Sunday, April 11, 2010

Coupons can mean free food!

Coupons can get you cheap and even free food for your family if you go against everything your mother taught you about saving money. I can show you how to turn coupons and the best sale into free food for your kids.
1.
Step 1
Shop fancy!
Don't buy everything at what you think is a cheap store. Instead, find the store with the best coupon policies. Some stores double or even triple coupons. Shopping at those stores will net you the best deals. Their retail prices may be higher but with doubled or tripled coupons the final price you pay will be much lower. Call the food stores in your area to find out: 1) if and when they double or triple coupons; 2) how many coupons will they accept for the identical items; 3) how many total coupons they will accept for one shopping trip; 4) up to what amount do they double or triple coupons' 5) if they have a customer loyalty program; and 6) in which local newspaper do they advertise their weekly sales .
2.
Step 2
Buy name brand items. Name brand items are usually the only ones for which you'll find coupons.
3.
Step 3
Buy small.
Buy the smallest size available, even trial size. The smallest sizes may have the highest unit price. But with coupons your final unit price will be much lower, many times free! Tropicana Pure Premium comes in two sizes: a large container and an 8 oz size. The 8 oz size can be found on sale for $1.00 ($0.12/oz). They also offer a 64 oz container $3.99 ($0.06/oz). If you have a $1.00 off manufacturer's coupon for it, however, it changes the equation completely. The cost of an 8-oz size is $0.00/oz and the 64 oz size costs $0.47/oz. For the coupon user obviously the 8 oz size offers the best unit price by far! So if you have enough coupons you can purchase 8 8oz bottles which is the same amount as a 64oz container all for free instead of paying $0.47/oz.
4.
Step 4
Use two coupons!
Use more than one coupon per item. Sometimes stores will offer their own coupons for name brand items. Using both a manufacturer's coupon as well as a store coupon on the same item you'll save the most money. Say, for example, your grocery store carries Van Camp's Pork and Beans for $.99. The weekly store ad carries a coupon for Van Camp's Pork and Beans of $0.35 off one (limit 6). You have several manufacturer's coupon for $1.00 off two. You use both the store coupon and three manufacturer's coupons on six cans. $5.94 (total retail price for 6 cans) - ($0.35 store coupon x 6 ) = $3.84 $3.84 (price after store coupon applied) - ($1.00 manufacturer's coupon x 3) = $0.94 Your final price = $0.16/can!!!
5.
Step 5
Don't buy!
Don't use your coupons on items when you need them. In order to save the most money you must wait until your item of choice is for sale on deep discount. Once it goes on a good sale, then buy enough to last you until the next sale. This will require that you maintain an organized coupon file with multiple copies each coupons.

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