Do you have a tight budget and can’t go overboard? Learn these coupon hacks to score the best grocery deals!
In today’s world, prices are skyrocketing while our budgets get thinner and thinner, which is a total pain in the neck. Did you know that Americans spend $4,363 on food eaten at home every year since inflation?
Even if you have little influence over food store prices, you may regain some financial control by learning how to use coupons. Continue reading for professional advice that will quickly make you an excellent couponer who will be envied by all your friends. Let’s start with number one:
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Find out the store’s policy about coupons
This is probably one of the best coupon hacks that you need to keep in mind, no matter if there’s inflation or not. It helps to know the business’s coupon policy before you bring a bunch of coupons to your neighborhood grocery store. Some stores accept them, while others may have some special conditions.
After that, you might try to save money on groceries by utilizing those advantages. In addition, being organized will provide a more seamless checkout experience for both you and the registered personnel.
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Shop on Wednesdays
If you want to go shopping and get the best deals on your groceries, you must know that timing is everything. Since most supermarkets issue their new circulars on Wednesdays, you can be sure to get the greatest discounts first. This makes Wednesday the ideal day to shop for food.
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Collect coupons from various sources
When it comes to coupon hacks, especially if you’re a beginner in the field, it’s super important to pull your coupons from multiple sources. They’re available in the newspaper, online, hidden in the store aisles, and mobile apps.
Manufacturer coupons are a familiar sight to most people. These may be cut out of weekly advertisements that arrive in your inbox and newspapers. You may print manufacturer coupons from a variety of websites, including Coupons.com.
Grocery shopping on a tight budget is made easier by the fact that many businesses include store-specific coupons in their apps.
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Make a shopping list before going shopping
I guess I can’t stress enough how important this is if you are on a tight budget. Make a list of the things you want to buy before you go shopping by going through your coupons. You may prevent forgetting any necessary items and maintain organization when you visit the store by doing this beforehand. If you’re at home, you may also try creating a reverse grocery list, where you list the foods you already possess to avoid unintentionally buying them again.
Pro tip: Be careful not to add unnecessary items to your basket, even if you have a ton of coupons to utilize. Never feel obligated to purchase something simply because you have a coupon for it!
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Organize your coupons
The next thing you should do is find a way to arrange all of your coupons. Organize all of your food coupons in one location. A little wallet or folder to carry in your purse can work well if you’re just utilizing a few coupons.
If you’re looking for an affordable and practical solution to keep your coupons organized, you can’t miss the Coupon Holder Organizer available on Amazon. This handy organizer comes with 13 pockets and costs only $9.99. Don’t miss out on the chance to simplify your life and save money at the same time!
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Be careful with the expiration dates
Yep, even coupons can “expire.” That’s why it’s crucial to pay attention to the dates when you start collecting and organizing them. Put those that will expire sooner in front of the others. Maintaining organization and eliminating expired coupons will help you score the best deals when shopping!
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Check out the clearance aisles
Certain supermarkets provide extra-low pricing in their clearance sections. The products in this aisle are frequently out of stock or discontinued, but they might also be defective packaging or products almost past their sell-by or expiration date.
Even though this is a fantastic offer, be careful to inspect all the items you plan on buying for damage and confirm that the expiration date isn’t super close. If you also have a manufacturer’s coupon for a clearance item, many businesses still take these, so you may save even more money.
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Don’t look for brand-name products
For significant grocery shop savings, you must set aside your brand commitment. It’s important to shop around for the greatest value, and it’s possible that the products you see on sale or with coupons aren’t necessarily produced by the same firm. For instance, it can be better to buy a specific brand of pasta one week and another brand the next because you can stack coupons and get a better value.
Also, going for generic products is a great way to save more money. And that doesn’t mean you sacrifice taste because you paid less for some canned goods for example. Most of them, if not all of them taste the same, the only difference is the price range.
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Always check your receipts
You may often find coupons for future purchases on the grocery store receipts you get. And when this happens, it is such a blessing! After you are out of the checkout line, make sure to review your receipts. Save these for further purchases if they have coupons for goods that you and your family use!
It may be a good idea to think about your food shopping habits while you review your receipt. Occasionally, a few little adjustments over time might provide significant savings.
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If you want to save more money, allow the couponing process some time
If you are a beginner in the couponing scene, you must know that this will take some time until you fully get used to it. That’s why one of the best coupon hacks is patience. No kidding! Grocery shop advertising should be on your weekly reading list; it will take some digging to get good bargains on the things you are looking for. It also requires that you set aside a few hours before every grocery shop to go through and arrange your coupons.
In case you are a busy person ( but who isn’t nowadays?) Try to squeeze in some time to take care of the couponing task. It might feel a tad daunting, but trust me, all this work will pay off in the end.
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Track your savings
Certainly, couponing can take a lot of time; that’s time you might spend working, playing, or earning money. For this reason, you must keep an eye on your savings and ensure that the work you do is relevant.
You can either do the tracking in Excel or, if you aren’t that good with tables and spreadsheets, a pen and a piece of paper will do the job as well, which you can put on the fridge or somewhere to be seen often.
How well do you master the couponing skill? Tell me in the comments section down below.
You may also be interested in reading about Everyday Items Are Just Not Worth Buying Anymore.
