I am going to write out a really long, detailed post that will save you money if you let it. Hundreds to tens of thousands a year depending on your own personal lifestyle.
Read everything below & then if you want to keep burying your head in the sand, sobeit :)
Here are some examples from just one of the coupon matchup sites available.
http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com/mydollargeneral http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com/mydollartree
http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com/mypathmark http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com/mypublix http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com/mywinndixie http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com/mygiant http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com/myalbertsons
#1: Get the store card for every store in your area that has a loyalty program. Some sales are tied to a particular address or phone number and "max out", CVS is an example of one who does this so I have a few CVS cards - one from my address/my name, one for moms address/her name, one for friends address/her name, etc.. If you know people who don't coupon it is nothing for them to get an extra card and give it to you.
#1: Get the store card for every store in your area that has a loyalty program. Some sales are tied to a particular address or phone number and "max out", CVS is an example of one who does this so I have a few CVS cards - one from my address/my name, one for moms address/her name, one for friends address/her name, etc.. If you know people who don't coupon it is nothing for them to get an extra card and give it to you.
For stores that don't track purchases like this you will only need one card total. Most stores you could do as many "limit 4" as you wanted over the week with one card as long as management didn't care. The only time a second card would be needed in those cases would be if there was a running total program. For instance my Shoprite has a "spend $400, get free turkey" program. It counts the pre-coupon price, so I might only pay $125 for $400 in groceries and get a free turkey! Once I earn enough points for the turkey, I'll switch to a back up card and get to $400 again, getting another free turkey. Last year I picked up so much free/almost free toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, and yakisoba bowls that I ended up spending about $45 and getting $900 in free items - including getting 2 free turkeys!
#2 - If you have a smartphone you need to install grocery apps on your phone. NOTE - If you don't actually follow all the steps you'll pay more than intended. For awhile I'd forget to send ibotta photos of my receipt, therefore not saving $5-10 a time and sometimes that meant paying more than I would normally. Make sure you follow through. Getting the first check in the mail for $49 from an app is what sold me. You don't have to do all at once. Try one or two - don't get overwhelmed!
- Target cartwheel might offer you $5 off $15 in frozen foods one day and you'll be able to still use coupons on the frozen foods, for one example (Target has some amazing deals, actually - I've seen extreme couponing friends walk out with $500 of cleaning supplies for under $5). Also, text "APP" to 827438 (TARGET) to receive a download link for target mobile. A separate app with totally different coupons. Combining all these store deals with manufacturers coupons is how you end up with free stuff!
- Ibotta has a pretty cool system. You check with them first for their list of deals. It might say watch a 1 minute video for $2 off $5 apple purchase, or complete a 5 question survey for $3 off any 2 gallons milk.. Always different and some require no tasks also. Upload photo/scan barcode and your acct is credited. Once you meet threshold get a gift card in the mail or paypal deposit.
- Checkout51 works almost exactly like ibotta, but it's a totally different set of coupons uploaded every Thursday. Whether it's $1 off any campbells soup or $3 of $30 or more chicken purchase, it's fun and easy to unlock mobile coupons. These add up fast and once you hit $20 you get a check!
- Shopmium is free and is much like Checkout51 and Ibotta because you can get cash back on offers from many stores.
- SavingStar is a great way to save big money on your groceries and pharmacy store purchases. They are the first and only national, fully-digital grocery eCoupon rewards service. There is nothing to clip and nothing to print. Once you are registered you will have to set up your store loyalty cards. Select the eCoupons you like and link them to your store loyalty cards. Use your loyalty card at checkout (note: The total on your receipt does not change at checkout and the savings are not printed on the receipt). Your money is automatically added to your SavingStar account within 2-30 days! Hit the threshold (very low) and you'll have cash!
- ShopKick is an app for your phone that gives you exclusive deals to all of your favorite stores including, Best Buy, Target, Toys R Us, etc! You can earn kick points just for walking into a store and then more “kicks” for making purchases. Kicks become gift cards!
- The RetailMeNot Coupons app makes it easy to save in store with thousands of coupons at the places you love to shop. I have saved no less than $2000 using RTM on everything from business cards to school uniforms to the laptop I'm typing on right now.
- Also, get yourself a barcode scanner app. So awesome to be in Target and see a lantern I wanted and then scan it and see it's $16 less a mile away. Or $20 more everywhere else so I grab it quickly.
BEST WAY TO GET STARTED
On Saturday night look at dollar tree matchups, write down the items you want to get that use coupons you have or can print. On Sunday morning go to dollar tree and buy 4 papers $1 ea (bring someone in case its a limit of 2 per person). If you're unlucky enough to have a DT or can't get inserts this way, figure it out. Its Sunday morning. You can find inserts all over if you ask nicely.
While at DT look for the items you wrote down and make sure they have them b4 you waste ink printing them out. When you get home look at your other stores matchups and print out the printable coupons to make the deals you liked for each store. Resist the urge to print every pretty coupon you see. Saving $3 on something that is $10 you can't afford or don't need is not saving $3, its wasting $7 and ink.
If you see a lot of deals needed paper coupons you can order them from www.couponsthingsbydede.com or www.couponfleamarket.com or something, but so you don't overwhelm yourself I suggest you only at most buy 4 of any 1 coupon this first time. Remember these coupons take time to get to you. Don't order coupons for a sale ending in 2 days, for example. Since most of my stores start new sales Saturday or Sunday and that's when livingrichwithcoupons posts their matchups, I order most coupons Sunday morning, but I have one store that posts/starts Wednesday. I rarely shop here bc of this but if theres a great sale I'll order on Tuesday night when that matchup posts too.
Also, once you come home from dollar tree (where you didn't buy anything except a newspaper), print the dollar tree coupons if the item you wanted was in your store and clip the coupons in your inserts setting aside the ones you'll need to make this weeks deals (don't see a deal, don't use a coupon - unless its about to expire theres no need to burn a hot coupon on a full priced item, it might take 2-4 weeks but you'll find a sale probably).
Go shopping as early in the week as you can, I know you might need to wait for ordered coupons, but if you are doing strictly printed coupons for first couple weeks to ease in (which I think is best to not overwhelm yourself), there's no reason not to shop by Tuesday.
Every single Saturday night/Sunday morning look at the websites. Every single Sunday get the inserts from 4 papers (until you start getting into substantial trading and don't need to). You'll soon have every coupon and will be able to do almost every deal.
My "stockpile" from couponing includes frozen food, fresh produce, boxed meals, hygiene, clothing, baking items, canned foods, medical items, BOB foods, etc.. I used to donate like $250 cash to our pantry annually, now I can donate $2000 a yr in food/supplies when nearing expiry that I paid that $250 for & it helps me by amassing a large larder in case of SHTF - I could spend the same $300 I always spent on groceries & easily bring in $12,000 of groceries a year (way more than we could eat), if I can't cycle it in time I just donate it. You can do a smaller lot & just get your bill down by $50 a month as a goal, that's $600 a yr for preps or an emergency fund.
I decided to use the savings from couponing (some months I only need to spend $40 so I have $260 left from my $300 I always set aside) and build my long term food storage. I might buy 500 lbs of rice for $150, I might buy 12 cans of yoders bacon. Its my food storage, its my choice. Being financially free is the best preparation one could ask for. What would you do with a grocery bill cut in half? :)
