As far as on-line printable coupons, every store has a different policy. O. grocery store I shop at will only take O. internet coupon "per shopping trip". Some won't take them at all. So I don't spend much time looking for and printing internet coupons for groceries. Where I find my greatest deals is with combining sales with coupons (from the Sunday paper), or coupons with rebates, etc. It can really become a fun challenge to see how much you can save. Unfortunately, a lot of people are doing the same thing and it is sometimes hard to get the really good deals that the drug stores run. Our local paper puts out a Sunday edition on Saturday so I buy it then and try to get out early Sunday morning to do my shopping. If you have any questions feel free to send me a message.

I've used grocery game-- it is kinda a pain, but you can save 25-30%, if you really do it (depending on what you buy). With GG, I found it easiest to get O. of those expandable files to keep the coupon inserts in. Each week it gives you a list of what is available and where the coupon is. So, if the SuperSaver insert had a coupon for $.55 a can of campbells soup on Aug 8, you'd go to the week of Aug 8 in your file, find the SS section, and then cut out the coupon from it.

If you buy a lot of organic or local stuff (read: not stuff from Giant Eagle), you're not going to do as well, and it will be just as time consuming. But if you are pretty much a "name brand" shopper it is totally worth it.

I have found with the internet coupons that even though many different sites offer them they often rely on the same 'platform' so once you print them about twice you are maxed out and can't print them again. They often say on them 'do not double or triple' which takes away half the bargain if you shop where they double them.

I have never had a problem redeeming them and I typically shop at Giant Eagle and Walmart (and it always surprises me that Walmart accepts them!)

I am of the mindset that it is a good deal if it is an item I use. If I can get the item for a steal but I won't use it than what am I saving?

I also am a big believer in Aldi's and private label brands. Why pay more for the brand name when they were probably manufactured in the same facility.

That being said, I have subscribed to coupon mom, I think it was. But I never really pursued it for the reasons mentioned above. I'm looking forward to seeing what others have to say because I do love to save!