Need to save money on groceries but don’t have time for coupons? Coupons are a great way to save but there are SO many ways to do it.
Is it cheaper to buy in larger quantities or smaller?
This all depends on the product actually, the best way to tell what’s a better deal is figuring out the cost per ounce. While a product may seem to be a better deal, once figure up the cost per ounce you’ll realize that it may not be a great deal afterwards. When it comes to coupons especially, the better price is often the smaller item though.
For instance, you see a 10lb bag of sugar on sale for $6 and you see a 5lb bag of sugar for $3.10. The pricing alone seems like a better deal to buy in bulk but let’s say you have a $1 off coupon on any size, this changes things! You can use the $1 off and get two 5lb bags for $2.10 each, so 10lbs of that would only cost you $4.20. If you used that same coupon on a 10lb bag regularly priced at $6 you would get the same amount for $5, $.80 more than it would cost buying two of the smaller bags with coupons.
I thought Store Brand products were cheaper?
Going off the tagged price alone, yes, store brand is typically cheaper. But you don’t often see coupons for store brand products, you see coupons for manufacturer products and 9 times out of 10 with a good coupon this will be cheaper than store brand.
Before I started couponing I would spend $70 to $100 a week on groceries buying a majority of just store brand products, there was rarely a name brand item in my house. Since I started couponing though I spend $30 to 40 a week and buy all name brand products, the only thing you might find store brand in my pantry is bottled water and some canned foods.
Let’s say you are looking at salad dressing on the store shelf, the store brand is priced at $1.89 each and the name brand is priced at $2.50 each. Now that is a $.61 cent difference, based off that price alone you may want to go with store brand. But just for kicks let’s throw a coupon in the mix.
You have a $.75/1 coupon for the name brand salad dressing, this coupon alone brings the cost of it to just $1.75, which is $.14 cents cheaper than the store brand now. And typically name brand products rotate on sales so if this was offered at B1G1 Free or Half off during a sale it would be priced at $1.25, already cheaper than the store brand, throw in the coupon and you would get it for just $.75 cents! You could get 2 of these cheaper than 1 store brand bottle.
also read: 6 Tips to Help You Stop Spending Too Much at Target
There’s rarely any good meat coupons, what’s the best way to buy meat?
There are tons of great ways to buy meat, and while you may not get it free you can still look for the best pricing. When it comes to meat I tend to recommend buying in bulk on this (of course after you double check the cost per ounce). You can buy in bulk during a good meat sale, at your local warehouse store or even from a local butcher. Buy in bulk and when you get home divide up the meat into sections that you typically use, I do mine per pound. After dividing it up I wrap it in foil and stick it in my deep freezer for when I need it.
What about Produce, how do I find the best prices for this?
Just like meat, there aren’t that many coupons for products. Some stores may release store coupons for produce in their stores. Just like anything, keeping an eye out for the best sales/pricing on produce is the best way to score a deal. I also recommend if you have a local produce market to try there, their prices tend to be much cheaper than the grocery store because there’s no middle man.
I have a produce market near me that grows everything there so the cost are minimal which reflects in the pricing. Check your area and see if you have a market near you, or even start growing some of your own produce!
also read:Using Competitors Coupons at Walmart
I like a certain brand, how can I stay loyal and still save money?
If you buy a product often enough you know how often the deals for it come around or how often you see a coupon for it. Make a mental note of the time frame between rotating deals and stock up, enough to last you until the next sale or coupon comes around. You may not get the item for free but this way you’re able to save as much as possible on it.
Did you know that a lot of companies will send you coupons if you just ask?! Email the company of the product you’re loyal to and tell them that you love their product but you’re also an avid couponer and see if they have any to send out. It never hurts to ask and you’d be surprised what some companies will send!
View Coupon Course Part 1 : Getting Started Couponing
View Coupon Course Part 2 : Organizing Your Coupons
View Coupon Course Part 3 : Understanding Coupons
View Coupon Course Part 4 : How to Shop at Walgreens
View Coupon Course Part 5 : Couponing Etiquette
View Coupon Course Part 6 : How to Shop at CVS
View Coupon Course Part 7 : How to grow and maintain a stockpile
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