The show Extreme Couponing has made everyone and their mother want to go out and grab ads, sit down, and cut out as many coupons as possible. While coupons are an easy and effective way to save money, it can also be time consuming if you want to save the big bucks - and there are definitely other ways to save money without having to spend the day with a pair of scissors.
This is the first place most people get stuck. Just because you have always bought Tide, or Bounty or another brand does not mean you have to continue to buy those items in the future. Being willing to try new products that are on sale will help you save so much money!
When you find an item on sale, especially an item you buy a lot make sure you buy enough to last you to the next sale. Typically that’s 8-10 weeks in most areas. So plan on having enough to last you for 3 months.
So many people run into the store and buy what they “Need” without even making a list or looking at what they have. Start by making a menu plan based on what you have on hand.
Whew, that’s 2 hard ones all at once but the reality is a list and cash set boundaries and force you to stick to a plan. This reduces the urge to walk into a store and just start adding things to your cart and research shows you can save a lot of money by using cash and shopping with a list.
Most if not all items go on sale at one point or another, One of the first things you need to do is determine that you aren’t going to pay full price for anything. Try to always buy when the item is on sale and purchase enough to get you to the next sale, that’s just one of the ways to ensure you aren’t ever paying full price!
I know that when people first think of “Extreme Couponing” they think of coupons, but personally I think of sales! Buying an item on a B1G1 Free Sale will save you 50% if the Item is priced at $4 you would need a $2 Coupon (Which is rare) to save that same amount. If you are a Tide Fan, buying when there is a Buy 2 Get a $5 Target Gift Card Deal going on will save you $2.50 per bottle! That’s more than most Tide Coupons.
This goes without saying for most people, but some items are cheaper at different times of the year. If you eat a lot of Fresh Produce then try only buying the items on sale and in season each week. You will be surprised at all the creative ways you can use these items, it might even force you to try a few new recipes. **
**
You can find some great deals on clearance items. Especially at the end of the seasons so buy Christmas Baking Supplies after Thanksgiving, or stock up on Hot Dogs at the end of Summer and put them in the Freezer! Buying ahead and shopping the Clearance Sections are great ways to save!
A lot of stores have great price matching policies including Walmart and Target. Using these policies correctly can save you not just money but also the time required to drive around town picking up deals! Oh and I didn’t even mention the gas that you can save.
If you can plan a shopping trip every 2 weeks instead of every week, or you can do major shopping once a month and minor shopping in between you can save more money! If you aren’t in the store you can’t make impulse purchases which typically are a higher out of pocket cost than items that are on sale that you planed to buy.
Saving money is something that everyone enjoys, so I would love to hear what some of your favorite ways to save money without using coupons are!