by Jill Jackson

Created on: March 29, 2009   Last Updated: March 30, 2009

Coupons are a great way to save money but they are not very convenient. In my own experience, I've diligently clipped coupons then forgotten to use them at checkout. Or worse, I've held up the checkout line while looking for that 50 cent toilet paper coupon that I just had, in my hands, two seconds before. After a couple of weeks of using coupons, I realized that my savings weren't as great as I'd anticipated. Don't get me wrong, it is possible to save a lot of money with coupons but I think it depends, largely, on how you shop and what you buy. I'm single and I tend to like a lot of gourmet and specialty items that may not have coupons. If you're like me, coupons are a great supplement, when used sparingly, but it is possible to save money without them.

First, make a list. A list helps you plan your trip to the store so you stay on track and avoid overspending. Not only that but, keeping a list gives you a running inventory of the things you use most often. My food tastes tend to be pretty eclectic, and I like trying new things. Even still, I do have certain staple items and keeping a list helps keep track of those staples and helps with tracking sales.

Second, have a regular store (or stores). I have 5 stores that I use regularly, two for my staples and three for specialty items. This may seem like a lot but I don't usually go to all 5 stores at once, and each store has its strengths. The stores with staples give me great deals on produce and household items whereas the specialty stores carry my favorite "luxury" items, often at lower prices than the mainstream stores. The great thing about shopping in the same places is that you become very familiar with the inventory and pricing, and that makes it easy to compare prices and keep track of deals. Additionally, all of these stores are close to each other (and home) so it's easy to combine trips and save on gas.

Third, check the discount bins. Every store has those items that are marked down for quick sale. Some are discontinued items, some have been in the store too long (and the manager's making space) and some are simply close to the sell-by date. Food on the sell-by date is still good; it's just that the store can't legally sell it past that date. Dairy items like milk and yogurt can be stored up to a week past the sell-by date, and frozen for several months. The same is true for meats. And often, those items are discounted by a great deal. And it's not just food items, I've purchased laundry detergent, vitamins and even shampoo from the discount bins.

Fourth, buy for your lifestyle. Whole bunches of broccoli and large bags of chips are cheaper than their precut, individually packaged counterparts. However, if you are more likely to eat the precut broccoli, then buy the precut broccoli. Saving money doesn't end at checkout. What happens to the food, once it leaves the store, is equally as important. You may spend less in-store but if the food goes bad, that's money down the drain. If you live alone, the individual servings might cost more in-store but save you money in the long run because you have less waste and spoilage.

Fifth, take advantage of the store loyalty cards. Many stores have online coupons that can be downloaded directly to the shopper's card. There's no fumbling with coupons at checkout, just grab the items in store then swipe the card for a discount. Plus, a lot of these loyalty cards now offer discounts on gas so, even if the card doesn't save you on groceries, it will cost a lot less to truck them around.

Sixth, share your groceries. Some items are just cheaper in bulk but one person (or family) can only use so much. Splitting the cost with someone else means you both get the items you need, but at half the cost.

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