Advanced Coupon Shopping

For those of you already saving with coupons, here are some ideas to help you to maximize your savings. Visit www.sundaysaver.com to look at your grocery store circular before you go shopping. Plan your weekly menu around what is on sale. If you have a manufacturer’s coupon matched up with a sale item, than stock up. Often you can use two coupons for a “buy one get one free” offer. Check with your store.

Consider purchasing an Entertainment Book at www.entertainment.com. The price has dropped to about $15.00 for most areas of the country. This book is packed with all types of savings from fast food and family restaurants, movie theaters in your area and discounts at major retailers. My Entertainment Book came with 13 separate coupons for $5.00 off at my grocery store which is a $65.00 savings alone. Once you receive your book, it comes with a card which you should activate online. It just takes a minute and there are additional coupons available that make it well worth the extra step. You can check it out online before you decide if it is worth it for you.

Sign up online for a Upromise account at www.Upromise.com . The money you will save will be deposited into a 529 savings account for college. If you don’t have future college students, consider signing up anyway and direct the savings to a grandchild or special child in your life. You will have access to e-coupons which are automatically deducted at check out. You can also link your drug store affinity cards like CVS to your Upromise account and earn rebates from online shopping at such retailers as Target, Home Depot and Best Buy.

Coupons with no clipping! www.shortcuts.com/home is a free site that loads coupons on to your store affinity card and then deducts the savings at check-out. Simply set up your account online and chose the coupons you may use. The site is sponsored by America Online but you do not need an AOL account to participate. It is my understanding that these e-coupons cannot be combined with a manufacturer’s coupon for the same item, but check your store’s policy.

A few tips- I use a separate free email address for all of my couponing and online savings. I access this account when I choose to and my “everyday” email account is not stuffed full of offers. I use a small address book for all of my passwords (non-banking passwords) and lastly I always keep my coupons in my car.

Lori Felix writes about saving money on her fast-growing website, www.morewithlesstoday.com, or you can contact her directly at lorijfelix@gmail.com