10 Step Couponing: Step 6: Coupon Strategies

Now that you have all your wonderful coupons clipped, sorted and ready to go…how do you use them? The following are the most popular coupon strategies that you can start using today!

LOYALTY CARD

Almost every store has some sort of a loyalty rewards card. (As of this writing, Walgreens does not). Sign up for every loyalty card, it guarantees you get the store sale price, and you will earn points or special coupons by being a member. Use it every time you shop.

TIMING

In the world of coupons, timing is everything. Combine a sale with a coupon for maximum savings and minimum expense! Do not use a coupon as soon as you clip it. Keep it, file it and wait for it to go on sale. The savings can be as dramatic, and even more than the picture above!

DOUBLE COUPONS

When stores say they double coupons it means they will double the face value of the coupon you give them. For example, at Shaw’s where I shop, they double coupons “up to $.99.” That means any coupon between $.01-$.99 will be doubled. So a $.75 coupon is now worth $1.50 at Shaw’s. Drugstores do not double coupons, check your grocery store for individual policy.

UNIT PRICE

Unless a coupon specifically states a size, you can use it on any amount. If you get the smallest size allowed, you’ll either get the item for free or very cheap. For example, a coupon for Carolina Rice came out that is $.50 off 1, on any size. The small, single serving packets sell for $1. Since Shaw’s doubles coupons, the single serving will be FREE after coupon, and FREE is always better!

CASHBACK

All drugstores and grocery stores have some variation of a cashback program. Stores have promotions for buying a certain amount or number of items and in return they give you a coupon back that is money to buy anything in the store. (Certain exclusions apply). For example, when a grocery store says “Get $2 at checkout when you buy these 3 items,” a coupon will print with $2 store credit after you make the purchase.

STACKING

Stacking is when you use more than one coupon per item. You can use one store coupon and one manufacturer coupon on one item to get greater savings. In the above example, you would be able to use a $.99 Walgreens coupon and a $.35 manufacturer coupon on one bottle of Sofsoap (only at Walgreens of course!), which gives a savings of  $1.34; probably means FREE softsoap!

Combining all the different strategies into one transaction will get the biggest savings.

Rite Aid sale promotion and to get loyalty points [loyalty card]

4 toothbrushes $5/each[sale price]

=$20

- Buy One Get One Free [store promotion]

-(2) $2 off 1 Manufacturer coupons

-(1) $1 Rite Aid Video Value coupon (store coupon) [stacking coupons]

=$5 and get $5 Rite Aid +UPs …so… 4 Spinbrushes FREE! [cashback]

Power in numbers! The more strategies you can use, the greater your savings!