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Tuesday, September 22, 2009
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Cues and coupons How a Garrison man saves an average of $300 each month Senior Reporter BAXTER - Doug Oswald clipped coupons here and there, but it wasn't until he developed a system and started keeping track that he made a startling realization about how much money he was saving.
Since January, Oswald has tracked his purchases in a notebook, noting the retail price, the discounts from sales, coupons and rebates and the money saved.
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Doug Oswald, Garrison, shopped Monday at Super One Foods in Baxter. Oswald paper clips his shopping list to corresponding coupons and sorts them by store for easy use at the check-out counter. He said the money saved by going through newspapers for coupons adds up to about $300 per month. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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It's added up to $2,620.50 cents. That's about $300 per month.
And he says anyone can do it.
His system is simple. Every Sunday he buys the Brainerd Dispatch and the Star Tribune and looks for coupons as he reads. He clips the desired coupons and sorts them into envelopes with labels such as food, gas, fast food and household. He keeps the coupon in a package in his van.
In time for shopping day, Oswald matches the coupons to the shopping list hanging from a refrigerator magnet. He paper clips the coupons together by store along with his shopping list for each store where he plans to stop. And he sticks a 3M Post-it note on his dash to outline his stops in order to be most efficient.
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Doug Oswald, Garrison, has a system for saving money, thousands of dollars a year. He clips coupons, divides them into categories and matches them against his grocery list before planning a shopping trip. Since January, Oswald estimates he has saved about $2,620 by using coupons and looking for discounted items. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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In the first two months of using his system, Oswald tracked $633 in savings.
That grew to $1,233 by the end of April. Oswald's tips were featured on a KARE 11 segment for "snip and save" ideas.
Most people think the coupons save just a few cents and aren't worth the time and hassle, Oswald said.
"People would really be surprised at how much they are going to save and they don't take the time to do it, but it's nothing," Oswald said, noting people easily spend many more hours just watching TV.
He estimates he spends about an hour on Sundays on the coupons. Oswald said his friends used to razz him saying "you and your coupons." With the coupon savings, Oswald said he is making about $75 an hour.
"Where are you going to go find a part-time job at your kitchen table making $75 an hour?" he asked.
Oswald said he cringes when he sees young families with several kids go through the grocery check-out with a full cart and no coupons.
"I just shake my head and say 'wow,'" he said.
Oswald said the savings are there for products and name brands people are buying anyway. Oswald walks through all the aisles looking for unadvertised sales.
By combining store savings with manufacturer coupons, Oswald was able to buy his favorite cereals Kellogg's Mini-Wheats and Raisin Bran Crunch for $1.20 per box.
Oswald and his wife, Liz, live in Garrison. They estimate they do 90 percent of their shopping in Brainerd and Baxter. Liz Oswald said the savings were surprising when her husband starting keeping track of the numbers.
While shopping at Super One Foods in Baxter Monday, Oswald used reward points he earned to get six free 20-ounce bottles of Coke. He earned the coupons by keeping track of codes in Coca-Cola bottle tops and in 12-pack cartons online at mycokerewards.com. On this trip, Oswald spent $8.26 and saved $15.29 for a 67 percent savings.
He keeps track of his purchases at Menards. The store offers to pay the difference if a store item goes on sale within 30 days of the purchase. He said Walmart, Super One Foods and Cub Foods are all great when it comes to double coupon days - days when a customer may receive an additional discount on a single coupon. He also looks for opportunities to combine store coupons with discounts from manufacturers.
Lloyd Warren, store director at Super One Foods in Baxter, said in the last year with the recession many more people are using coupons. The grocery store put up an automated coupon dispenser with a touch screen inside the entrance and added printable store and manufacturer coupons on its Web site.
Oswald's friends tell him he should put together a weekly newsletter on bargains. He has offered to share his tips and talk to senior centers.
"It's so doggone easy," he said. "The thing I really stress is there is a lot of money to be saved on things you already purchase."
RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
Money-saving tips
Get organized, make a commitment, clip the coupons and plan your trip.
Take a shopping list. Avoid impulse buys unless it's an unadvertised bargain.
Look through your coupons each week and throw out expired ones.
Keep the coupons in your vehicle so they are handy to use.
Clip gas coupons and check with stations, many honor coupons from other stations.
Combine store and manufacturer coupons for bigger discounts.
Look at reward perks that let you build points and earn discounts for everything from office supplies to pop.
Don't be afraid to ask for a discount when buying with cash, which saves the seller from paying a credit card fee.
If you don't need it, don't buy it just because there is a coupon.
For bigger purchases, consult Consumer Reports for recommendations.
Watch as items go through the check-out to make sure discounts are applied and check the receipt before leaving. As a bonus, the receipt often comes with a coupon on it.
Check on special day discounts, such as one-day sales or senior days.
Cheap isn't always better. Make sure to check sizes/ounces to see if the coupon is really saving you money. Sometimes it is better to wait for a sale price than to buy one/get one free. Check the shelf price tag to see the "price per ounce."
Look for reduced prices on meat. Bargains may be available for meat nearing its expiration date, which still will be good for a meal that night or frozen using a FoodSaver vacuum sealer for later consumption.
Bread bargains may be available at bread stores when looking at buying in bulk for a party or getting bread that is close to its expiration date for quick use or to freeze for later.
Save receipts for at least 30 days to take care of returns or price adjustments.
Check the Internet for additional coupons.
Shop with a friend and take turns driving.
- Source: Doug Oswald, Garrison
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