Josh Elledge - Chief Executive Angel
I hear all the time how people are too busy to bother with coupons, yet worried about bills. A large majority of families state that if they only had an extra $200 a month, they wouldn't be behind on debt, or one of the adults would be able to be home with the children, or other beneficial changes. And yet, so many think they cannot afford the time to use coupons. It's a bit backwards if you think about it. Coupons and shopping smart are actually one of the easiest and fastest ways to increase household cash flow.Consider this example:Let's say you took 15 minutes to clip a few coupons before rushing to the store. It's true that the total savings of those coupons might be only $5, but what if you did that all the time, with nearly everything? In many cases, the savings would be much higher.
Coupon use isn't just limited to grocery shopping. There are usually codes for online shopping, and even ones you can pull up and show on your phone while standing in a store. Retail stores often offer 15%-20% off your purchase, and restaurants give away things like free kids' meals and appetizers. Most of those coupons take mere moments to pull up online or on your smart phone.
Once you get going with using coupons, and think about looking for one for everywhere you go, you'll be amazed at what you save. Going back to our $5 example”¦ even if that is all you did, and you never used any other coupons ““ you'd still have an extra $20 a month (based on shopping once a week). That's a total of $240 a year. Enough to pay off a small bill or pay cash for those after-school lessons.
Because I'm a realist, I know that couponing does take time. It's a fact of life. However, you can cut down on the time it takes, so you can make using coupons a daily habit. And making them a daily habit will definitely add up to more than $20 a month.
Here are some of my favorite tips for saving time and still saving money on groceries and beyond”¦
1. Have a specific list““ Before you step foot in the store, nail down specifically what and how many of each item you need ““ don't be vague.Retailers make big bucks off impulse buys, and they know exactly how to lure you in. Fight back by going into the store with a plan and sticking to it.
2. Search for matching coupons““ no matter what it is. Don't assume you won't find a coupon. Look for coupons for non-grocery stores as well. Three good places to start are the store's own website, Retailmenot.com, and of course, SavingsAngel.com's free coupon database.
3.Plan toshop on weekdays”“Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually a good bet. The reason is simple: The larger the crowd, the longer you'll be in the store. The longer you are stuck in the store, the more likely you are to buy extra things you didn't plan on. Time equals money in retailing. The Food Marketing Institute estimates that shoppers spend $2.17 for each minute they are in a store.
4.Consolidate shopping trips““Make a route and do all your stops in one trip. It makes for a long time, but beats going multiple places all week long. You'll not only save time in the long run, you'll save money. Every time you avoid going out, you avoid spending extra money on additional items ““ plus you avoid being tempted to grab a fast-food snack or coffee.
5.Keep coupons in your vehicle ““If you have coupons for various places in your vehicle, plus having your grocery coupons ““ you'll be able to actually use them. Everyone has good intentions, but then forgets the coupons at home. Keeping them in an organizer or folder in your vehicle insures you always have them.
6. If possible, leave the kids at home ““If you have a list in hand, with coupons attached, you'll find your trip through the store goes quickly. Unless you have the “kid variable”. Not only does it usually take longer with kids in tow, retailers and marketers know the kid variable very well, and use it against you. Shoppers who are impulse-driven to begin with, can spend as much as 50% more by having the extra influence of children.
7. Manage your pantry ““Having to throw out food due to spoilage means more time (and money) to replace the item. Get very good at marking purchase dates on products, rotating what you have, and better displaying your inventory. It's worth a few extra minutes each week to avoid buying something you already have.
