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Coupon tips
Posted on December 3rd, 2008 7 commentsThe other day I received this question from Kate, who says she has been having trouble using coupons. Kate writes:
[The coupons] always seem to be a) for products or brands I don’t use (processed junk in particular) and/or b) force me to trek all over town to redeem them (maybe it’s a downtown thing, but I tend to get the ‘valid except at x, y, and z stores’ ones, and anything within a 20 min drive of me is x, y, or z). I HAVE found flyer hunting useful though. We live near both a Loeb and Loblaws, so flyers help decide which one gets our business that week.
Kate, you’re right - coupons for processed junk food abound. Scrap ‘em, share ‘em, or save ‘em until a deal comes around that is so lucrative it makes the product free, or gives you overage. But rest assured, there are plenty of opportunities to find coupons for good, healthy food. I have collected countless coupons for milk, cheese, healthy cereals, fish, whole wheat bread, real fruit juice, whole wheat crackers, whole wheat pasta, unsweetened apple sauce, yogurt, baking supplies like flour, oats, salt, oil and pie crusts, and other necessities like toilet paper, brand name feminine products, personal care items, detergents, pet food and beauty products (and the list goes on!)
Coupons from Canadian Living and Homemakers magazines and coupons from product manufacturers’ websites are the best for healthy foods. Another great source is the products themselves (look inside cereal boxes and egg cartons for examples). Coupons from these sources are almost never restricted to just one set of stores. When you go shopping, keep your eyes peeled for good coupons - even if they are restricted to a store (I find they rarely are) at least it will be a store you already shop at! Just keep your eyes out at every possible source and eventually you’ll develop a good stash!
Here are some tips for using your coupons.
1. Use a coupon box - learn how to make a coupon box here.
2. When you go through the flyers and make your list, pull out the coupons you want to use and put them to the front of your coupon box - that will save you some time in the store.
3. When you lay your groceries on the belt, match the coupon with the product. It’s best to lay the coupon on the product - don’t put it on the belt or it might get stuck!
4. I enjoy shopping on weekday evenings, because it’s far less busy. This means I worry less about holding people up when I’m using a ton of coupons - and I can leisurely stroll through the store, comparing prices. Trying to get the best deal and use coupons when the store is jammed to the rafters with angry bargain hunters is a recipe for disaster.
Good luck - and let me know if there is anything I can do to help!
For more coupon websites, go to smartcanucks.ca, save.ca or visit Red Flag Deals.
7 responses to “Coupon tips”
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I have lost coupons before on the belt!!!! Horrible! lol and when the cashier went to get them, they had been ripped… luckily she was super sweet & still gave me the discount
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Thanks for this! I’m going to keep it bookmarked. I have yet to find a coupon for the ’staples’ but I will continue to keep my eyes peeled!
The Europe’s Best ones were useful though. I liked those
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I couldn’t use my Europe’s Best coupons yesterday. I printed them from a file I found online; however, the cashier at Food Basics said they are supposed to have save.ca on the back. Is it true and will other stores accept them?
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Save.ca on the back? Weird… I didn’t get mine from them!
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Saver Queen December 3rd, 2008 at 12:19
Irina - this has happened to me too! We both know that the coupon IS legit. It’s so frustrating/embarrassing! But sometimes coupons do get photocopied or passed around, so cashiers are skeptical. That one in particular is NOT from save.ca - only the coupons from that website (P&G coupons) will have that on the back, so she was wrong. I do find printing them out in colour helps giving them cred. Your only other option is to get a hard copy of the coupon - I got mine with my magazine sub - or just save it and take it somewhere else.
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I use a coupon box too, so much easier to use. I lost my last one and was depressed for a week! So much savings were in that little box, I have no idea where it could have gone to. I bought a new one of course.
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