Couponing For Beginners | Matching Coupons With Sales & Stockpiling (2024)



Ok, so now you’ve cut out some coupons, you understand coupon lingo, and can’t wait to go use them. My advice to you: WAIT! You don’t want to fall into the trap of buying something JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A COUPON! You want to learn to get the most bang for your buck and to do that you want to get those weekly sales circulars out and match-up items that are on sale WITH coupons that you have. This way you will be getting MAX savings! Or, let us do the work for you and check out our weekly Kroger Ad Coupon Matchup each week.

Couponing For Beginners | Matching Coupons With Sales & Stockpiling (3)

::How To Get Max Savings

Above is a picture of the ad from my local store with a GREAT example of how to get the most bang for your coupon buck!

You can get the weekly store ad either AT your store, on Kroger.com or the Kroger app, or you can get one in your Sunday paper.

What you could do: Look over the ad, search Kroger Krazy’s online coupon database to find current coupons and figure out your final cost. Or, you can simply head over to the Kroger Grocery Ad Matchup category where all the work has been done for you! 🙂 Scroll through the list and compare it to your Kroger weekly sales ad. Print and gather all of your coupons, use the printable list feature to print your list and off you go!

Before you run up to checkout with a hand full of coupons it would be wise to double check your coupons against the products you’re getting to make sure that all sizes and specifications are met. Also check to see if your coupon has a limit written on it and follow those guidelines. It’s important to always practice good, ethical couponing.

So, say you DON’T have my match-ups available to you OR your ad shows something additional that was not in my ad. I will walk you through this next.

In the ad shown above Tide Detergent is on sale for $4.99 (as part of the mega event) and there is a coupon to save $2.00 when you purchase ONE detergent. When I use the coupon with the Tide purchase, I will be getting one bottle of detergent for just $2.99!

Buy (1) Tide Liquid Detergent – $4.99
Use $2.00/1 Tide Liquid Detergent printable coupon
Final cost is $2.99

*Please note that this is NOT a current sale, but is being used as an example only.

Why is it important to match coupons with sales? This brings us to the next topic – stockpiling.

:: STOCKPILING

STOCKPILINGbasically means getting your groceries at the very lowest prices, and then purchasing enough to last you until you can get to the next great sale. This way, you never pay full price for any groceries at all. Organize a space to store all of these items and before you go to the grocery store, check your stockpile first. Make sure you don’t purchase too much of anything with a short shelf life, and of course, always use the items that are due to expire first. The whole point is to get your weekly grocery bill down as far as possible, so set a personal goal for yourself.

In order to get enough of one great sale item to last until the next sale, you’ll need more than just one coupon for each item. That may mean purchasing multiple copies of the Sunday paper. For internet printables (IP), typically you are able to print two (2) copies from every computer or device in the house unless the limit is restricted by the site. If something is a super price (maybe even free) with a coupon, you’re not just picking up ONE item with your ONE coupon – you’re picking up as many as you can! This amount should last until the next sale. I have a small family…just my daughter and I – so I make sure I have at least 4 inserts each week.

By way of review:

  • Don’t just purchase an item because you have a coupon. Wait until it goes on sale so you can purchase it at it’s rock bottom price.
  • DO buy more than just one copy of the Sunday paper so that when an item goes on sale, you can get several to last you until the next sale.

Be sure to check out my other beginners posts:

Couponing For Beginners | Get To Know Your Coupons

Couponing For Beginners | Where To Find Coupons

Couponing For Beginners | Matching Coupons With Sales & Stockpiling (2024)

FAQs

How do beginners start couponing? ›

From finding a coupon database to making a shopping list, here's how to save money with coupons.
  1. 'Stack' store and manufacturer's coupons. ...
  2. Find a coupon database or a browser extension. ...
  3. Read the fine print. ...
  4. Learn your store's coupon policy. ...
  5. Make a shopping list and use apps for more savings. ...
  6. Use coupons strategically.
Oct 17, 2023

What is the secret to extreme couponing? ›

You have to look through store sales flyers.

The goal of extreme couponing is to combine manufacturer and store coupons with store sales to get items for free or for pennies on the dollar. You'll need to look through store circulars each week and look through your coupon inventory to match up sales.

How to become an extreme couponer step by step? ›

In fact, here are five steps you'll want to take to maximize your savings.
  1. Find a good site that lists deals (or save sales flyers) ...
  2. Assemble a binder or folder to keep your coupons. ...
  3. Decide where you'll get your coupons. ...
  4. Outline your goals. ...
  5. Start shopping the sales.
Apr 21, 2023

Why is extreme couponing illegal? ›

All coupons printed in the U.S. have a non-transferability clause, which makes the coupon void if sold for a profit. Plus, many coupon sellers offer stolen or counterfeit coupons, leaving you liable to potential litigation if caught.

Where do couponers get their coupons? ›

Here's how to get coupons, in both paper and digital form.
  • Shop at stores with rewards programs. ...
  • Ask for manufacturer coupons. ...
  • Visit retailer websites and apps. ...
  • Check the Sunday newspaper. ...
  • Pick up weekly ads at the store. ...
  • Look at the product packaging. ...
  • Browse store aisles. ...
  • Check your receipts.
Sep 25, 2023

What is the easiest way to get coupons? ›

Join rewards and loyalty programs

One of the easiest ways to get coupons is by enrolling in rewards programs or signing up for the email list of your favorite store. You can receive regular updates on sales, discounts, and exclusive offers.

What is illegal couponing? ›

Coupon fraud is the use of fake coupons, or the misuse of actual coupons, to derive more value from a promotion than someone would usually be entitled to. This can include using a coupon multiple times, changing its value or expiration date, or redeeming it for the wrong (or even no) product.

What are the best states for couponing? ›

As it turns out, certain metropolitan areas are particularly thrifty when it comes to shopping, according to a new report from Coupons.com. The site used couponing as a proxy for frugality. Some of the top 10 penny-pinching cities were Orlando, Florida; Washington, Charlotte, North Carolina; and New York.

What are coupon glitches? ›

Glittering is another word for glitching and occurs with incorrectly created coupons. For example, a retailer issues a coupon for $100 off an outdoor furniture set. However, an error in the coupon's creation failed to prevent it from being used on other items.

How to stack coupons at Walmart? ›

Walmart accepts Dollars/Cents Off coupons and BOGO (Buy One Get One Free). BOGO manufacturer coupons cannot be combined (i.e. you cannot use two BOGO manufacturer coupons on two items and get both for free).

Where can I find extreme couponing? ›

How to Watch Extreme Couponing. Right now you can watch Extreme Couponing on fuboTV, TLC, and Discovery+.

Do grocery stores lose money on extreme couponing? ›

No, extreme couponing is not stealing, but it's not uncommon for stores to resent it if a shopper brings in a stack of coupons and spends very little money in the end.

Can you go to jail for couponing? ›

One of the unfortunate consequences is that retailers have to raise prices to mitigate their losses, ultimately costing consumers more money in the end. Additionally, coupon fraud can actually lead to some pretty significant fines and even jail time, depending on how extreme it is.

Does anyone extreme coupon anymore? ›

Couponing may seem like a grocery-bill-saving chore from a generation ago, but there's a thriving community of TikTok users dedicated to finding the best sales, deals and giveaways by using coupons. Kayla Burk is one such TikToker.

Who went to jail from extreme couponing? ›

(WKRC) — A woman was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison and ordered to pay $31.8 million in restitution after being convicted of running a counterfeit coupon ring in Virginia. Lori Ann Talens, 41, was ordered to pay the money to the retailers and manufacturers who suffered losses in her coupon scheme.

Do couponers actually save money? ›

Couponing can save you money while shopping, but might cause you to spend more money, especially if you have trouble finding coupons for items you would normally buy or lose out on better deals from cheaper store brands.

What is the first coupon? ›

Coca-Cola's 1888-issued "free glass of" is the earliest documented coupon. Coupons were mailed to potential customers and placed in magazines. It is estimated that between 1894 and 1913 one in nine Americans had received a free Coca-Cola, for a total of 8,500,000 free drinks.

How to get coupons mailed to you for free? ›

How to Get Free Coupon Books in the Mail
  1. Reach Out to Customer Support. ...
  2. Sign Up for Email Newsletters. ...
  3. Check Your Mail. ...
  4. Check Your Local Newspaper. ...
  5. Buy a Coupon Clipping Service. ...
  6. Request a RetailMeNot Everyday Coupon Book. ...
  7. Sign Up for Proctor & Gamble Coupons by Mail. ...
  8. Subscribe to Your Local Newspaper.
Feb 12, 2024

What coupons can I use at Walmart? ›

Walmart accepts the following:
  • Manufacturer Coupons. All paper coupons must be presented at the time of the purchase and have a scannable GS1 barcode. ...
  • Internet (Print-at-Home) Coupons.
  • Buy One Get One Free Coupons (BOGO)
  • Returns.
  • Exclusions.
  • Disclaimer.

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