Everyday Cheapskate

A recent column about couponing produced a lot of mail. I recommended The Coupon Clippers as a way to choose the grocery coupons that you want and need, instead of taking a chance that you'll find them in the Sunday paper or elsewhere. I learned that you want to learn how to use manufacturer, store-issued, electronic and printable coupons effectively and that you are confused about where to start and how to turn those suckers into cash savings.

I can identify. Even though I consider myself fairly adept at using coupons to slash my grocery costs, things are changing so quickly that some days, the whole coupon thing gives me a headache.

Recently I visited my neighborhood supermarket's Web site to learn that I can select electronic coupons and have them loaded onto my club card. Downloading coupons, the site gushed, means that when I buy those products on my next shopping trip, I get the savings automatically at checkout, without having to clip, file or print!

That sounds great for the supermarket, but it feels manipulative to me. My way of couponing is about holding coupons until items go on sale. It's called coupon matching. Another method I find effective is stacking a store coupon on top of a manufacturer coupon when an item is on sale. That kind of triple whammy takes a good deal of coordination.

Lots of Web sites have coupons that we can download and print from our home computers. However, some supermarkets are not accepting home-printed coupons because so many have turned out to be fraudulent.

There is no doubt that the world of couponing is getting more complex as manufacturers and retailers scramble to protect their profits while retaining customers.

At the same time, savvy consumers are scrambling to find new and improved ways to make coupons work for them to keep their food costs under control. In the battle of the supermarket, you deserve to come out a winner every time.

If you are looking for a simple yet effective way to get up to speed on using coupons to reduce your grocery costs, I suggest you take a look at the information and products created by Amy Bergin from Georgia. Her invention, called The Couponizer, is a handy, compact system that includes an organizer with 18 category pockets for grocery coupons, which easily will fit into your handbag or your car's glove compartment. It also comes with a compact set of tools you need to get the job done right.

Additionally, Amy has produced a one-hour instructional DVD to teach you the comprehensive information and unique techniques you need to get started saving money on every trip to the supermarket. You can learn more about The Couponizer organizer, the DVD, all of Amy's tools and how to become a "Couponizer Coach" at http://www.couponizer.com.

Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including her latest, "Can I Pay My Credit Card Bill With a Credit Card?" You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. To find out more about Mary Hunt and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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