Day 2: 4 Rules for Pairing Coupons with Sales

If your initial reaction to $1 of diapers is “Big deal!” with an eyeroll, you don’t really understand the maximum potential of your deal. Don’t trot off to the store that day and blindly buy a box to redeem your measly $1 off. Master couponers, those folks who make the news when they score two carts of groceries for $8.75, always wait for an item to go on sale before parting with the coupon. That same $1 off diapers will quickly turn into $5 with some patience and attention. Let’s follow their lead!

Rule #1: Never use a coupon unless your product is on sale.
After you have a healthy supply of coupons, make it your goal to only use your coupon when the store marks the item down (meaning below the average price of the product with a sale). But when do my Kashi crackers go on sale? There is a definite pattern to markdowns and you’ll find it for your favorite stores if you start paying attention. Make a list of all the products you buy and note when they bingo at the store.

Rule #2: Always collect multiple coupons.
When a deal is too good to pass up, you want to be able to buy as many as possible, so long as the product doesn’t expire. Let’s say your family consumes around 4 boxes of Cheerio’s each month. And, lucky you, they are reduced to $1.99 at Walgreens this week. If you’ve collected eight 75¢ off coupons, buy two-month’s supply for $9.92 instead of $23.92 at full price ($2.99/box). Whamo!

Rule #3: Combine manufacturer’s coupons with store coupons.
If you subscribe to the newspaper (a wise move for staying connected to your community and getting great coupon deals), it most likely includes a manufacturer insert during one day of the week. Proctor & Gamble, who produces products like Tide and Dawn dish soap, as well as other big players offer separate coupons that you may redeem in conjunction with store coupons. Call your local paper to get the skinny on manufacturer inserts.

Rule #4: Never buy something just because you have a coupon.
Enough said. If your rationale for spending is, “I might just need that someday”, you’re well on your way to staring in a TLC special edition on hoarders. Grandma was famous for finding entire children’s outfits for under $2…three sizes smaller than the recipient! Your family doesn’t want to stage an intervention, so nip that greedy voice in the bud.