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Coupon: It's now a verb, and it can save you big time.
Coupons. We all get them. And most of the time, we toss them out. But in this economy, that's a big mistake. Like everything else, couponing has changed a lot in the past few years; today you can get them online, delivered via email, and even onto your cell phone. There's a lot to know. Alabama twenty-something, Aubrey Nix, has made it her mission to teach other women the art of couponing through her website, Eastern Shore Mom. When I first heard about the site, I reacted like you might: What's the big deal? They're just coupons. Wrong! Coupons are no longer just for a few cents or dollars off at your local grocery store; nowadays, most major retailers send out coupons that can lead to huge savings. Retailers like Barnes & Noble to Macy's to Bed Bath & Beyond have a variety of coupons available to customers. The New York Times reports that coupons have grown in popularity in the past few years and oddley enough, are now more popular in more affluent households than less. For many retailers, coupons drive business, making couponing truly a win-win situation for both shoppers and retailers. "Couponing is so different than it used to be," says Nix. "I can remember using an accordion file, clipping coupons on Sunday, and going to the grocery store hoping that what I was buying had a coupon for it." While saving money is an obvious benefit to couponing, Nix says that the greatest benefit comes from “taking control of your life again.” “Things that you thought were 'necessary' expenses all of a sudden become controllable," she says. "Say your grocery bill was always more than $100, well now, by knowing how to use coupons strategically you can shrink a bill you thought was unshrinkable.” Nix learned the value of saving money at a very young age. When she started her own family, she implemented the same values she learned from her parents. Nix says on her site: “I will admit that sometimes it is an obsession and fault but most of the time it is a great hobby, past-time, and life skill.” Her friends and family soon began turning to her for information about the deals she was finding. Then, in April 2009, when her e-mail list grew too large to manage, she launched EasternShoreMom.com.
Her “frugal lifestyle” was also popular among friends, who shared her site with others. As word got out, it became the go-to source for deals. “It is such a great feeling to be helping people and do what I love to do at the same time,” Nix says. With the success of her site, Nix decided to take it a step further and began teaching couponing classes. Last October, she started teaching classes with Shannon Dunderson, owner of BargainBuggyBlog.com. They started out teaching small groups and in-home coupon parties. Now, their Frugal Fiestas attract anywhere from 30-75 participants per class. To date, they have taught more than 1,000 people the art of couponing. Class participants learn everything that there is to know about couponing. And when classes end, the instruction doesn’t. Nix even offers free after-class, on-call support. But you don't need a class to get started. Nix notes that anybody can save money by couponing. "Take it slow, start with one store and get good at it then add on another," she says. " Have fun with it and make it a game. Many of my readers are saving 50 percent to 80 percent on their grocery bill and are having a blast while doing it!” Sounds like a good deal to us. SOME RETAIL-INSIDER TIPS Need to make a purchase at a specific store and want a coupon? Go online. Many retailer websites provide coupons to print out right on their site. Others might require you to sign up for store e-mails. If this is the case and you're worried about flooding your inbox, create an e-mail address specifically for coupons or store e-mails (AOL, Gmail and Yahoo are all free to sign up). Trust me, if you shop somewhere frequently, it'll be well worth it. When stores ask you for a phone number or e-mail address, give it! When I ask customers for this information, many are hesitant. But they but don't realize the benefits. Most retailers (especially nationwide brands), are not looking to sell your information or call you at dinner time. Mainly, they want to send you coupons and information about upcoming sales and promos. When they ask for a phone number, they are not looking to actually call you; they get your contact information via reverse phone number look-up so that they can send you coupons in the mail. Check out your local mall's website. Often times, you will find information about sales going on and even coupons for you to print out! Don't be afraid to ask! If you want to purchase an item but are a little hesitant about the price, don't think you're being rude or cheap in asking a sales associate if the item is or is going to be on sale or promo soon. Trust me, we understand and very used to that question. READ MORE... WNYC.org: Financial 411: The Extreme Sport of Coupon Cutting, by Lisa Chow The Wall Street Journal: Hard Times Turn Coupon Clipping Into the Newest Extreme Sport ClickZ.com: Consumers Warming Up to Mobile Coupons Fiftyshift Retailista Catherine Fisher is a 2010 graduate in the Journalism Program at UMass Amherst, and works at a women's clothing mall store.
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by Catherine Fisher.jpg)
She says she “finds everything about saving money and creative ways to do it so much fun and I am excited to have a place where I can share my frugal lifestyle with everyone.”