Following the Great Recession, it seemed liked extreme couponing was a competitive sport—even featured on reality TV shows. Armed with binders full of clipped coupons and an in-depth knowledge of stores’ policies, people would get incredible discounts at the checkout counter. Dollars dropped off their total as one coupon after another got scanned and they’d celebrate when the cashier announced the total.
Extreme couponing may not be as popular today, but the Recession gave many people an appreciation for living a frugal lifestyle. That’s a good thing. Living within one’s means is a core tenant of practicing good financial habits.
Couponing can help you achieve this goal, let you build your savings and free up room in your budget for other expenditures. However, as with most things in life, you want to try and find a healthy balance. In other words, you can look for ways to coupon without the extreme.
Make the most out of your couponing. Whether you’re on your weekly grocery run or making a major purchase, a discount can always be helpful. However, be wary of buying products you don’t regularly need or use simply because you have a coupon or there’s a sale.
Some people might choose to avoid temptation by looking for coupons after the items are in their cart. With a smartphone in hand, coupon apps, supermarket apps and manufacturer’s apps are all at your fingertips to look for savings while you’re waiting to check out.
Another option, that might require a bit more time and strategy, could be to plan your meals for the week ahead of time. You can write down your shopping list and spend five or ten minutes looking for applicable coupons before heading to the store (some apps can help you do this as well). You might also choose to look at the coupons available and plan your meals for the week based off of what’s on sale. No matter what tactics you use, the point is to save money on items that you will use, not to purchase unnecessary merchandise simply because it’s discounted.
There are also ways to save money that don’t require a lot of time, effort or coupons. Stock up on items that last a long time, such as frozen foods or household goods, when they’re on sale or you’re at a warehouse store (if the large portion offers relative savings). Also make a habit of buying generic rather than name-brand products when it makes sense for you. Then, consider lifestyle changes that might take a little time upfront, but then save you money month after month.
Invest your time proportionately to the potential saving. The time investment that an attempt at extreme couponing can require doesn’t always match the potential savings. For example, if it takes you an hour to hunt down coupons and comparison shop, and you only saved $1.50 on your groceries, it probably wasn’t worth the time commitment.
Perhaps you could multitask and hunt for coupons while watching a favorite TV show, in which case you’re saving money when you wouldn’t have otherwise. But you could also look for ways to save (or make) more than $1.50 with your hour.
A less extreme method is to consider the potential savings and spend a proportional amount of time researching products and looking for savings opportunities. But many people don’t take this approach. A survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Zillow in 2016 found that on average, people spent eight hours researching mortgages or mortgage refinancing; 11 hours researching a new car or truck; and four hours researching a new phone, tablet or TV. Almost a fifth of those surveyed spent an hour or less shopping for their home mortgage.
It makes sense to spend a lot of time learning about and comparing options before making major purchases, such as a home or car — a small change in your mortgage’s interest rate could save or cost you tens of thousands of dollars. Comparing two new phones could save a few hundred dollars when it comes time to purchase.
Even smaller recurring savings, such as the previously mentioned grocery runs, can certainly add up in the long run. If you’ve got a tried-and-true method that’s working for you, go for it. Just make sure you get a good return on the time and effort you put in.
If you find joy in the hunt that’s okay too. There are always exception and there are times when putting the extreme in couponing makes perfect sense. For example, there are extreme couponers who view their interest and practice as a hobby rather than solely as a way to save money. They’re couponing because it can be enjoyable to hunt for deals. While most hobbies cost money — this is one that could actually lead to savings.
There are even extreme couponers who figure out ways to get free products by stacking sales with the stores’ and manufacturers’ coupons. Then they donate all the free products to a local charity. It’s a win-win for the couponer and those in need.
Bottom line: While saving money is important, and can be fun, try not to become so enthralled by potential savings that you lose sight of the purpose — to spend less money on products or services you want or need. If you are going to invest your time in money-saving endeavors, make sure you can potentially get a good return on your investment.
Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PracticalMoney
This article is intended to provide general information and should not be considered legal, tax or financial advice. It's always a good idea to consult a legal, tax or financial advisor for specific information on how certain laws apply to you and about your individual financial situation.