Need help getting started with coupons? Here is what you need to know to shave 50%-90% off your grocery bill. I know that couponing does take some time. I like to think of it like this, say you spend one hour clipping coupons and you save $50 at the grocery store. That is like you made $50 an hour-doesn’t that sound nice!

There are two main principles to saving money at the grocery store. The first is to combine coupons with already low sale prices. Save coupons until the item you want to buy is on sale. You will need multiple coupons for the same item. You can get more coupons from friends, by using coupon websites or by buying multiple copies of the Sunday paper. It is also helpful to have an even number of coupons when stores offer buy one get one free. You can usually use one coupon per item. Plus most stores let you combine one store coupon and one manufacture coupon. Some stores even take competitor’s coupons. 

Product prices are on a 6-8 week cycle on average, which leads us to our second principle-stockpiling. Now I am not talking about hoarding. Stockpiling is stocking up on items that are at rock bottom prices or free so that you don’t have to pay full price ever again. You need to buy when that product is the cheapest and stock up for the cycle. Remember you need to use your coupons on those sale prices when stockpiling. 

Be sure to keep your stockpile organized. Be sure to store items in your pantry with the one that will expire first in the front. Also, keep a good inventory of what you have. Once you have built up a supply of items, you will only need to buy things when they are on sale. A good point to remember, you don’t need 6 years worth of pasta that will expire before you can use it. This is where stockpiling can lead into hoarding! 

Another thing to remember, if you find yourself with lots of food that you aren’t using-be sure to donate it to someone that will use it. Lots of local churches and organizations have weekly food banks with long lines every week (Bluffton Self Help and the Church of the Cross to name a few).

Some other coupon tips:

• Cut out all coupons from an insert. Save them by expiration date.
• Make a menu for the week based on sale items. Don’t plan to eat chicken when stores don’t have chicken on sale.
• Give up brand loyalty. Be willing to use a coupon and get stuff cheap even if you don’t use that brand.