Couponing: Why You Should NEVER Pay Full Price for Your Groceries!

Grocery shopping. We all do it. Some weekly, some bi-weekly, some even monthly. For some americans, going grocery shopping means the electric bill or water bill won't be getting paid that week. I know, I was there almost a year ago. My cupboards were literally bare before I would scrounge up enough money to go shopping. And even then, I barely had enough. 

Then I discovered the world of couponing. I found out very quickly that there are literally hundreds of items that you could get free or just pennies when you combine sales and coupons together. First, you always want to make sure you have signed up for the store's reward card if it's available and make sure they have your information on file. These cards are extremely valueable when it comes to weekly sales. Some stores will even go as far as not giving you the sale price if you don't have your card. So always, always keep your card handy. Store cards can also earn you other rewards such as coupons by mail or email, surprises on your birthday, or even enter you into store drawings or contests when you shop. Also, many stores will double the face value of your coupon if you are a member of their rewards program. Double couponing is where you will really start seeing your savings add up!

How do you know if your stores offer double coupons? You could call them, or email them and ask for a copy of their coupon policy. Lots of bigger chains double manufacturer's coupons. It never hurts to ask! 

Where do you obtain these coupons? Well, the most common place is the Sunday paper. You could also get coupons if you sign up for company's mailing lists, gift registries, or even in the store itself! Keep your eyes peeled for coupons in the grocery stores! You can find them on packages, on the shelves, or even hanging from a wine bottle! You never know! 

I'm going to give you an example:

Let's say salad dressing was on sale 2 for $3.00 ($1.50 each)
You had coupons that were good for $.75 off 1 bottle
And your store doubled coupons. 
You could be stocking up on free salad dressing all week!