If you missed Part 1 or 2 of “How/Where Do I Start?!” you can read the full details here.
So, far you should have a small coupon stash, picked one store to shop at with coupons, have your grocery list printed and coupons pulled out or printed that match your sale items on your list.
If you’ve done those things then you are ready to go to the store!
- Grab a few reusable bags to get .05 cents off your bill for each bag you bring in.
- Always take all of your coupons into the store with you, not just your list and matched coupons.
- Try to go by yourself so you don’t get distracted with kids, spouse, phone call, etc.
- I don’t go up and down every isle. I speed walk to each item on my list (seriously, hehe)
- Buy as many sale items as you have coupons for, but save some for other people (coupon shopping etiquette). If you’ve picked United then most of the time you will find every single item on your list. If you chose CVS (which I don’t recommend for your first few trips) then you will probably only find half of your list in stock.
- Stick to your list, don’t be impulsive!
- Make sure the sale items match your coupons. Sometimes the ad doesn’t specify a size and you get to the store and see what is really the sale item and it may not match your coupon. Don’t get it thinking the cashier won’t notice. The computer register will catch it and it’s fraud anyway.
- If you can’t find an item or they are out of stock, skip it for now and move on to the next item on your list. You can always ask for a rain-check at the register if you really want it.
- There are occasional coupons for fresh produce and meat, but not always. Buy only the sale items for that week. If you are used to buying apples and oranges, maybe pears and Cuties are on sale this week, so get those instead. If you like roast or pork chops, get them if they are on sale and freeze them until you are ready to use them. Don’t wait until you have a recipe and then run out and pay full price. You know you like it, so buy it and freeze it if it’s on sale.
- You might find some items on sale that were not in the ad. That is why you want to take your coupons into the store with you. As long as you have a coupon for these extra sale items, then go ahead and get them.
The Check Out!
- Be sure you are organized before you get to the register. I have made sure my coupons match my items and they are with my grocery money separate from my list and other coupons for the items I couldn’t find.
- Cashier Profilling: This might be wrong, but it does make a difference with the cashier you choose. They can make or break your experience. The old way is to choose the shortest line. The new way is to look at each person and decide which one will give you the least trouble. The young guys are the easiest to work with, the older women are the toughest. Sometimes they will treat you like you are a big hassle and it makes for an unpleasant experience. Other cashiers are excited to see you save so much money and cheer you on which makes you feel so good!
- If at all possible shop during off peek hours. That way there is no rush to get you checked out and you won’t have a long line of people behind you getting annoyed.
- Be friendly and honest up front. If you aren’t sure about a coupon match, just tell them and see if it works. If you want to do 2 separate transactions, ask the cashier what works best for them. Should you let the customer behind you check out before you do your second transaction or is it ok to just do them back to back. Don’t do more than 2 in one trip (etiquette).
- Ask the cashier if they want the coupons as you go or wait until the end. Usually they want you to wait.
- If you have coupons for free items or B1G1 free, have those place to where they are the last to get scanned so that when you use your coupons, the cashier can find them easily on the register and deduct the cost. (just a nice thing you can do for your cashier)
- Watch the register carefully for mistakes (you’ll be surprised at how many you catch).
- After all items are scanned, hand them your coupons in this order: any $ off $$ first (for example $5 off $50 purchase). You do this kind first so that your total is still high and the coupon is valid. If your other coupons bring your total down and then you try to use that one, it will be invalid now because your balance is too low. Next give manufacturer’s coupons, then store coupons. You can hand them your entire stack if you have them in order verses just one at a time.
- Now, really, really watch the register carefully to make sure each coupon scanned is taking money off your balance. Target is the worst about this.
- Don’t be surprised if some of them “beep” like something is wrong. Be confident that you know you have the right items because you made sure before you came up there. If the cashier refuses it and you know you are right, then ask to see the manager. (done it!) Or, you can simply say, “I don’t want that product then” and have them take it off your bill. (done it!) Don’t worry about the people behind you, they can move to another lane. Also, I think it’s perfectly normal to be sweating and red at this point (done it!)
- Hopefully all goes smoothly and you save some money! Pay the cashier.
- Double check your receipt for accuracy. You have your grocery list so you can quickly scan your coupon total and make sure none were skipped. (Sometimes the coupons stick together and don’t get scanned)
I hope these step-by-step instructions are helpful for your first coupon shopping trip. There’s so much to say, but you will learn as you get more experience and develop your own system and routine.
Watch for the next series “What I Learned When I Started vs What I Know Now” and coming soon “Shopping at the Drugstores for Groceries” step by step instructions.
