Guess the Cost of this Shopping Trip!
2 boxes Honey Nut Cheerios
4- 2 liters Pepsi
2 boxes Kotex
3 boxes Jolly Time popcorn
2 jars Pace picante sauce
1 large tub Country Crock
1 bag Rhodes cinnamon rolls
1- 3 pack Dial soap
1 jar Del Monte ketchup
1 box Krusteaz pancake mix
9 Kit Kat bars
9 Reese’s peanut butter cup
4# bag of sugar
$48.46
Without shopping sales and using
coupons, total would have been $81.78.
Yes, that is A LOT of candy bars. Total
for 18 bars, $6. That is $0.33 each.
These were used for Valentine treats.
Jamie Rathbun
Family and Consumer Sciences Agent
Ellsworth County
• It’s about spending less,
not saving more.
• Someone who
consistently saves $25 a
week, will save $100 a
month and $1,200 a
year.
• The key is to develop a
clever and easy-tomaintain coupon
strategy.
• Coupon: piece of paper with a discount for a
specified product on it.
• Manufacturer’s Coupon: issued by the
company that produces the product; can be
used a most stores. Store discounts your total,
sends the coupon to the manufacturing
company and gets reimbursed for the value of
the discount.
• Store Coupon: issued by a specific store, for
use in that store ONLY; the store is the one
cutting the price of the product.
Guidelines for Using Coupons
• Coupons may only be used once.
• You may use one coupon per indicated item
purchased.
• You may not use two coupons on one item.
– Some stores will allow you to use one
manufacturer AND one store coupon on the same
one item. This is called Coupon Stacking.
• Check your store’s coupon policy to see if they allow
this.
• Coupons may not be copied.
• Read the wording of the coupon, ignore the
picture.
– Coupons will usually say “save on ANY XYZ brand
product.
– May indicate you buy a certain size of the product.
• You can use coupons on sale and clearance
items.
Maximizing the Value of Coupons
• Forget brand loyalty. Look for the PRODUCT
you need.
• Clip only for products you need or use.
• Be on the lookout for pantry staples.
– Sour cream, butter, ketchup, mustard, chocolate
chips, cooking spray and oil, rice, aluminum foil.
• Be on the lookout for personal products.
– Cosmetics , body care items (shampoo,
toothpaste, etc.), feminine products.
• Take advantage of double- and triple- coupon
promotions.
– The store will take your 50-cent coupon and
double it to make a savings of $1.
– Find out if your store offers this promotion and
what the maximum double/triple value is.
• Make a list.
– Reminds you of what you came for and keeps you
from buying items you don’t need.
Wait for sales to use your coupons.
Many “coupon items” do not hit their lowest sale price
until a few weeks after the coupon comes out.
EXAMPLE:
1# pork sausage
Sale price, B1G1
55-cent coupon
Coupon doubles
$3.29
$1.65
$1.10 (use 2, since you are buying 2 rolls of sausage)
$0.65
Over 80% savings from the non-sale price.
Using Coupons for Sale Items
• Weekly Ads.
– Read these to see what is on sale, which stores
have the best prices on the items you need.
– Have ads delivered to you, pick it up at a store,
view it on the store’s website.
• Coupon Match-Ups.
– Websites will tell you the 1# rolls of sausage are
on sale B1G1 and to use 2 pork sausage coupons
from the January 1 newspaper.
– Coupon Match-Up site
• Target
• Dillons
– There is no site that matches coupons for the
store where you shop.
• Use a coupon database.
• Type in the product that is on sale/you need. It will tell
you if there are any current coupons for the product
• Loyalty Cards. SIGN UP!!!
– Only give sale price/double coupons to card
holders.
– Allow you to add electronic coupons to your card.
• Ten for $10 promotions.
– Often do not have to buy 10 items to get sale
price.
• Rain checks.
– Get a rain check if the store is out of the sale item.
– You can still use coupons if you are using a rain
check.
Where to Find Coupons
• Newspapers.
– Sunday paper, gather from friends and neighbors,
libraries, schools, work place.
– 1st Sunday of the month, 1st Sunday of the quarter.
• Store circulars and magazines.
– Check by the door or the cashier.
• Store shelves and products.
• Mailings.
– Sign up on the manufacturing company’s or store’s
website to receive coupons in the mail.
• Online.
– www.coupons.com. Many of the coupons that
appear in the Sunday paper.
– Store’s websites.
• Target.
– Blogs dedicated to couponing often have links to
coupons.
*Check to see if your store accepts printed coupons.
• With your receipt.
– Catalina coupons print out at the register after
you have purchased specific items.
• Save $2 on your next shopping trip, save $5 on your
next purchase of $20 or more.
– On back of your receipt.
Know the Store’s Coupon Policy
• Visit store websites to find out their policy for
using/accepting coupons.
• All stores are different.
• Policies change from time to time.
Coupon Organization Systems
Start out small. Keep it simple. Do what works for you.
Envelopes
Small Accordion File
Coupon Box
Whole Insert
Coupon Binder
Don’t forget your
reusable bags.
Many stores give a
credit for being
“green.”
Brand names appearing in this publication are for product
identification purposes only. No endorsement is intended, nor is
criticism implied of similar products not mentioned.
Contents of this publication may be freely reproduced for educational
purposes. All other rights reserved. In each case, credit Jamie Rathbun,
Ca$h in with Coupon$, Kansas State University, August 2011.
Kansas State University
Agricultural Experiment Station
and Cooperative Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and
employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts
of May 8 and
June 30, 1914, as amended. Kansas State University, County Extension
Councils, Extension Districts, and United States Department of
Agriculture Cooperating, Gary Pierzynski, Interim.