Crazy Saving with Coupons – “Pick Another Check-out Lane, Honey” Book Review
This post is about a book that was recommended to my wife called “Pick Another Check-out Lane, Honey(Affiliate Link)“. The two authors cover their ingenious couponing method from soup to nuts. My wife has just begun using this method and with the help of the Krazy Coupon Lady’s book and website, we’ve been saving lots of money at the grocery store.
Chapter 1:
“Save 50-90% at the grocery store“
How? First, the couponing method laid out in the book instructs you to only use a coupon on a sale item to maximize savings. You’d be surprised how much stuff you can get for free or paid to buy from your local stores.
“As you change the way you shop, you will no longer need to make a last-minute run to the grocery store.”
The authors recommend building a stockpile of common items, and choosing your menu based upon what is on hand.
Chapter 2 – From Meltdown to Miracle:
- Success stories
Chapter 3 – Stockpile:
Use multiple coupons to achieve the greatest savings. When it is a good deal, you should buy lots of product and store it for future use. This cuts down on future shopping trips and because you got the product at a discounted price, it saves future money.
- Stockpile in case of job loss
- Stockpile in case of sharp food inflation
- Stockpile in case of rise in gas price
- Stockpile for peace of mind
Chapter 4 – Start Coupon Collection:
- Obtain multiple subscripts to local major newspaper with coupon circulars.
- Buy coupons online(ebay, among others)
- Pay attention to Catalina. Catalina is the small gray box that prints out coupons after you grocery store purchase.
- Coupon websites
Chapter 5 – Anatomy of the Coupon:
Coupons are advertisements to get you to try a new product by reducing the price and enticing customers. Coca-cola issued the first coupon in 1894 as a marketing scheme.
How to identify fake coupons.
Chapter 6 – Build Coupon Binder:
Methods for organizing your Coupon Binder
Chapter 7 – How & When to use Coupons:
The authors offer training on how to take advantage of the best deals.
- Double coupons
- “Perfect storm: Sale price + Promo + coupon”
- Instructions on how to get things for free and/or make money.
Chapter 8 – Life as CFO:
Some tips on dealing with cashiers.
Chapter 9 & 10 – Store Policies & Talking to Managers and Coupon Fraud
Overall, this book is a delight to read. It is entertaining and humorous.
Personal success:
2 8oz Aveeno Lotion, 1 Aveeno Conditioner, 2 Aveeno Shampoo = $1.45 (saved about $30 with coupons/rebates)
4 boxes of Cheerios = $1 (saved about $15)
3 boxes of Raisin Bran = $4.50, plus a free gallon of milk (saved about $12)
I have no reason to think that we won’t continue to get better and find more and more deals as time goes on.
Extravagence – It’s What To Teach Our Kids
Your Debt Makes Decisions For You
You forgot ‘stockpile in case of apocalypse’.:)
My wife uses the coupon method and it is AMAZING!
I have to admit that it takes some patience to save the coupons and then to analyze how to put them to a good use. I have to admit that I don’t like doing this, but if it can save me money, then i should give it a shot.
I forgot to add the http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com/ site in the post.
Recently my family took a trip to the grocery store. I watched the register ring up to ~$45. Then, the coupons/rebates started. We ended up paying $4 from out pockets. The woman at the register was so impressed she had my wife write out the name of these sites and books.
My wife has started a little ministry by getting items for free and donating them.
I agree with Mia that couponing does take time. It’s a lot of work! And for me, it’s hard to come by the coupons. I’m not willing to buy them. BUT when you hear of people doing so well with coupons, it certainly makes me want to rethink using them. Thanks for sharing! I’ll have to check out the book. I’m open to anything that helps me save money.
I just saw the “Krazy Coupon Lady” on that new TLC show, “Extreme Couponing.” That woman is dedicated! Dumpster diving and all.
It is impressive when you see her checkout and the total is reduced to a pittance. The only downside seems to be that most are the coupons are from manufacturers and are limited to processed packaged foods.
What about cost savings in regards to time? I could see spending 1 hour and finding $10-20 in savings as a success for most people. but the extreme people have an addiction. At least the ten or so I’ve seen on TLC appear that way. Second, with the extreme couponers growing in size, taking advantage of the savings may become difficult.
A starting point for me is not watching TV. Then I have less influence to buy new name brand items (another way to save). Without TV or coupon scavenging, I can spend quality time with my spouse. That is certainly more valuable for me.
Sounds like you’ve picked it right up. Congrats on all your amazing deals! I love that this book gives you a behind the scenes look. Like the chapter on barcodes. Sounds like boring stuff but how nice to know exactly what the coupon should look like to save yourself time and trouble at the register. Keep coming back and sharing your great successes!