Coupon Clipping

Twenty or more years ago I attempted to get on the coupon clipping bandwagon.  If I’m not mistaken I first heard about “power” coupon clipping on the Phil Donahue Show.  I ordered the transcript for an episode that featured a woman who saved all kinds of money with coupons.  I studied that transcript intently.  I followed it to the letter.  It was a total bust.  I swore it was impossible to do.  My store wouldn’t take coupons on sales items.  They doubled coupons once a week, Wednesday.  By the time I got there after work, stuff was gone.  And where were the coupons for items I really needed?  I always ended up with a ton of coupons for things I never purchased.

But now with the rising cost of fuel, which increases the cost of operating a truck, which increases the cost of freight from the manufacturer to the warehouse and then to the store, which increases the cost of groceries for our family, I have embarked on a new learning experience.  About 6 weeks ago, I started clipping coupons again. 

Things have changed in the last 20 years.   First stop, the internet.  I read numerous ideas on how to maximize my savings, find coupons worth clipping, and organize my loot.  I already had a frequent buyer and/or rewards card at my local grocery store.  I use it to accumulate earnings to be used towards a discount on my gas purchases.  And I was supposedly getting better pricing on my groceries.  This I was skeptical of because let’s face it, I did not do any comparison shopping whatsoever.  I work full time.  I need food, cleaning supplies and toiletries.  I was convinced it wasn’t worth the extra time and gas each week to make the rounds of all the stores in town to get the lowest prices.  Suddenly, I wasn’t so sure anymore.  So I have decided to give it another try.

Marue