by Rebecca Adele Scarlett

Created on: October 05, 2010

Losing an income to go on maternity leave-just when I needed the money most for baby expenses-has turned me into a very resourceful money-saver. And coupons have been a huge part of that. It is possible to save twenty dollars or more on every shopping trip, but it takes effort. As they say, time equals money. What this means is, if you spend the time, you won't have to spend the money! In order to get the most out of your coupon-clipping, however, you need to be organized.

Check the Paper

Saturday and Sunday newspapers often have coupons, as well as all the flyers for what is on sale that week. Stores will often not let you combine store coupons with sales, but manufacturer coupons can be combined with sales, as they manufacturer reimburses the store. Clip coupons for things you need to buy, but avoid clipping coupons for things you never buy just because there is a coupon. Remember, if you save fifty cents off a name brand, but the generic brand is a dollar fifty cheaper, that coupon is costing you a dollar, not saving you fifty cents!

Check Coupon Sites Regularly

There are many sites with free printable coupons, and even sites that will mail coupons to you for free! Don't forget to sign up for newsletters from your favourite brands - these often show up in your email inbox with coupons and great deals, just for giving your email address. The same wisdom goes for online coupons as newspaper coupons - don't be tempted by coupons for things you don't need or can't afford if you're really strapped for cash!

Organize, Organize, Organize

There's nothing worse than running out of a household staple, then realizing that your 2 for 1 coupon expired yesterday! While you need to find a system that works for you, having envelopes labelled with either expiry date, or coupon type (groceries, household products, baby products, etc) with the soon to expire ones at the front, will help you avoid wasting your hard work! Keep your coupon envelopes handy when making your shopping list, and put a star next to the items you have a coupon for, as well as directions for redeeming the coupon (for example, write "get two" beside an item if you need to buy two to get the discount.) That way, you won't get to the register to realize that you need to go back to an aisle and grab another product, or foget to give the coupon to the cashier!

Enlist the Help of Friends

Not everyone uses the same brands you do, and not everyone cuts coupons. Trade coupons on a regular basis, or ask if your friends can save theirs for you instead of tossing them out. Try a coupon board in the staff room at work, or a "take a coupon, leave a coupon" jar. Many coupon websites only allow one of a certain coupon per household every 90 days, so ask a friend to order an extra one for you if she doesn't use it herself.

Be Persistent

Pick a day each week to search for coupons, organize them, and plan your shopping trip. Saving twenty dollars per weekly shopping trip adds  up to over one thousand dollars per year! That work is starting to sound worth it, isn't it?

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