Debt Mutiny!

“I went back to work because someone had to pay for the groceries.”
Bette Davis

In this turbulent economy, it is becoming increasingly important to find ways to save money on food.

According to a new poll conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, women who use coupons and store-loyalty cards save over 10% a year on groceries. It requires an investment of time and discipline to clip and organize coupons each week, but the savings can be dramatic.

Coupons work best when they’re combined with in-store sales, then doubled. Keep in mind that many stores will only double coupons up to $1.00.

The best source for coupons is in the Sunday newspapers. Consider purchasing an extra Sunday newspaper to get a duplicate set of coupons. Check sites such as SmartSource.com, Coupons.com and CoolSavings.com, and manufacturer Web sites for printable coupons and free samples.

Clip every coupon available and keep them organized. Pay careful attention to the small print and expiration dates. Watch for rebate items, and use coupons on them too. Be sure to send them in on time.

Make a list to organize your thoughts and help you stay focused. Compare your coupons against current sales flyers for stores in the local area. Identify which items are the BEST DEALS for that week. When you find a deal, buy as many as you have coupons for and find a place to store the stockpiled items.

REMEMBER - couponing only saves money if you use them on products you would normally buy. Learn to recognize when coupons are a good deal and when they’re not. Don’t buy something just because you have a coupon for it.

Find out if your store will price match their competitor’s sale prices, and use store-loyalty cards with coupons to save even more.

Shop without the kids, and eat before you go. Try to combine grocery shopping with other errands to save gas. Take along a calculator to keep a running tab of your purchases or keep a running total on the back of your list.

Round up to the nearest dollar. Compare unit price, the cost per ounce, which is usually listed in small print on the shelf price tag. This gives an accurate comparison of what you are actually spending.

Keep an eye on the scanner. Grocery stores are notorious for incorrectly ringing up sale items. Ask for a raincheck if the store doesn’t have a sale item that you need.

If you don’t spend your whole grocery budget for the week put the surplus into a savings account.