I’m a firm believer that coupons can save you quite a bit of money on your grocery bill each week. I know many of you already use coupons so you know the benefits. But perhaps others of you aren’t sure how to use coupons effectively, don’t see the benefit in using them or don’t know where to find them.
Over the next couple of posts in this series, I hope to dispel any of your hesitations when it comes to coupon use.
Let’s get started with the excuses. I’ve heard many excuses in the time I’ve started using coupons from people explaining why they should be exempt from this money saving tactic.
Excuse #1: A $0.50 coupon is hardly worth it
This may be true, but say you have 10 coupons with you, you’ve just saved yourself $5.00 on your grocery bill! Better yet, there are many coupons out there that are worth more than $0.50.
But the real secret to saving with coupons? Combine a coupon with a fantastic sale price. I have a basket full of Venus and Fusion razors that I snagged for about $1 each thanks to a great sale price and $5 off coupons that I had! (those coupons are no longer available 
) Not to mention the $14 air fresheners I got for work that cost me a grand total of $0.97 each after combining a $7 off coupon and a sale price! Maybe you can now see why coupons are so popular right now? 
Many companies are really stepping up to the coupon plate by offering coupons for a completely free product. Take for example, the Kellogg’s Wake Up to Free Breakfast promotion I posted about.
My goal is to only use coupons with great sale prices, but I occasionally use a coupon on a regular priced item if I absolutely need that item right away.
Excuse #2: I don’t eat processed food
In case you didn’t realize, not all coupons are for processed food. You’ll find a ton of coupons for toothpaste, toilet paper, baking ingredients, soap, pain killers, milk, pet food, makeup, household cleaners and more on Simply Frugal!
Unless you’re a family who is entirely self-sufficient by growing your own food, making all your personal care and household items, I think everyone can benefit from the coupons available in Canada.
I bet there are at least 10 items on your grocery list that you could get for much less if you used coupons!
Also remember that there are many food banks that would gladly accept the food items that you were able to get really cheap if your family doesn’t eat a particular product!
Excuse #3: It takes too much time
The thought of adding something new to your never ending to-do list can be a bit daunting. But trust me, coupons don’t have to take a lot of time!
I personally only spend at the most a 1/2 hour each week gathering the coupons I’m going to use for my shopping trip.
Each time a new coupon insert comes in my local newspaper, I only cut out the coupons I know I’ll use, which is usually not that many. Since we don’t have pets, there’s no point in me cutting those ones out! Every time sites like Save.ca, Websaver.ca and Brandsaver.ca update their coupons, again, I only order the ones I’ll use. I organize them all into a coupon holder I picked up at the dollar store, which then goes into my purse. This way, I always have my coupons along in case I come across an unadvertised sale.
Here at Simply Frugal, I try to make it easy for you to find all the current Canadian coupons. Once a week, on Saturday’s, I compile posts matching up coupons to sale prices I find in the major Canadian store flyers, which should also help out a ton!
Over the next couple of posts, I’ll be telling you where to find Canadian coupons, tips on organizing them and how to maximize their benefits!
Missed the last posts in the series? Here they are:
- Trim your Grocery Bill – Commit to Make a Change
- Trim your Grocery Bill – Sneaky Ways Grocery Stores get you to Spend More
- Trim your Grocery Bill – You Need a Grocery Budget
- Trim your Grocery Bill – Menu Planning will Save your Budget and your Sanity
- Trim your Grocery Bill – Tips for Successful Menu Planning, Part 1
- Trim your Grocery Bill – Tips for Successful Menu Planning, Part 2
- Trim your Grocery Bill – Start Building a Stockpile
- Trim your Grocery Bill – Don’t be Brand Dependent
- Trim your Grocery Bill – Shop at More than One Store
- Trim your Grocery Bill – Look for Markdowns
- Trim your Grocery Bill – Buy in Season
Always looking to save some money on my grocery bill.
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