by Whitney Levon

Created on: September 23, 2009   Last Updated: July 02, 2011

There has been a lot of talk about extreme couponing lately.  The TLC show of the same name has caused many people to look at how they do their weekly grocery shopping in a new light.  Getting to the point where you pay just a few dollars for $100 worth of groceries takes time and practice.  There are some simple steps that you can take towards saving more.  Eventually, you will be just as good as the professional couponers.

The Internet has changed the world of coupons.  You can visit websites like smartsource.com to print coupons directly from your computer.   If you can’t find the coupons that you want, you may want to send an email to the manufacturer of your favorite food, and them how much you like their product. Many manufacturers will send you coupons or samples along with a thank-you letter.

Compare your prices wisely. Just because an item is on sale does not mean it's the cheapest. Grocery stores are required to list their prices as a price per unit or price per ounce on their signs. Many times the same product in a large container is the one that is cheaper per unit.

If you are willing to try different brands, you may be able to save even more on your weekly grocery shopping.  One brand may be on sale, but another competing brand may have a lower everyday price.  Don’t let the sale signs convince you that you are getting the best deal just because one item is on sale.

Do not be afraid of the store brand items. When you compare labels, the store brands usually have the same ingredients as their brand-name counterpart. For items like sugar, bread, flour, and pasta, your family will never know the difference, and it will save you some cash. Many store brand items come from the same factories as brand name items, so you are essentially getting the exact same product for less.

Do not buy something just because you have a coupon for it. If it wasn't on your grocery list in the first place, you will be spending more money just to save a few cents. Of course, if the coupon is for a new item that you haven't tried before, you may want to go ahead and buy it since you have the coupon. Where consumers get tripped up is buying additional items because the coupon is in their hand, or they buy one brand specifically because of the coupon when another brand is cheaper without it.

Pay attention to your weekly ads and plan your shopping around them. Make a separate list for the different stores in your area and do your shopping accordingly. It may take you three trips to different stores, but if you live in an area where the stores are relatively close together, you won't be wasting gas to do this. You can save a lot of money buy buying only the things that are on sale at each store rather than picking one store where you will end up paying full price for half of your grocery list.

Lastly, there are lots of online communities where people share their tricks to getting the best deal.  Sites like hotcouponworld.com have forums and discussion boards that show the best printable coupons and items that can be purchased for nearly free on line.  It is a great place for beginners to learn the tricks of the couponing trade.

All shoppers learn their own tricks along the way, and so will you.  It takes some hard work and lots of patience, but the pay-off is more money in your pocket that your family can use for bills, clothes, or even a family vacation.

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