I would like to address one of your comments:

“Forget whether or not you ‘need’ something, you’ll want to stock up on non-perishable products when they’re cheap, even if you don’t need them.”

I don’t necessarily agree with this. Buying non-perishablies is like buying inventory. In the business world, inventory sucks your cash and has to be managed carefully. Too much inventory possibly jeopardizes your cash flow.

Cash is always king, but even more so in a tight economy. If the personal cash flow is good, and forecasts indicate it will remain good, then go ahead and stock up on non-perishables. But if cash flow is bad or the future indicates that it may worsen, then only buy what you need now, and save the cash.

I’m sure many of us reading this have a TON of “inventory” in our homes…. canned goods, dried beans, dried pasta, hair spray, bars of soap, lotions, etc., etc., etc. With money being tight it would be wise to start using our “inventory” rather than buying new stuff.

Just my $0.02.

http://www.dealstudio.com

they have the most comprehensive coverage about coupons. See it yourself. The site you listed in the article are fine sites.
BTW: I am a loyal reader of the mentioned site. My opinion may be biased.

Some might think that $0.50off here and $1 off there is not much, but that can offset your gas expense if you drove, and even on a long run, can add up to a couple of hundred in savings in one year (just on a low end estimate for a single person). When you are adding in a grocery purchase for a family, that savings can be even greater!

What store is this? We went last night, and my friend asked the “manager” on duty if we were allowed to take them, and he said no, they come and pick up the leftovers. All we wanted were the coupons!

I would like to throw out there, though, that buying unnecessary items is a great risk for novice coupon users. I had stacks of things I definitely didn’t need when I was in college and started using coupons. It triggered “spaving” in me. Once you tame that beast, you’re good to go.

Just tack on the coupon to wise decisions but don’t make an unnecessary purchase just because you have a coupon.

Also, swapping left over coupon inserts at work is a great idea! We do it where I am and I love it. If we know of a certain type of coupon someone’s looking for we alert them to it as well (e.g.: Free food, pharmacy coupons, etc)

I totally agree with your comment that the best time to use coupons is actually not when they first come out but usually two to three weeks later.

When a coupon first comes out the coupon item is rarely on sale. Wait a few weeks later and you’ll often find the item on sale. Combining the coupon with the sale price creates even more savings.

The same principle applies to coupon dispensers found on store shelves. These dispensers allow you to take a coupon for a particular product located near the dispenser.

The natural tendency is to take the coupon and use it then and there for the product.

But if you take the coupon from the dispenser and save it, you can frequently come back in a couple of weeks and the product will be on sale, giving you additional savings.

In the last 3 months since couponing, I have spent approximately $800 on items, saving approximately $750. I only purchase those items I regularly use but I do buy in bulk. Why should I pay $11 for a bottle of laundry detergent when I can get it for $2.50 a bottle? If you could buy gasoline @ .75/gallon & store it, would you? So..I do buy items i.e. toothpaste, toothbrushes, detergent (laundry, dishwasher & electric dishwashing), paper products, etc in bulk. By saving money on these items I can either put that savings aside or spend a little extra on better cuts of meat or fresh veggies.

Again, I have chosen to focus only on those items I use or need. The key to couponing is knowing what is available in your community. If stores afford you the deals like I get, go for it, but I would not do this if it were strictly for the face value of the coupon.

HTH

I do have to admit. If I really focus on it, I can probably cut my shopping bills down by 2. I’m just not at that point yet.

I’ve had some family members get way out of control with this. They will see peanut butter on sale and want to buy 100 cans at Sam’s clib! You want to make sure you take into account storage and balance saving all that money with not going too extreme!

I have to admit, though, personally I find myself in same coupon category. I have a hard time doing well, but truly admire those people that have really perfected the art.