Shop By Coupons or Flyer?

[lfw]

I've been trying and trying to save money on groceries. I know the best way to get better deals is to use coupons when the items are on sale, but for instance, this week, the items I need are not on sale but I do have coupons for them. So which is better, to shop based on the store flyer that comes out weekly and hope you have the coupons to go with what's on sale or is it better to shop based on the coupons you have on hand?

[My English Castle]

I think you need to work out a satisfying combination of the two,
Most folks here will advocate a price book so you can see what a good sale price is--then you supplement that good sale price with your coupons.

It also depends on the expiration date. Most coupons are good for at least a month. Try filing them and cross matching them with sales, Then yell "Bingo" loud enough for all of us to hear when that happens!

[marjorie]

I'd suggest you buy only what you need now, but stockpile the item that has a good or great price with coupons now. If you are just getting started, toiletries are a great place to start as they have such an impact and it's so easy to use programs like at Rite-Aid or Walgreen's. HTH

[sweeps]

I used to go the coupons route, but I have to be honest... I've totally been sold on getting the best prices from the flyers. You'll save 30-50% versus just 10-20% that way. Also I'm a big believer in store brands. Sometimes the store brands are inferior, but most of the time the store brand is just as good if not better than the name brand, and it's a heckuva lot cheaper.

If you can use a coupon on top of this strategy, then that's just icing on the cake.

[GoodBuyGirl]

The best way is to match coupon to flyer sales but if you need the product and there are no coupon or sales than check for other options such as store brand.

It's best if you see a coupon for a product you will use to try and find as many of that coupon as possible. Trade use a clipping service ect.
Most things will go on sale sometime before the coupon is expired.
If you already have several coupons for the product you will be ready to stock up at the lowest price.

[lfw]

Thanks for all of your great advice. I went grocery shopping last week and spent $92 on groceries but only paid $57 so I think I'm getting the hang of it. The money saved was a combo of sale items and coupons but I finally got the guts to use multiple coupons for items (like zip loc bags. I had two coupons for .35 that doubled plus another coupon for $1.50 off two ziplocs) I ended up paying .92 cents for each box (I bought 3). I was so pleased when I left the store that day.

[GoodBuyGirl]

Just a little FYI
Walmart has 25 count sandwich bags for $1 by the check outs.
You can use the $1.50/2 and get them for .25 each.