How do you make the best out of your coupons...

[WandaJean]

..when you do not drive and taking buses/taxi's to all the different stores cam become very expensive. 2.35 one way trip on the bus and 10.00+ for taxis. If going to 3 or 4 different stores in one day you probally end up with little or no savings.
Does anyone know how to make the best of coupons when you only shop 1-2 times per month.

[Angela273]

I have started shopping a little more often since I have really gotten into using coupons. I refuse to look at a lot of fliers because it just tempts me to go out and buy things I do not need.

I am fortunate enough to have a LD in my city and a truck to drive. I wait for weeks to collect the stackable coupons and make it worth my time and money to do the trip. I still use the bus as my primary form of transportation. I go shopping on 10% off Tue. I decide if it is worth the money to drive across Saskatoon and if it is not worth the savings, I go to my closest grocery store and pick up the items there.

[sporatic]

I would say perpare before you go. Some stores have bad reputation and you might already have experience so don't waste your time there. Try those places where some one else have used thier same coupons. You can check Bragging section of this forum. Some Malls have more stores at one location and that will save your fare.

I have also learned if your buying stuff its helpful to use coupons with them. Also, if product is less than coupon, chances are slim and its generally harder to get it through, specially higher value coupons. Using multiple copies of the same coupon kills the chances of success. eg: I tried using 6 $1 astro coupons at walmart and no wonder manager refused to accept them. I went ahead and use 2 at Metro and another 2 at FoodBasics. Lastly, argue if it is worth the product, otherwise simply go back and get another item and try with another cashier. I think cashiers are trying to do their job too and customers goal is to succeed in using coupon and not to make a scene.

Another good rule is pick your cashier after you pick your store. Some times your cashier will let things pass for knowing you and trust me it does help. There is one cashier I know who scrutinizes my coupons like no one else but that is the only one who at least accepts my coupons at Walmart so I save my time and try to go to her if she is there.

[Cheapnik]

Actually the less I shop the better for couponing. My suggestion the one or two times you can get out:

1. Go only to the store in your area that generally has the lowest prices on the most items and sells food and cleaning and personal products. Where I live that is Superstore or Walmart but we don't have Nofrills.

2. The Saturday before you intend to go scour the Saturday advertisement for that store. If you don't take the paper try .ca (owned by same company as save.ca) as they will list online the same flyers.

3. If really shopping only once or twice a month consider taking all your coupons as to not miss any unadvertised specials. I bought a bigger purse to do this. I only take coupons for items I actually by and usually give the rest away or trade (leave those at home of course). This stops unnecessary purchases. People who coupon alot say this is not possible due to number of coupons. In my case I organize them quickly before I go based on my shopping list. Plus my purse is REALLY big.

4. I have a car and generally do not do mutliple stores in one day. If I see a sale in the flyers I will do max 1 store a day and even then usually on my lunchbreak (speed shop if you can get a ride from someone).

5. What about trying to connect with a fellow coupon clipper with a car? Perhaps it could be a once a week outing. Both of you would benefit and could exchange coupons too.

[FallenPixels]

Walmart price matches, grab the competitors fliers at the entrance and have them price match. Our stores are fairly close together, so if my BF is away and has the car, I get a day pass and hit up the different stores I want to go to - cheaper than the bus fares or one cab fare.

[Justine]

I usually shop alone when using coupons, and take the bus, and I take the bus for free, so it works. The best way to make the most of your coupons, only use them when you need the product, that saves you spending the money in the first place and spending time traveling.

[cookoo]

I wait until a product is on sale and use the coupon on it. Of course, if I don't need a specific product, I just lay the coupon(s) next to it and hope someone else will take and use.

[zabet17]

I think Price Matching would be your best bet. I love Price Matching at our Zellers. Esp from the Wal Mart flyer. Zellers here is so much less busy than Wal Mart, it is so relaxing to shop there. I just wish they had the kind of stock that Wal Mart has.

[WandaJean]

thank you all for the advice. I do not know one person who goes coupon shopping and my only friend that can drive me lives in a different city and she is taking care of her 85 yrold father so she does not like to travel or be away from him.

[RetroMama]

Great tips!

[navigator_25]

I have a question about price matching: I don't get many flyers cause I don't typically buy any newspapers so I look at most of the flyers online. Do stores typically price match if you take in a print out of an online flyer?

[FallenPixels]

My Walmart has all the other stores' flyers at the entrance so I grab them there - even if I dont get them in my paper

[maloo]

My local Walmart keeps all the current flyers in a binder at Customer Service Desk.
I price match everything and only use coupons on sale prices!