Extreme Couponing and How It Can Save Your Money

By julianne, July 11, 2011, Coupons, For Moms, Groceries, Shopping Tips

Whether it is the recent far-reaching recession, the conditions that have driven up gas prices or just plain frugality, coupons have made a serious comeback.

The television network TLC has started a craze with their show “Extreme Couponing” that has helped to fuel the savings craze. Those that appear on the show offer tips and share their techniques, and the ratings have been through the roof. You do not have to be extreme in your coupon clipping to see serious money savings; it really just takes time and some effort. Some important things to keep in mind though when starting out are that you can save and save big, but do not be disappointed if you don’t save like the people on the television show right away. There is a reason they are on television; they are very good at what they do and they have been doing it a very long time. It is best to take extreme couponing in steps to save frustration. Extreme couponing is a skill, and it takes time to learn the ins and outs of couponing.

According to businessinsider.com, households that make more than $100,000 per year more likely to use coupons. How much more? 67% more! There is a stigma that coupons are only for the middle class or those with low income, but it simply isn’t true. The case can be made that once you have a high income or a great deal of money that you like to keep it. The case can also be made that thrifty ways help to acquire fortunes or a leg up in the financial arena. We can take a lesson from our upper middle class friends and start to do the same thing; clip coupons.
Coupons and savings aren’t only relegated to glossy print packs that come in the mail anymore.

Businessinsider.com recently published an article that said the average Groupon coupon, drove up sales 350%! Staggering numbers considering the shape our economy is in. The article goes on to say the average savings is 56% for customers. Those savings are another surprisingly high number and great news for customers seeking deals.

Savings aren’t only via Groupon though. KGB has followed suit and there is a slew of online resources for couponing. I’ll add a list later for you to view at your pleasure. “Couponing” isn’t that hard to start really, it only takes paying attention to those “Val-paks” that arrive seemingly weekly in your mailbox. Another form of couponing is the now popular grocery store savings card. Many grocers have them now, and from my own personal experience, Kroger has the best deals of any of the big grocery chains. Not only do they offer coupons, but also through their discount card, you can rack up savings as high as 20% on your total bill. Shopping at Kroger or other grocery stores during off peak hours, like during the day on weekdays can net you some serious savings as well. Meat can be bought a day or two before it will be thrown away for sometimes 50% off. If you choose to vary up your diet especially when it comes to meat, you can have a good variety of dishes and save serious cash as well.

Here are some other tips to get you going with extreme couponing:

Do your research: Find out the products that you like before your shopping trip. You can also check out competing brands to see if savings can be had. Check the websites of products to see if there are additional coupons that you can stack with ones you currently have.
Don’t buy perishables in bulk, you will regret it. That bushel of pears that costs 2 dollars seems like a great deal, but if you aren’t going to eat them right away, you’ll find that you are stuck with a big mess.
The more you buy, the more you save. Discount wholesalers like Costco and Sam’s offer great deals in bulk. Buying canned vegetables and bathroom items can save big money over a years time. Deodorant, soaps, and toothpaste can save you over 20% on average as well.
Be realistic. Couponing, especially of the extreme variety, is time consuming. Clipping coupons and scouring the internet is time consuming. Evaluate your schedule and make sure that the savings in money is worth the savings in cash.

Here are some popular savings sites: