Groceries are expensive. That’s the reason ramen noodles are considered the cornerstone of the college diet — they’re cheap, vaguely nutritious, and can be bought in bulk. If you’re a student at UNM, chances are your wallet is a sad and empty thing you carry merely out of habit. So how on Earth is a student supposed to be able to afford tasty brain food? Ever heard of the show “Extreme Couponing” on TLC? Essentially, the show documents people who buy hundreds of dollars worth of groceries for pocket change — the bills often amount to less than $10 — by making the most out of coupons. The Daily Lobo may not be able to save you that much, but we can give you some tried-and-true tips so you can ditch the ramen and upgrade to real food.
Invest in some scissors:
Coupons can be found in the Sunday edition of the Albuquerque Journal. The paper costs $1.50 and will easily pay for itself in savings. You can also find and print out coupons online at popular sites such as Coupons.com or SmartSource.com. Once you’ve collected your stack of discount gold, start clipping.
Note: Albertson’s is the only grocery store in New Mexico that allows multiple couponing; Smith’s, Whole Foods and Walmart do not. However, Albertson’s couponing policies vary within New Mexico, so be sure to call ahead to your local store and check the rules. In Albuquerque, all 13 Albertson’s locations do not allow double couponing with manufacturer’s coupons, but do allow double couponing with their own weekly Twice the Value coupons found in their circulars.
Get your coupons in line:
Investing in a binder or coupon file will help you keep your coupons in order. A good way to organize them is by expiration date and type of product, i.e. food, hygiene, etc. Try keeping coupons that are about to expire near the front of the file so you don’t forget about them. There’s nothing worse than missing out on a deal.
Plan and conquer:
Make a list of what you need and arrange your coupons accordingly before you go to the store. Check the paper or look online for special weekly deals to combine with your coupons for even more savings. For example, if Smith’s is having a 10 for $10 sale on canned green beans and you have a coupon for that, now’s the time to buy green beans.
More is less and less is more:
Buy in bulk to maximize savings. It’ll also save you from going to the grocery store as often if you buy more than one of whatever it is that you need. But here’s a tip to make smarter bulk purchases: coupons often give a range of which size of product for which you may use the coupon. Always go with the smallest listed size. Because you are already paying less for the smaller product, even a 50 cent coupon will go much further, meaning you’ll spend less.
Join your grocery store’s cult:
Absolutely get a membership card for your favorite grocery store(s). Yes, filling out the application is annoying, but they’re usually free and can save you a ton of money. Stores such as Walgreens even offer a virtual rewards card you can download straight to your smartphone. Getting a rewards card is like being in a secret savings club. You can often get discounted prices only available to card holders, and you can sometimes download coupons from the store’s website right onto the card. Then, you can be eco-friendly and a super saver.
