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Several area women have websites offering updates on store deals, analysis of weekly store ads, and ways to combine coupons with other deals to get products for free, or nearly free.
Nicole McDonald of Omaha said she started using coupons to cut expenses after her family's transition from two incomes to one.
“I became a stay-at-home mom four years ago and really wanted to maintain our style of living on our reduced income,” she said. “Within just a few months of consistently couponing, I was saving at least $150 or more on our grocery bill every month. Now I save around 40 percent off every grocery bill, and the coupon savings on staples allow me to splurge on organic produce and food from local farms.”
Her local food pantry also benefits. McDonald said she purchases any item she can get for free or very cheaply with coupons. If her family can't use it, they donate it to the pantry.
Her tips on getting started:
Use your resources, follow money saving/couponing blogs and get organized. Buy a Sunday paper (or two) for the coupons, print coupons online from coupon sites and search the Web sites of your favorite products and stores for more potential savings. For grocery shopping, plan a menu, make a detailed shopping list and pull any coupons you have for items on your list. This way you get all the items you need, reduce in-between shopping trips and buy less impulse items. It's also a good idea to match weekly sales and promotions with coupons and only buy produce that's in season to maximize savings.
Follow McDonald's blog at
www.momsavesmoney.net
A couple other local couponing blogs, and examples of deals they've shared:
Blue Bunny ice cream sandwiches on sale at Wal-Mart, $1. Pair with a $1 coupon to get these for free.
Milkbone Essentials on sale at $2 at PetSmart for reward members. Pair with coupon for $2 off. Final price, free!
thriftymidwestmom.wordpress.com
Hershey or Reese's candy bars 39 cents (with coupon in Walgreen's insert). Sunday paper has coupon offering Reese's dark for 55 cents. Final price: free.
Purina Mighty Dog cans on sale at Kmart for 60 cents. Use the five for $3 coupon from the Sunday paper to get all five cans free.
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