Top 5 Ways to Coupon Without Being Extreme

Top 5 Ways to Coupon Without Being Extreme

By Wendy Stewart

Know the value of using coupons but too overwhelmed but the “extreme couponer?” No need to shy away from the coveted newspaper inserts because I have my top 5 tips to show you how to save money with coupons without going extreme.

1. Limit your newspaper subscriptions.

If you’ve ever seen the show, “Extreme Couponing,” you saw households which get 20 newspapers per week for the coupon inserts. You only really need enough coupons for the amount of goods you’re trying to buy. If you want to always stock up on items, then a good rule would be no more than one paper per household member. So if you have a household of 6, then don’t subscribe or buy more than 6 newspapers. If you are a household of one, then 2 papers should be your maximum.

2. Shop the sales.

This one should go without saying but try to save the coupons for when the product is actually on sale. I know it’s tempting to use the coupons the week they arrive, but, trust me, it’s better to wait. Unless the coupon is for something you need right away, then it will go on sale and that’s when you’ll save the most money.

3. Shop at Target…

Target is one of my favorite places to shop. While we could debate the merits of Target v. Walmart and which one has lower prices or a better selection, there are two things which really set Target a part for me: gift cards and the Red card.

Look at any Target weekly ad and you’ll see promotions for Target gift cards. Examples include buying a certain dollar amount in a department (like $30 in school supplies for a $5 gift card) or certain items will be listed and if you buy 2 or 4 you get a gift card. Using your coupons just makes the deal so much better as you’re paying less but still get the gift card. Combine this with any of Target’s Red cards (credit/debit/prepaid) and you get an extra 5% off of your total every day. It may not seem like much, but it adds up.

Additional savings at Target can be reaped by combining Target store coupons with manufacturer’s coupons and Target’s exclusive Cartwheel app, but more on that in another post!

4. …and where you can double/triple coupons

But what if there is a market around you that doubles or triples coupons? My dear you’ve hit a jackpot and definitely make use of that! There are a number of markets around me which double or triple coupons on a daily basis. One of my favorites, Harris Teeter, even does a “super double” every few weeks where you can double coupons with a face value of up to $2. That’s a super deal as far as I’m concerned!

Be sure to read the coupon policy carefully so you know how many coupons you can use per item per order and per household.

5. Stay organized.

If you’re going to be clipping coupons, you may as well be organized about it. I’m not saying you need a coupon binder, but it’s my favorite way of organizing coupons. I organize by category but you may want to organize by the date of the insert or come up with a completely different way to organize. Whichever you prefer, you’ll need either a binder or small coupon organizer. For the best deals, check out the ones I found from Amazon.com. The binder is the same one I use but I am a bit more extreme than most!

Even if you only use one of these tips, I hope you find success on your coupon journey. After all, this is about saving money, not going insane in the process.

Do you have a tip I haven’t thought of? Have shopping tips of your own? Leave a comment below and share with us!