Savings Experiments: Can modern coupon clippers beat savers of the past?
Filed under: Bargains, Saving Money, Bargain Babe
Coupon clipping is soooo in. But if you've never done it, the whole process is kind of mysterious. How does one become a coupon diva? Watch our video savings experiment, then follow the simple five steps I outline and you'll be saving a bunch in no time.
1. Clip ALL the coupons in your Sunday newspaper and sort by category. I use these categories:
Tip: I recommend clipping everything because you never know what's going to go on sale. If something you don't use ends up being free, you can give it to a friend or charity! Feeding America will help you find a food bank near you.
2. Browse the store circulars and look for sale items that you have coupons for. Circle all the items you'd like to buy.
5. Bring your coupons into the store and shop for less!
1. Clip ALL the coupons in your Sunday newspaper and sort by category. I use these categories:
- Baby and toys
- Cleaning products
- Diet and miscellaneous
- Food -less processed items like bread, dairy, cereal, baking ingredients, juice, etc.
- Food -more processed items like freezer items, canned goods, meal prep, etc.
- Make up
- Medicine
- Paper and water products
- Pet stuff
- Target coupons
- Toiletries in general
- Toiletries for the mouth - laugh now, but wait till you see how many coupons there are for toothpaste, toothbrushes and mouthwash
- Vitamins and gum
Tip: I recommend clipping everything because you never know what's going to go on sale. If something you don't use ends up being free, you can give it to a friend or charity! Feeding America will help you find a food bank near you.
2. Browse the store circulars and look for sale items that you have coupons for. Circle all the items you'd like to buy.
3. Match the coupons you have with the sale items for the best deal. If you don't have a coupon in your stash, no worries. There are more coupons available online! Two great places to start looking for online coupons are HotCouponWorld.com and AFullCup.com. Registration is free and you can print coupons from home.
4. Check your list of "matches" to ones other people have found and shared online to make sure you didn't miss any. Mercedes at CommonSenseWithMoney.com does a great job finding matches at Walgreens and CVS. I also like Hip2Save.com, which has matches for Rite Aid and Target. 5. Bring your coupons into the store and shop for less!
Money Clips
- HILARIOUS: Warren Buffet Plays Axl Rose in New Commercial - Huffington Post
- ON THE PLUS SIDE: Where Home Prices Are Rising - CNNMoney
- FRICTION: Could China Trade War Put Walmart Out of Business? - 24/7 Wall St.
- PROFILE: Opinionated Auto Industry Insider Dies - FORTUNE
- DON'T LAUGH: More Homeowners Turning to Fake Grass - SmartMoney
- HIT HARDEST: States Hurt Most From Rising Gas Prices - CNBC
- GET YOUR MONEY'S WORTH: Best Cars to Buy Used - CBS MoneyWatch

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
11-09-2009 @ 2:35PM
Briana @ Bargain Briana said...
To save time, I would suggest NOT clipping all the coupons but using the weekly insert method which only requires you to clip before you shop! This is what I've done for the past 3 days and makes it so much easier!
Reply
11-13-2009 @ 1:42PM
Kayti said...
What is the weekly insert method? I have never heard of that.
Thank you
11-13-2009 @ 2:51PM
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11-13-2009 @ 3:04PM
Simzee said...
To help save $$$$....I have started to make my own laundry detergent. (liquid & powder) I was suprized it was easy to do. This stuff actually works great too. Type in...."homemade laundry detergent" to get recipes. A happy day to everyone.
11-14-2009 @ 5:29AM
David said...
young lady weekly inserts are the ads that each store puts in your local paper once a week
11-14-2009 @ 6:07AM
vlontoforia said...
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11-15-2009 @ 1:04PM
laura said...
not sure how that works, can you explain more
laura
www.toplineautomotive.biz
11-17-2009 @ 5:43AM
pinkthenred said...
I stopped prescription shopping at Walgreens after twice being shorted on my medication. Being charged for 60 pills and being given only 30. First time is a mistake, second time is just plain old negligence.
11-20-2009 @ 6:07AM
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11-20-2009 @ 12:21PM
mila said...
huh?
11-09-2009 @ 2:38PM
Briana said...
I forgot to add, good luck with your saving experiment! :)
Reply
11-09-2009 @ 3:03PM
Andrea @ MommySnacks.net said...
Great tips! I'd also recommend adding menu planning to the mix. That way, you can get the items you know your family will consume and can make meals! It saves money AND time (and headaches).
Reply
11-09-2009 @ 3:11PM
Bargain babe said...
Yes, Briana that is a great system, too! I like to clip all the coupons just to be sure, but I know a lot of clippers that file the inserts by date and only clip them when there is a sale.
Reply
11-10-2009 @ 9:03AM
racendirt said...
I never understood coupons. Why doesn't the manufacturer just put his product on sale. So much time is wasted in the clipping, cashing out at the register and people fretting "oh, I forgot my coupons!!!" Nothing irks me more than waiting behind a customer (in an already long, long line) while he/she doles out a stack of coupons 2 inches thick. I've actually had to leave my place in line because of ice cream and such melting. I try to shop only stores that have discounts incorporated into their price (no coupon needed). Sure I could save extra with the manufacturer's coupon but time is also money. The transaction should be between the manufacturer and the grocer, PLEASE. We've got credit cards to speed up the process now get with the times. It's like email vs. snail mail.
Reply
11-13-2009 @ 8:15AM
Bookwrm7 said...
I sort of agree with you. If, however, you find yourself in a store that honors coupons, there's usually a "do-it-yourself" checkout aisle that is fast - just like your analogy about snail mail vs. email. When we were young marrieds, my father-in-law would go from store to store, looking for the best bargains, and he would encourage us to do so also, even bringing us store flyers and coupons. I always said it cost more in gas to shop all the stores, my time is worth something, I have young kids to schlep around while shopping, but...in these hard economic times, I am beginning to come around to his way of thinking!
11-13-2009 @ 1:52PM
Ches said...
Kroger is (or was, I don't shop there any more after moving) offering a trial of coupons through some coupon store. You can go online, create a profile which includes your Kroger card information, and pick out which coupons you want added to your Kroger card. Then at checkout, when you scan your card, the discounts from the coupons you selected are already there. This seems like the best idea to me. No more sorting or organizing or throwing out bad coupons or checking expiry dates, and best of all, less wasted paper.
The only problem is that it's only Kroger (that I know of) and due to its trial basis, the coupons are limited. Every store should adopt a universal coupon card, IMO.
11-13-2009 @ 3:23PM
bigdog said...
You must be richer than the majority of the population if you do not need any coupons!! Your time must be very valuble also if it cost you more to stand in line than it does just to wait!! Must be nice to be rich and not have to worry about saving any money possible!!!
11-15-2009 @ 6:34PM
Laura said...
Obviously, stores don't incorporate the coupons into the prices because only a fraction of customers will actually take the time to clip the coupons and get the savings. That way, not every customer that buys the product will get it for the lowest price possible--some will pay full retail.
11-10-2009 @ 9:39AM
eddy said...
I think this is great advice. I learned a lot about spending, SAVING and living a "richer" life from the book "How to Become Filthy Rich on Your Current Income" at www.how-to-become-rich.com. If people read books like this one we would not have the current situation we do.
Reply
11-10-2009 @ 10:02AM
Kim said...
Sometimes the sales clerks tell me that I can only use one coupon per product - do you ever run into this problem and is that even true (sometimes I think they don't want to be bothered)?
Also, what is the "insert method"?
thanks, Kim
Reply