How to Maximize Coupon Savings in Canada
There really is a technique if you want to maximize coupon savings in Canada. Call it extreme couponing or just smart couponing, it is possible to get items for free or really cheap in Canada! It takes a bit of practice, but I’m sure you’ll have fun trying! After all, saving money is fun!
Let’s get going on the secrets that will help you maximize coupon savings in Canada, shall we?
Start Slow
You’re most likely itching to start using coupons right away on as many items as you possibly can to see how much you can save. It’s great to be excited!
However, if you start this way, you’re going to quickly overwhelm yourself and quite possibly, not see any significant savings on your grocery bill! Not to mention, you’ll likely purchase items you never intended on buying, only because you had coupons to use.
Sure, you only paid $2.99 for an Air Wick air freshener, but it won’t get used because some members of your family are sensitive to strong scents, for example.
This is not smart couponing because you are most likely spending extra money on items you’ll never use, since you’re just so excited to use those coupons. 🙂
Start out by gathering only a small collection of coupons from coupon sources like Save.ca, webSaver.ca or this list on Simply Frugal. Organize them into a small coupon organizer, so you can easily find the coupons you need, when you need them.
Using Coupons takes Planning
Are you ready for the number one secret to maximize coupon savings? Use your coupons when an item hits a rock bottom sale price. You want to be looking for items that are a good price even before coupons come into play. And, of course, items that are also liked by you and your family.
How do you find the sales? Check out your weekly store flyers that come in your local newspaper or find the store flyers online. I like to use the Flipp app or the Reebee App.
Start making a shopping list with the deals you can use your coupons on.
Once you’ve become more comfortable with matching your coupons with deals, start collecting more coupons from some of the coupon sources I’ve outlined in this post.
Use Price Matching to your Advantage
Many stores in Canada offer a price match guarantee. They’ll match the advertised sale price of any competitive retailer as long as it is the exact same item and in the current sale period. They’ll even accept coupons on top!
Here is a list of Canadian retailers that price match in Canada:
- Best Buy
- Staples
- The Source
- The Home Depot
- Lowe’s
- Rona
- Leon’s
- The Brick
- No Frills
- FreshCo
- Giant Tiger
- Maxi
- Real Canadian Superstore
- Canadian Tire
- Toys R Us
- PetSmart
Remember There Will Always be Another Sale
Stores run sales in a cyclical manner. The cycles last anywhere from 6 – 12 weeks. Sometime during the sale cycle, any particular item will be at its highest price and at its lowest price. You’ll want to use your coupons when an item is priced at its lowest.
I would recommend you start a price book to track your store cycles. Use a small notebook to record the prices of things you buy most often each week for 6 – 12 weeks. You’ll start to see when you should stock up on the items you need.
It’s Okay to Not Hit Every Deal
Couponing takes a lot of time if you’re going to hit up every deal you possibly can. Time is money. Instead, I recommend that you focus on the best deals that week for the items you need. For example, if you already have 10 sticks of deodorant but are nearly out of laundry detergent, prioritize the laundry deals over the deodorant deals.
How Much You Spend Matters More than How Much you Save
I’ve said this many times, but what you spend is definitely way more important than how much you save. A 55% savings might be impressive, but the 45% you actually spent is what matters the most, since what you spend comes out of your pocket!
If you’re consistently going over your grocery budget every week, by trying to save money on items you may not necessarily need, you’re pushing yourself farther away from any financial goals you have set for yourself. Stick to your grocery budget, even when that means passing up good deals, and you’ll see your bank account grow and your debt get smaller!
What are your tips to maximize coupon savings? What are your favourite deals to snap up?
Here are the other posts in the How to Coupon in Canada Series:
London Drugs will also price match a competitor’s flyer.
As well, if you purchase an item and find it at a lower advertised price within 30 days after your purchase, London Drugs will refund the difference. There are some conditions and exceptions.
If you have a $5 coupon but the item you want to buy is $10 can you use the coupon and just pay the difference?
Hi Debbie, Yes you can use the coupon and only pay the difference! However, keep in mind you will still be paying taxes for the full regular price of the product. Hope this helps!
Thank you, I like the way you coupon . We still keep to a ( somewhat) buget and also leave some on the shelf for others. Thanks
And what binder do you find works best for organizing coupons? Thanks 🙂
I use a zippered binder that I picked up from Walmart. You can see the details of my binder in this post: http://simplyfrugal.wpengine.com/2011/06/my-new-coupon-binder-system/ Hope that helps!