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COUPONS Part-time job with full-time rewards Ideas for making coupons worth your effort Gather your family around the table - even the smallest child can clip coupons |
QUESTION: Why clip coupons? ANSWER: I needed a part-time job! I usually spend 3 to 4 hours to clip & sort coupons, get a general idea of possible meals, and then I head out to shop. On the average, I make $40/hour. For just a few hours work each week, I think that's the best deal in town! Shopping is no longer a chore - instead it's the weekly challenge to see what good deals I can find. This is a great way to change your perspective and have more spending money when you're done. After years of balking at the idea of keeping up with stacks of coupons, I decided to give it a try. Much to my amazement, I not only saved considerably on my family's food costs, I also stocked up the cabinets and earned their excited "Wow!" comments when they checked out what I bought. Before long, everyone in the family was setting aside Sunday afternoon to chat while they clipped coupons. Not only is it worth the effort, it is an unexpected time for catching up on what's important to my children and husband. To really make the most of coupons and not buy things you'd never use or need, you have to change the way you shop. I consider couponing my part-time job. I save more than I spend every time, and my most profitable trip was getting $350 worth of groceries for $85. Normally I spend an average of less than $100 a week for a family of six, including enough to serve guests several times a week. Ok, let's get started! Restructure your grocery shopping habits to ONLY shop the sales. I consider it a splurge to get something without a coupon! Get to know your area's prices. In the San Diego area, we knew to never spend more than $1.00 for a box of national brand cereal, wait to purchase pasta when it's 2 or more for $1.00, and stock up on pasta sauce when it is no more than $1.00 a jar or can. Limit yourself to certain prices and don't buy until the item goes on sale. Only purchase items that you both have a coupon for AND are on sale. Naturally sometimes you need an item that's not on sale, so be sure to choose a brand you have a coupon for. Plan menus from the weekly shopping circular. Experiment with new foods, especially when the sale price is low. You will be surprised at how much variety you have in your diet this way! Remember: You get a lot of coupons for items not on sale yet. Be patient! Those items WILL be on sale within the next two weeks. It's WORTH IT to clip those coupons and save them for the coming weeks. Within weeks of using this technique, you will begin to stock up on many items, enabling you to make the most of your cash on hand to add just a few fresh items to make a meal. Couponing can be tax-deductible! When toiletries (brands we don't use) go on sale for exceptionally low prices, I buy what's on sale with the coupon, set it aside, and our family contributes the items to various charities at the holidays. We do the same with baby food, since they have excellent sales on a regular basis. Build your savings: Clip coupons and set aside the money you saved on your grocery bill in a nest egg for starting a business, going on vacation, adding to your wardrobe, or even purchasing new furniture. When you treat couponing like the part-time job that it is, you'll reap the rewards, both nutritionally and financially! |
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