Josh Elledge - Chief Executive Angel
Are you ready to start saving 50 percent or more off your groceries each week?
There is no time like the present to start couponing and you may be surprised at how little you need to get started. Here are the essential tools every couponer needs to be successful.
Essential couponing supplies
These are the must-haves you need to be successful at couponing. Watch for future columns in which we'll go through some of these items, such as storing coupons, in greater detail.
Coupon inserts ““ These are the coupons that come in the Sunday paper. The best way to get them is to subscribe to your local paper since newsstand issues can sometimes be missing inserts. You can also get inserts by asking non-couponing friends and neighbors to save theirs for you.
Scissors ““ You need a pair of good scissors to cut those coupons from the inserts!
Internet access and a printer ““ At one time, newspaper inserts were the main source of coupons. However, today, you'll find many of the best coupons online. To stretch your printer ink longer, consider printing in “˜draft' or “˜quick' mode.
Storage system ““ At SavingsAngel.com, we recommend you don't clip coupons until you plan to use them. To store your coupons until then, we suggest slipping the inserts into a plastic binder insert and writing the date on the front. However, even using this method, you may find you occasionally clip coupons that you don't use right away. Have separate binder pages (the ones made for baseball cards seem to be the right size) to store those coupons or put them in a coupon organizer or box.
Weekly ads ““ You'll need to get the ads so you can match the coupons to sale items. You can get the ads in your local newspaper or grocers post their ads online too.
Loyalty cards ““ Increasingly, retailers are requiring to customers to sign up for their loyalty cards in order to get sale prices. Kroger, Rite Aid, Walgreens, CVS and Spartan Stores are just a few examples. Visit the customer service desk of your local stores to get your loyalty cards.
3 extras that make couponing easier
While the items above are all you need to start saving successfully, there are three more items that can make couponing a breeze.
Couponing command center ““ It's best to have all your items in one place to make it easy to coupon whenever the mood strikes. If you have a desktop computer, keep all your supplies by the computer desk. If you have a laptop, create a moveable command center such as a basket or bin that includes your inserts, coupons, ads and scissors. Then you can easily move your supplies to the living room or wherever else you prefer to clip and sort.
Coupon database ““ Couponing can be tedious if you have to flip through every insert to find coupons to match with sale items. However, online databases make it easy to find exactly where to go for the coupons you need, whether they are in an insert or online. Our SavingsAngel.com database automatically pulls the coupons you need as you create your shopping list. Then you can print up a list of the insert coupons or click the links to go straight to printable coupons. Other discussion boards and blogs may have their own databases too.
Online community ““ Finally, couponers are a social bunch and love to answer questions, share tips and alert others to the great deals they find. You can find online couponing communities on discussion boards, blogs and Facebook. Our Angel Community at SavingsAngel.com has more than 40 store-specific boards as well as general couponing forums for members to share couponing information and ask questions.
And there you have it. Gather a few supplies, buy the Sunday paper and you are ready to start saving! If you need help, don't hesitate to swing by our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/savingsangel and we'd be happy to answer any questions you might have!
If you hate couponing,you'll LOVE SavingsAngel. If you love couponing, you'll LOVE SavingsAngel.
The most important thing SavingsAngel saves you… is TIME!
The best couponers save hundreds of dollars every month at the grocery store. However, couponers can end up living very extreme lifestyles to get those savings. For over five years, SavingsAngel.com has equalized the playing field ““ giving extreme savings to busy families who don't have the time or ability to be a full-time couponer. Each week, SavingsAngel.com's team of more than 70 angels combines over 2,000 products on sale at local grocery and drug stores with an enormous database of over 2,000 different manufacturer coupons. These combinations result in our members getting access to over 300 products each week for 50% off or better. Simply log in, choose the deals you want, print or clip only the coupons you need, and save hundreds of dollars a month at regional and national stores. Our angels will personally work with you to craft a plan that will help you buy healthier food at lower prices ““ helping you keep $200 to $400 in savings each month.
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