A Coupon Clipped is a Coupon Earned

Having little ones can be hard on the wallet. If you find that your grocery budget is getting higher and higher each month, with no end in sight, it may be time to evaluate your options for saving money. Couponing has come a long way since the days of clipping paper coupons from multiple newspapers, and you may be able to save your family some money in just a few minutes each week.

Let’s look at a few ways you can coupon using modern techniques to save money on groceries:

Organize Your Coupons Carefully

If your coupons are a disorganized mess on your desk, or randomly scattered through your purse and pockets, you won’t be able to use them when they’re needed. Spend a few dollars on a pocket organizer so that you can sort them by category, grocery store aisle, or store. This will allow you to quickly put your hands on the specific coupons you need, when you need them, so that you can use them before they expire. Careful planning and organizing is a key part of saving money using coupons, and this is an important first step.

Use Money Saving Apps

If you don’t have time to clip paper coupons but still want to save money on your groceries each week, consider installing an app like iBotta or Checkout51. These unique apps allow you to purchase specific items, then submit them to receive a rebate through Amazon or Paypal. Rebates can often be used more than once, so be sure to check quantities. In addition, the apps offer special deals for holidays, for specific stores, and for purchasing everyday items like milk, eggs, and bread.

Follow Coupon Blogs

Matching up store sales, coupons, rebates, and special offers can take up a lot of time. So much time, in fact, that some people make this into their full time job. If you don’t have that kind of time, but still want to save a little bit of money on your grocery bill, consider following one of the money saving bloggers that does the hard work for you. A few examples are The Krazy Coupon Lady, Dan’s Deals, and Money Saving Mom. These sites match up coupons and sales for you, alert you of special deals and clearance prices, and post articles about couponing and saving money.

Subscribe to Text Alerts

Some stores, restaurants, and websites have programs you can sign up for that allow them to text you periodic sales information. If you sign up for these programs, you’ll receive coupons directly in your SMS inbox that you can use immediately to save money. Coupon codes are generally customized per user and can only be used one time, so they cannot be shared. However, if you’re looking for a discount off a soft drink or a code to rent a movie at a lower price, text alerts can be quite helpful.

Sign Up for Digital Coupons

Multiple retailers have made the jump from paper, mailed coupons or printable coupons to digital coupons. These usually arrive by email, text, or the retailer’s mobile app, and have a QR code or barcode that can be scanned at the register. Some stores, like Walgreens, allow you to use their mobile app to “clip” digital coupons that are then loaded on to your store loyalty card and process at the register. You’ll need your phone and your loyalty card at the store for the best savings, but you won’t have to carry around a file folder of paper coupons. Serious couponers can combine mobile coupons and manufacturers’ coupons for even more savings, occasionally even receiving items for free.

Plan Your Stockpile Carefully

As you work your way into the world of couponing, you may quickly find that it’s tempting to purchase everything that there’s an excellent sale on. While it’s possible to do this, it may not be wise, unless you have a great deal of space to store excess groceries or toiletries. If you live in a small space, consider donating extra products that you’ve acquired for free or a very low price to a local shelter. Plan your stockpile carefully according to the space that you have available and the products that you use most frequently. This will allow you to be sure that you’re always purchasing more expensive items like diapers, wipes, and formula at the lowest possible price.

These tips will help you lower your family’s expenses each month. Consider implementing one or all of them to see how much you’re able to save.

In the spirit of Coupon Month NannyPay decided to make a just for fun coupon code. Starting today, effective until September 30, 2018, COUP2018 will save new customers $20.18.