Back when she was a mere amateur coupon clipper, Amy Paulus recalls being happy when she snipped 15 percent off her grocery bill. Now a pro, she feels like a failure if she doesn’t save at least 90 percent.
On a recent trip to Dominick’s, Paulus used 47 coupons to cart off 20 bottles of Ken’s salad dressing, eight bottles of Windex, six packages of Oscar Mayer hot dogs, nine packages of Kool-Aid, 10 packages of Trident gum, as well as several bags of chips, assorted fruits and vegetables.
She spent just under $14 — and left with a store coupon worth $20 off on her next order. And that wasn’t even her best effort.
On another trip — and they’re organized like military expeditions — she paid $1.40 for food worth $243.02 (and has the receipt to prove it).
“It’s kind of like an addiction and a hobby,” says Paulus, 36, of Huntley. “Once you’re used to getting stuff for free, you don’t want to pay for it.”
At a time when many Americans are struggling financially, her brand of extreme coupon clipping can be a survival skill.
Evidence of the coupon craze can be seen in the number of new members at couponmom.com, a Web site offering coupons and tips. The Web site added 500,000 members in the past year, bringing total membership to 750,000, said Stephanie Nelson of Atlanta, the site’s founder.
Paulus says she spent $900 last year on food and household products for herself and the two other members of her family — Scott Chaffee and their 5-year-old son.
A former nanny, Paulus started perfecting her coupon skills when she quit her job after her son was born.
“I thought if I couldn’t make money, I could save money,” Paulus said.
Her first eureka moment came when she learned that coupons often are issued for products on sale for the same amount as the coupon discount, making them free.
A certain toothbrush brand, for example, might be on sale for $1, but with a $1-off coupon, it’s free.
More shoppers are using coupons these days but Paulus’ style of shopping is rare, said Melissa Robbins, a Dominick’s spokeswoman.
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Coupon tips
1. Stockpile coupons. Ask your neighbors, friends or family to give you unused coupons so you can make the most of deals, such as “buy one, get one free.”
2. Combine store coupons with manufacturer coupons. Store coupons also can be found in the weekly store flier as well as at the store’s corporate online site.
3. Pay attention to the coupons, called “catalinas,” that come with grocery store receipts. They will shave dollars off your next purchase or give you something free.
4. Buy in large quantities when the deal is great and the item is not perishable.
5. Some stores in Illinois will accept expired coupons. Check your store’s coupon policy.
6. Be brand-flexible. Buy the brand that’s on sale with a coupon.
7. Shop once a week or less. It reduces impulse shopping.
8. Learn how to use drugstore-savings programs. It allows you to combine sale prices, store and manufacturer coupons with rebates to get free merchandise.
Sources: Amy Paulus and Jill Cataldo at supercouponing.com, and Stephanie Nelson at CouponMom.com.
