Why I can save so much with coupons

Since I have been "accused" of "stealing" my purchases and my husband has been told "No way!" by said person, but said person won't post any comments I would like to explain a few things.

One of the reasons I can do so well saving money is I get multiples of the same coupon. And I don't mean just buying 2 or 4 papers. I have actually gone out and purchased 8 papers at once and I also will get a lot more on the Internet if it is a coupon I know I will use a lot of (like Betty Crocker fruit roll ups, Yoplait yogurt), plus we have 4 computers that I can print from here in my house (which in most cases I get 2 prints from one computer).

Another key to saving money with coupons is using them correctly. By using them correctly I mean knowing WHEN to use them. When the manufacturers put out a coupon they know that the item is more likely to be purchased that week the coupon comes out. However usually within 4 weeks of them putting out a coupon the item will go on sale. The key is knowing when to use a coupon and when to wait. Just because an item is marked "sale" doesn't mean it is at a good price. Sometimes they will lower an item by $.10 and call that a "SALE" and profit statements show that by putting a "sale" sticker on an item it will increase sales.

I was doing a secret shop one day and was talking to a manager at Harris Teeter. He told me that they have these dinners in the freezer section and the normal price is $.99 each. Sometimes the run a "promotion" of 5/$5 of this particular item, yes raising it a penny. He said the sales jump on this item when they do this. That shows people just don't pay attention to these trends.
Some coupon experts will say to keep a "Price Book" of all the normal items you buy and to make note of which stores have the lowest price and to also jot down when it goes on sale and for how much. Sometimes items will go on sale and only be marked down (or up in some cases) by mere pennies, other times it will go BOGO, or even better. And even Buy One Get One free isn't always the best price. A good example is the Progresso Soup I bought yesterday. I knew before I walked out the door that Harris Teeter will be having them go BOGO starting tomorrow. I went to my local HT and found that the normal price is $2.89 which means even BOGO it will still be $1.45 each. I knew at Lowes Foods they were 4/$5 ($1.25) with a store coupon they have sitting at the front door when you enter the store. I also found Target has a $1/2 store coupon that can be used with manufacture coupon of $.50/2 and they are $1.99 each there, which still only brings them down to about where Lowes Foods is selling them (and I can still get my coupon doubled at LF). A price book is a good idea if you are that organized. I personally am not (my husband can attest to that!). But I also have a very good memory for these things so I choose not to keep one.

I am also sure that some people are thinking-Well I can't be bothered to run from store to store scarfing up these bargains. And I can understand that. Really I only shop Harris Teeter and CVS with the occasional Rite Aid, Walgreens (Wags) and Lowes Foods sprinkled in. I don't even frequent CVS all the time. I hadn't been there in a month or two during the summer. I have lots of HBA stuff, and that is what I go to CVS for. I only go to Rite Aid and Wags when stuff is Free After Rebate. I have a list of stuff that I will not pay for.

This list includes:
Toothpaste

toothbrushes
Shampoo
Conditioner
Shaving Cream
Body Wash

deodorant
Boxes Side Dishes (rice a roni, potatoes)
Rice

cat treats

Window Cleaner

Counter/Kitchen surface Cleaner

Laundry pretreater

All of these are free either after a rebate, ecb or double coupons (even some without doubling).