How to Use Grocery Coupons

Rather than view the newspaper supplements containing coupons as trash, look at them as a way to stretch your family budget. Using coupons is a great way to save money on groceries, providing you use them wisely. Follow the steps in this guide to start learning how to use grocery coupons.

Grocery coupons are available for not just food but almost anything you can buy in a grocery store. Manufacturers use a portion of their marketing budget on coupons, hoping to entice consumers to purchase their product over a competitor's. $332 billion worth of coupons was distributed in 2006, and most of these were never redeemed.Search Engine Watch: Judy's Book Launches 'CouponLooker' Search Engine (April 19, 2007) Coupons have real value that you can tap into to reduce your grocery bill.

1. Newspapers and magazines frequently include grocery coupons. A Sunday paper may contain over $100 worth of coupons, although they may not all be for items you use.The Bargainist: 23 Ways to Save on Groceries
2. Coupons can be found online. These sites allow you to find coupons for products you'd likely buy anyway and print them out from your computer.SmartMoney.com: 5 Best Coupon-Clipping Web Sites
   • Eating Well: HealthESavers Coupons
   • CouponCabin.com: Homepage
   • RetailMeNot: Food Coupon Codes
   • CouponMom.com: Homepage
   • Coupons.com: Food Coupons
   • SmartSource.com: Online Grocery Coupons
   • CoolSavings.com: Grocery Coupons Category
   • RedPlum: Grocery & Drug Coupons
   • MySavings.com: Printable Grocery Coupons
   • PPGazette: Printable Grocery Coupons
3. Consider participating in a coupon swap with friends. For example, you can trade diaper and baby food coupons you don't need for dog food coupons that are useless to your friend.

• Planning your shopping around sale items can help you get the most value out of your coupons. If the detergent you normally use is on sale, and you have six coupons for it, it makes sense to purchase six bottles of detergent this week to maximize your savings.

• Some stores double coupons (up to a predetermined value) every day. Other stores double or triple the value of coupons as a special promotion. Look for these opportunities, as using coupons on double or triple coupon days will substantially increase your savings.

1. Don't buy something just because you have a coupon; only buy products you need.

2. Highlight expiration dates on coupons so that you can use or discard the coupons before they expire.

3. You can sometimes combine store coupons with manufacturers' coupons. Check with your local grocery store about its policy.

• Introduction
• Step 1: Find Grocery Coupons
• Step 2: Apply Coupons to Sale Items
• Step 3: Watch for Double Coupons