How to Become a Savvy Saver

Catherine Doyle
Zeta Tau Alpha

As college students, we find ourselves in a monetary limbo of sorts.  We are not completely financially dependent on our parents anymore (at least not most of us), but for the most part we are also not entirely financially independent.  Between classes, homework and enjoying the college experience, it is hard to make money and even harder to save it.  I have never found myself so torn between balancing what I want to do versus what I can afford to do as I have been since I started at the University of South Carolina. 

The other day I was flipping channels and stumbled across “Extreme Couponing.” I had heard about the show and knew what it was about, but I was utterly amazed at how much goes into the extreme couponing process and how much these frugal shoppers save.  As I watched, I decided this is something they should teach as a college course in basic life instruction, or at least dedicate one University 101 course to, since they claim it is so “necessary” to acclimating you to college life.  Since this is something you can’t learn in class, I decided to look into it a bit to see if I could pass along the knowledge of these savvy savers. 

Tlc.com had a very helpful article, “10 Extreme Coupon Tips for Normal People” which I have summarized for you below:

Don’t focus on one newspaper - Subscribe to several, and be sure to check out online resources for coupons as well.

Speak the language - This means you should understand the store’s policies, fine print, what the sale or discount actually entails and any possible stipulations.

Stay organized-there are a number of ways to do so based on expiration date of product, by using a baseball card holder or binder.

Have a planned route and know your couponing etiquette - By planning a route and the slowest times at the store, your process will be more efficient and less stressful for everyone involved.  Be sure to be polite and patient with the cashiers and other customers.

Know the store’s policies - You should be able to find the policies online or receive them upon request at the store.

Be prepared to set aside time for the coupon collecting process. 

Make sure you are prepared to buy in bulk - The best way to save is to take advantage of the deals and to buy products while they are cheapest, not when you necessarily need them.  But if you don’t have room for a stockpile, you could always donate what you don’t need to a homeless shelter or other charity in need.

Don’t be afraid to try new brands - While brand loyalty is what advertisers strive for, when couponing you need to take advantage of the products discounted and not feel tied down by a certain brand.

The same concept of being open to new brands also applies to being open to new stores - Don’t stick to one store; go where the best sales or deals are located.

Even though you should be open to the ideas listed above, at the end of the day only buy products you will actually use or consume - No matter how much you save, it is still a waste if it will just sit useless in your house, taking up space.

Extreme couponing takes a rare and dedicated saver, but if you have the persistence, patience and personality for it, you could save unfathomable amounts in your next grocery run.  I hope at least a few of these tips will help if you aren’t completely committed to becoming the next extreme couponer.