How Can Coupons Help Save Money?

I grew up in a small town; we didn’t have coupons in our local paper so I was never exposed to them as a child. When I moved away and got married, my brother-in-law worked for the newspaper and gave us a subscription as a wedding gift. We were young trying to get by and spending everything we made. I would take the coupons out of the Sunday paper and cut the ones we would use. The $.25 off tide, $.30 on country crock and so forth. I would then put them in an envelope, sort by date, and then write on the outside. I would do our shopping, buy what we needed when we needed, and I would save a dollar or two with coupons. I did this for almost 5 years and I thought that was how you saved money with coupons.
I was introduced to Coupon Sense and found out I was wrong. I remember sitting in my first workshop and hearing over and over again “wait for the sale”. I thought it was a good idea but I had to see it work to believe it. At Walgreens, Neutrogena shampoo was on sale for $3 so I went with my 3 Neutrogena manufacturer coupons for $1 off and my Walgreens store coupon for $2 off and walked out with 3 bottles of free shampoo. I couldn’t believe it! If I used coupons like I used to, I would have paid $5.49 (the shelf price) minus the $1 Manufacturer coupon. So I saved $4.49 on 3 bottles of shampoo by using coupons and waiting for the sale. I became a subscriber and it has changed my shopping habits entirely. I now save at least 50% and often much more because I have become smarter. I no longer buy very many need items. I now stockpile items I need and then make my meals around the sales.
Every time I make a box of Betty Crocker muffins I think of when I used to pay $2.99 for it. Now if it isn’t under a $1, I won’t buy them. That means I wait for it to go on sale and use a coupon. I then buy enough at sale price so that I don’t run out before it goes on sale again.
In the middle of December I went downstairs to get more laundry detergent and found I only had 3 bottles left. I panicked a little bit. The very next week we got $2 off coupons for All and Snuggle. Two weeks later Walgreens had All and Snuggle on sale for $3.49. As a result, I was able to stock up again and feel better knowing that I had a stockpile of laundry items. I am able to stockpile because having multiple sets of coupons enables me to buy more items when they are a great price.
I never pay for toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, or razors. I just wait for a good sale, coupon, and maybe a register reward or rebate, and then stock up when they are free. I have a good stock of personal care, cleaning products, diapers and food on hand. I no longer have to go to the store for one or two items and come away with $20 worth of other unneeded and overpriced stuff. I shop in my pantry or my store room. It is so much cheaper that way.
I have been doing Coupon Sense for over six years and love the organization component of it. I never cut a coupon until I need it. With my shopping list I am able to quickly to go through and cut what I need, when I need it, and in just a few minutes I can be ready to go to the store and save big. I am able to donate and share my good deals with those around me or those that are in need. I love filling shopping bags for the food bank, mail drive, or humanitarian projects.
With all of my coupon savings, we are able to pay extra on our house, go on vacations and enjoy having wiggle room in our budget. Coupons are a big part of saving money!


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