The key to being a great couponer is knowing when to use your coupons. Anytime is a good time to use a coupon but for the best bang for your buck you should always combine a sale and a coupon together.
Once you have your coupons collected and organized it is time to shop! To prepare for you first coupon shopping trip there are a few steps you should follow.
Know The Policy
Find out which stores in your area accept coupons. Many of the big name stores such as Walmart, Zellers, No Frills, FreshCo, London Drugs and Canadian Tire all have Coupon Policies in order. It is also important to know which types of coupons are accepted (Eg. mail to home, printable, FPCs). You can find out if your store accepts coupons by checking our Canadian Store Coupon & Price Matching Policies list.
Find Your Deals
Visit the SaveaLoonie.com Coupon Price Match-Ups to find the best deals available that week. You may also want to browse the flyers yourself for any items that you may need that are not listed or deals specific to your province. Circle the deals that you want to get – this will finding them later much easier!
Make The List
Make a list of all the items you are planning to purchase. Pay special attention to write down the quantity, product information (size, flavour), sale price and store where the sale is located. Also be sure to indicate if you will be using a coupon on that item.
Go Shopping!
Gather up your store flyers, list and coupons. Always double check that you have everything you will need before heading to the store! It is also a good idea NOT to shop during peak hours. It will make your checkout much less stressful if there aren’t 10 people in line behind you!
Pick out all of the items on your list. I suggest organizing your cart by placing items that you have coupons for together and separate from items that don’t. This will make check out go smoother. It is also wise to arrange your cart with items being Price Matched from the same store all together so you aren’t flipping between flyers.
Check Out
Before the transaction has begun inform the cashier that you will be using coupons. It is always best to ask the cashier how and when they would like your coupons (Eg. along with the products or all at the end). Each cashier has their own preference and it will make things less confusing this way. I also recommend that you do all of the items with coupons at either the beginning or the end of your transaction.
One last piece of advice before you embark on your first couponing journey:
Start small. Don’t expect to save 98% on your first time out. Even seasoned couponers can get butterflies at checkout. When starting out, try using 2 or 3 coupons at a time. Build up your knowledge base and your confidence before going for the big scores.
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