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The following is a guest post by Outside the Box Mom:
Thanks to your comments on this series, we have some great questions to address…
Question: I’m not a big grocery coupon user. I find that most coupons are not for foods or other products I buy so it is not really worth my time. That said I do think of myself as a very smart shopper and am still able to keep our monthly grocery bill in a very reasonable range.
Answer: Coupons are available on a variety of products. See the categories and resources listed below.
Fruit: sign up for Driscoll’s newsletter or check their website periodically; coupons from POM’s pomegranates
Vegetables: search for Libby’s, Muir Glen, Birdseye Frozen vegetables, or your favorite brand
Milk and other dairy products: search for PET, Dannon, Yoplait, Oikos, Soy milk, Almond milk, or your favorite brand
Baking products: search for Domino’s sugar, Karo syrup, Gold Medal flour, or your favorite brand
Pet products: search for coupons by brand name or item (example: “Purina” or “dog food”), or your favorite brand
Health & beauty items: search for deals at your local drugstore chain like CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid
Household items and cleaners: search for Clorox, Lysol, Green Works, or your favorite brand
Organic products: follow blogs that post natural & organic deals, or your favorite brand
Gluten-free products: follow blogs that post gluten-free deals, or your favorite brand
Restaurant meals: search for your favorite restaurant online
Hair cuts: search for the hair salon online or ask if they accept competitors coupons
Get more ideas for finding coupons
Sites like MoneySavingMom.com offer coupon databases. You can search for coupons by brand name or item (example: “Purina” or “dog food”). While it’s fine to be brand specific on certain products (maybe 20% of items you regularly purchase), you will save the most money if you are open to other brands on the remaining 80% of items you regularly purchase.
Submit your questions and challenges in the comments and they will be addressed in future posts.
–Sign up to receive my new FREE e-book on Saving Money with Coupons. Find quick, easy, time-saving tips and solutions for moms at Outside The Box Mom.
If you missed any posts in this series:
- Goals when using coupons
- Common reasons why people don’t use coupons
- #1 obstacle in using coupons
- Types of coupons available and where you can get them
- Ways you can organize your coupon stash
- How to make a grocery list
- Shop at different stores to stretch your buck
- Know the sales cycle
- Start small
- I have no luck in couponing
I found a post about how to find coupons for produce and fresh meat: http://www.chicagoshopping.com/experts/groceries/chishop-find-coupons-for-produce-fresh-meats-20120124,0,2223317.column
@Crystal, Thanks for reading. It really is all about learning. Trying different things and seeing what works for you and your family (and what doesn’t!).
@Grace, Thanks for your comment. I have only contacted a manufacturer when I had a problem with a product and asked for a coupon to purchase a replacement. They sent me a free product coupon promptly. Couponing to Disney has information about which manufacturers to successfully contact and what to day here: http://www.couponingtodisney.com/category/5-a-day/
Just do a Google search for the manufacturer you want to contact and find a Contact Us page. Then, use the suggestions from Couponing to Disney.
Let us know how it works for you.
@Monique, Great alternative ways of shopping and saving money without coupons.
Thanks for all the tips. I enjoy reading these post. I will learn to be a better couponer 😉
I’m enjoying your articles. I cook a lot by scratch and find that coupons for vinegar, flour, and other staples are sometimes hard to find. Are you ever successful in contacting the company directly and asking for coupons on these types of products?
I don’t use coupons as much as I used to, but they do serve a purpose. I shop at the farmers market, at the grocery store I shop on the perimeter where coupons are less likely, and I don’t buy prepackaged items. BUT, if you do shop at the grocery store and go up and down the aisles, coupons will help you lower your costs.
@Terri, which products are you having trouble finding coupons on?
I love these articles! 🙂 As a casual couponer, my experience is just the opposite. I find a lot of food and cleaning product coupons, but not many for other things I need to buy! One of my favorite ways to save is finding bonus packages that offer extra product for the same price and combining coupons I clip with store saving coupons. The grocery store I usually shop at (Meijer) has been offering a lot of register coupons from $1.00 to up to $10.00 off next trip with certain included purchases! We love those 🙂
@abbyk, You hit the nail on the head: Sale + Coupon = Biggest Savings!!! Keep reading and participating in the forums.
@Pam, Great advice. I learned first about coupons in forums at sites like Hot Coupon World.
@Nancy, great suggestion. You can spend as low as $2 to get $20 worth of food at a local restaurant.
good points!
I personally love forums for extra pointers.
Nothing beats coupling a sale with cocupons for that extra boost.
You can try the coupon database at Hot Coupon World too. It’s a good resource.
restaurant dot com has really good coupons too for eating out