How to Save Money on Groceries with Stephanie Nelson's Coupon Mom System

Stephanie Nelson's Coupon Mom System at couponmom.com saves shoppers big money on their groceries. The core method of the system is The Virtual Coupon Organizer.

The first step is to continuously accumulate coupon circulars, filing them by date.

Say you need shampoo. Go to the Virtual Coupon Organizer and enter the word "shampoo" in the search box. It will bring up a list of the non-expired shampoo coupons from the past few months. You already have the coupon because you've been saving the circulars.

There are a number of ways to maximize the benefits of coupons. Here are 7 tips:

Match coupons with items that are already on sale

This is one of the most effective ways to utilize coupons. Peruse your grocery store's weekly sales flyers for matching items.

Shop at multiple grocery stores

Not all stores run the same sales each week. Thus, you can maximize your savings by shopping at more than one store. Of course, this method will only be cost effective if the stores are close to one another. Combine grocery shopping with other errands for maximum effectiveness.

Shop on the first or last day of the month

Coupons tend to expire on either the last or first day of the month. Thus, be mindful of both dates and see if you have any coupons for items that are about to expire.

Buy items when they are at their lowest price, not when you need them

Take advantage of sales (with your coupons in tow) even if you do not currently need the item. You're going to run out of it anyway, so you may as well save when you can.

Forget about brand loyalty

If you have coupons for a brand that you are unfamiliar with, why not give it a try? You might discover that you actually prefer it. If you have an opportunity to save a lot of money on a product with which you are not familiar (or even get it for free with double coupons), it's worth trying.

Call manufacturer's 800 numbers

You can request coupons directly from the manufacturer. Up to 35% of companies will only send out coupons if they are requested.

Use coupons for charity