Extreme Couponing

I have been trying to save money at the grocery store and on the advice of a friend and with my subscription to Savingsangels I am slowly but surely learning.  But I think you will agree that my recent couponing experience brings new meaning to the term "Extreme Couponing".   I went to Colorado Springs with my computer printed list and my coupons hole-punched and threaded on binder rings.  One for King Soopers, one for Safeway, one for food items, one for non-food items.

I was doing great till I hit Safeway.  I only needed a few things and actually changed my mind (shocking, I know) on a couple of items and either didn't buy, or bought the store brand instead, so I thought, I'll just go through the self-checkout.  NEVER use coupons at the self-checkout. There was a gentleman behind me, holding a toddler in one arm and one item in the other.  I told him to go ahead of me, but he politely refused.  I guarantee he regretted that decision!  I scanned my groceries, then began scanning my coupons.  That lovely computerized voice said, "Please..place...."coopons"... in the "...coopon"... slot.  Oh jeez, I guess I don't get to keep these and use them again, DUH.  I start feeding my coupons into the slot and the screen says, "Please see the clerk, your coupon did not scan correctly."

 The clerk comes over and I quietly tell him it's ok if that coupon didn't scan, I can live without the savings.  At this point the line behind me is growing.  Now the clerk says I have to start all over and scan all my groceries again.  I say, "but what about all the coupons I already put in the slot?"  So he tries again and gets my transaction back and at that moment I somehow drop all the tiny Safeway store coupons that I cut out of the paper.  I had taken them off the ring binder, but then didn't use them all.  They were like confetti all over the floor!  I heard people groaning behind me in line.  Remember the commercial, "Need to get away?"  That was me.  Finally paid and got out as fast as possible.

In all seriousness, you can cut your grocery bill way down.  The trick is that most items go on sale in a 12 week cycle.  Save your coupons until the item is "buy one, get one free"  or greatly discounted.  You can actually get items for free!!

You don't have to clip a lot of coupons.  Both King Soopers and Safeway allow you to go to their websites and download digital coupons to your card.  Then, when you check out the coupons are credited to your order.  They are called eCoupons.  For clumsy people like me, they are a must!

After doing this at your favorite store for a few weeks, they will start sending you emails offering GREAT deals and FREE groceries!  

A couple of websites that have helped me are:  Hip2Save.com and savingsangels.com.  The first is free and after you register they send you emails letting you know what is on sale, both at the grocery stores, and restaurants and other businesses.  The second website is not free but they do offer a free trial subscription so you can try it out.  It will save you a lot of time searching for the best price.