Couponing Series Part III: Coupons In Action

You are en route to the grocery store, and your pristine coupon folder which is stuffed to the gills with valuable pieces of barcoded paper winks at you from the passenger seat.  Your heart races at the mere thought of slashing your grocery bill in half or more by handing over your carefully organized coupons.  I know, I feel the same way.  Let us pause for a brief moment to review store policies and the best places/ways to use your coupons to maximize your savings.

MAKING YOUR LIST

• Notice the products being advertised and know to look out for sales and coupons.  Companies will often conduct a marketing/advertising blitz for a new product or product line extension, so you might see a commercial on TV for Widgets,  open your Meijer ad and find Widgets on sale and discover a coupon for Widgets in the SmartSource insert...all in the same week.
• Always use the store circular/advertisements when planning your shopping list.  You will often find items on sale for which you have coupons.  
• Know your stock up prices (this topic discussed in detail in future post).  Keep a mental or physical list of 'good deal' prices.  It is imperative for the consumer to know that even if an item is on 'sale', that doesn't always mean it is a good deal.  I've seen countless items in the '10 for $10 Sales' that are regularly priced under a dollar.
• Similarly, coupons do not always make the product a good deal.  You may have a coupon for brand name Yoplait yogurt, but check to see if the store brand yogurt is less expensive than the Yoplait after coupon price.

KROGER HIGHLIGHTS

• Review previously mentioned Kroger policies.
• Kroger triples coupons up to and including $0.50.  Even if it is for a product I don't think I would normally buy, I will cut out a coupon of 50 cent value.  That coupon would immediate shave $1.50 off the price.  If you can use it with a sale, depending on the product, you can get many items free or drastically reduced.
• Managers Special markdowns.  Those yellow/orange price stickers should act as a red flag, reminding you to stop to check your coupon folder.  Do you have a coupon for any of these products?  Unfortunately after the merger of two Scotts/Kroger stores near me, I have noticed far fewer manager special markdowns.
• Kroger Mega Events.  Look closely for these types of 'events' where you buy a certain number of items and get $$ off instantly.  If you have coupons for these sale items, you can score some great deals.

MEIJER HIGHLIGHTS

• Review previously mentioned Meijer policies here and here.
• DISCONTINUED AD MATCHING MAY 1, 2011.  Sad, sad.
• Meijer doubles coupons up to $0.50.
• Instant Savings.  Meijer in the past few weeks has begun to dabble in the buy X number of items, get $X instantly off your bill.  Again, look for coupons for these items to maximize your savings.
• Meijer Mealbox and MPerks.  Pair manufacturer coupons with store coupons for twice the savings.

WALMART HIGHLIGHTS

• Review previously mentioned Walmart policies here and here.
• Ad matching.  You no longer have to bring in the competitor ad, just ask for the lower price.  Pair coupons with ad-matched items.

TARGET HIGHLIGHTS

• Review previously mentioned Target policies.
• Ad matching.  I have never actually ad-matched at Target.  I have heard it is a pain and you have to go to the service desk to do it.  Now, that Meijer will not be ad-matching much longer, I might just have to give it a try.  Pair coupons with ad-matched items.
• Target Store Coupons.  Pair manufacturer coupons with store coupons for twice the savings.