How to Coupon: Shop the Opportunity

Whenever I teach a coupon class there is always someone in the crowd who must come up to me afterwards and tell why how couponing doesn't work.

Really?

I just showed you how I turned $500 into $1000 and it doesn't work?

Their response? "Well, I tried it and I was lucky to save twenty bucks."

First of all.

Let's step back and moment and give you some well deserved praise.

You sought out coupons.

You clipped them.

You shopping with them.

And you saved $20.

That's $20 in YOUR pocket instead of THEIR'S.

It worked!

Congratulate yourself on a job well done. You've already done the hard part. 

You made the effort and you shopped with coupons.

So why is it that when I shop with $125 I can purchase $250 worth of goods, but when you shop with $125 you only get $145?

I SHOP THE OPPORTUNITY.

Let me give you an example.

We will use the Van's coupon currently available HERE

You and I both print this Van's coupon for $1.00 of 2 natural foods products.

You take your coupon down to Safeway and grab two boxes of frozen waffles for $2.99 each.

Total: $5.98.

Minus your coupon.

You pay: $4.98

A savings of about 16%.

I go to Safeway and see that Van's are not on sale. So I don't use my coupon.

The following week, Safeway has Van's frozen waffles on sale 2/$4.

I use my coupon.

My total is $3.00 or a savings of about 50%.

I held my coupon until the item went on sale and was able to maximize my savings.

I waited for the right opportunity.

I call this approach "Buy what you need, but never when you need it."

I have a budget of $125 a week. I set aside about $50 of that for milk, eggs, cheese, and fresh produce. The rest of it is for the opportunities. If toilet paper is the hot deal, I buy toilet paper. If salad dressing is the hot deal I buy salad dressing. 

If I need something, I am going to go to the store and pay whatever price is on the shelf. If, however, I buy it  when it's a great opportunity I stretch my dollar, maximize my savings, and fill up a beautiful stock pile of goods. Instead of rushing to the store to pay the premium price, I just go to my garage and grab what I need. My weekly shopping list is dictated by the sales and coupons available. I shop the opportunities.

Another example is my husband's hair gel.

He has a specific kind he likes. In the past when it ran out I would go to the store and buy another one to replace it. The jars were about $6 a piece. Then I got (2) Buy 1 Get 1 FREE coupons for them. I held onto that coupon for 5 weeks until finally that hair gel went on sale 2/$5. 

Instead of paying $24 for 4 jars, I bought them for a total of $5, or $1.25 a piece. A savings of 75%!!

And since I had 4 jars in storage, it gave me plenty of time to wait for the next opportunity to snag some more about 6 months later.

Everyone is going to find their own system, but what works for me is this:

1- Follow your favorite coupon bloggers who will alert you to the awesome sales. (why hunt for deals when someone else is already doing it for you?)

2-Organize your coupons in a binder or filing system.

3- Know what things cost. If you don't know what the normal price is, you won't recognize a hot deal.

4- Shop the Opportunities by purchasing the items you use and need when they are on sale and not when you run out. 

I am happy to help you with any questions you have regarding couponing. Please email me or leave your comments below. 

Happy Couponing!