How to Coupon Without Going Crazy

Somewhere between extreme couponing and not using coupons at all, lies a sweet spot: A place where you can save serious money on groceries without devoting your life to clipping coupons. Whether you’re a couponing newbie or simply wanting to save more on your weekly shopping trips, this advice is for you. 

Please note that the first three tips require Betty Crocker membership. But don’t panic—signing up is fast, easy and free, plus it opens doors to all kinds of cool things like free sample opportunities, calendar giveaways, sweepstakes and so much more. Become a Betty Member here and get ready to seize the deals!

1.  Print coupons at home from BettyCrocker.com.

On the Betty Crocker coupons page, there are five exclusive print-at-home offers for General Mills products that run each and every Thursday. There is also a large selection of monthly coupons available for both General Mills and partner products, about 100+ any given month. The Thursday coupons are limited in quantity and go fast, so remember to check back to nab the newest deals. (Set up an alert on your calendar or phone is a good way to remind yourself!) For the monthly coupons, simply choose the coupons you want and print. Easy as pie.
 

2.  Work your grocery store loyalty card.

Good news for shoppers with grocery-store loyalty cards: When you’re a Betty Member, you can link your card to deals available on our site, allowing you to load coupons directly to your card, no clipping or printing required. When you check out, simply hand your card over and boom, instant savings. Cool right? Nearly 50 food retailers from around the country participate in this program; find out if your store is one of them here and start saving.
 

3.  Shop around the smart way.

Back in the day, shopping around meant driving (or calling) around to find out the most competitive price. Fast-forward to today, and you can now compare in-store specials and sales from the comfort of your couch or desk chair. From fresh produce to meat, dairy staples to frozen foods, this super-handy tool scours the internet to bring you a list of what’s on sale at grocery and big-box stores near you. Use the tool to plan your weekly menu, and you’re bound to save big. Scope out what sales are happening in your neighborhood here.
 

4.  Look for coupons everywhere.

In order to seize the best deals, you have to know where to find coupons. The good news is they’re practically everywhere! Here are some of my go-to destinations for finding grocery coupons: 

• Newspaper inserts: Pick up the Sunday paper for the biggest selection.
• Magazines: Cooking magazines, home magazines and money-saving magazines will often feature grocery coupons.
• In-store coupon booklets: Always, always, always grab a coupon booklet when you enter the grocery store. Typically, these booklets will list items that are on sale and don’t require a coupon, as well as coupons for other items.
• Site-exclusive coupons: If you buy a particular food item over and over, check out the brand’s website for coupons. You can also sign up for the brand’s email list, which will open up another opportunity for coupons.
• On store shelves: When combing the aisles, pay attention to pop-out coupons machines. 

5.  Stay organized.

Now here’s the rub: Your couponing efforts will be a complete waste of time if you are not organized. And an expired coupon is a missed opportunity. My advice? Organize your coupons by expiration date in a specially designed coupon holder. Keep them in your purse or in your car so you don’t forget them at home. (Been there, done that, it’s not fun.) And don’t forget to look at your coupons before you make your weekly grocery list so you can plan meals around what you’ll be saving on. 

Do you coupon? If so, how do you strike a balance between extreme and sane couponing?