Casual Couponing: Money Saving Tips. We have always been a fan of coupons. To me, it's like someone walking up to us and saying "here's fifty cents if you buy this." It's a no brainer. In our house, hubby is the hardcore coupon hound. He's not an "extreme couponer", but he is dedicated. He patiently sifts through the newspapers and magazines for coupons on the items we use. Last year alone, we saved over $800 on groceries.

Told you he was dedicated.

So despite his protests and claims of "not doing anything special" and the help of some bright lights and thumb-screws, I was able to get  "Paul's Tips For Coupon Success."?

*Buy in bulk if you can. Typically you pay more for items you have to buy in a panic because you ran out. 

*Take the time to watch magazines, newspapers, and even the backs of cash register reciepts for money saving deals. 

*Only use coupons for things you already need. Coupons can sometimes be a "lure" for buying items that you really don't need. Stick to your guns. Savings are really only savings if it's on items you generally need and buy.

 *Make note (in your head or in a book) which stores have the best deals on certain big ticket items (paper products, laundry soap, milk). As long as there's not a lot of driving involved, don't hesitate to go to more than one store to score deals. 

*Take the time to make a comparision. Sometimes, even with a coupon, brand names are more expensive that generic. For the most part, generics are typically just as good.  

*It may seem silly to worry about saving $1.00 here, .50 there...but these pennies add up to big dollars by the end-of-the-year. 

Final thought. To keep track of your savings, look at the bottom of your sales reciept. Most stores will list your savings right at the bottom. Write this weekly/monthly total down in a log book and watch the tally of your savings grow!