September is National Coupon Month, so it just makes sense that now is the time to get in the habit of using this staple of frugal living. .jpg)
The humble coupon has been around for more than 100 years, but in prosperous times, people tend to forget about using coupons. With the economy still struggling, though, this is the perfect time to start (or re-start) using them.
Coupons amount to free money, so it doesn’t make sense not to use them. All kinds of retailers offer them, though grocery stores are where people use them the most. According to the Promotion Marketing Association (PMA), in 2008, 89 percent of the overall population reported using coupons when they went shopping, for an average savings of 7 percent on their grocery bills.
Too much trouble to take the time to clip coupons? PMA reports that those who spend 10 minutes or less per week clipping and organizing their coupons achieve an average $7 per week on their groceries. That adds up. And those that spend 20 minutes per week can save up to $1,000 per year.
While PMA says 90 percent of all coupons are issued via Sunday newspapers, there are certainly other venues for collecting coupons. In Austin, H-E-B stores typically feature coupon kiosks at their entrances, along with their current sales circulars. Just a few minutes perusing the kiosk before you start shopping could net several dollars in savings, with no Sunday paper or clipping required!
In addition, a number of online sites, such as www.coupons.com, offer downloadable coupons. Sometimes stores are hesitant to accept online printed coupons, so check on your grocer’s policy. Or better yet, download coupons directly from your grocer’s Web site. H-E-B and Randall’s both offer printable coupons.
The wave of the future for coupons is “mobile,” or electronic, coupons. Vendors can send consumers coupons, with their permission, directly to their mobile devices, via email or a text; or consumers can have the coupons loaded onto a store loyalty card, such as Randall’s Remarkable Card, and redeem them when they use their card at checkout. No paper coupon necessary!
So, with plenty of coupon opportunities available at varying levels of effort on the consumer’s part, don’t pass up free money!
For more info:
Mobile coupons - www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-mobile-coupon.htm
Tips for frugal grocery shopping - www.examiner.com/examiner/x-11466-Austin-Frugal-Living-Examiner~y2009m7d26-10-tips-for-frugal-grocery-shopping
Photo: AP/Dan Goodman
Comments
My girlfriend does all the shopping for our house hold, but she uses coupons and saves a bundle! Great advice!
There's also an iPhone app, Yowza! that has coupons for some stores like The Container store, no clipping required.
Also, avid book readers looking to expand their collection without breaking the bank should trade in some books at Book Exchange, which I wrote about here on my Literature page. No coupons, but you can get each book at 75% off!
A while ago, we used to take the money that we saved with coupons (printed at the bottom of the receipt) and put it in a safe place (aka the sock drawer) to use as "date money". It was a great concept that we never revived once we moved. I do, however, still shop with coupons and get a kick when I see I saved anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 of my bill in coupons!
A publication with Consumer Reports just named their favorite online coupon sites while celebrating National Coupon Month: Savings.com, CouponMom.com, I can't remember them all - but I believe the list is on their site somewhere.
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