Grocery store savings - Part 3: How to get the most out of your coupons

Grocery store savings - Part 1: Prepare and organize

Grocery store savings - Part 2: Where to find coupons

1. Always bring your copy of the current week's sales flyer with you when you shop. (Or snag a copy at the service desk.) Double check your ad to make sure that you are picking up the proper size, variety, flavor, etc. that is on sale so you won't have any surprises at the register.

2. Know your prices. Keep tabs on the highs and lows of the items you buy the most often so you can stock up during the "low" weeks. Jot prices down in a spiral notebook, keep detailed shopping records with shopping lists from week to week, or start a price book.

3. Learn how to shop with a stockpiling-mentality. Instead of waiting for a sale to come around and only buying 1 box of cereal during each sale, save up your coupons for the sale weeks and buy enough to last you until the next sale.

4. Resist the urge to use your coupons until you know you are getting the best price possible. Wait for the rock bottom prices to kick in and then use the coupons you have saved to get the lowest price possible.

5. Know your store's coupon policies. My local Kroger doubles coupons up to .50, which means I can stretch my money a little farther by saving my smaller coupons to use at Kroger. Also of note - some stores no longer accept internet printable coupons (IPs) or only accept IPs from certain websites. Check for couponing limits as well. Some stores require you to purchase more items than coupons - ie, to purchase 8 items, you cannot have more than 8 coupons.

7. Go to your store's website to see if they offer store-specific coupons or e-coupons. Target and Food Lion both have printable store coupons available on their websites. You can combine these store coupons with manufacturer's coupons and sale prices for the biggest savings!

8. Always double check your receipt before leaving the store. Many stores have a "scan right" policy that gives you at least a portion of your money back if an item you purchase does not scan correctly. Don't be afraid to ask about these policies if you've been overcharged!

9. Get to know your cashiers and store managers. Building a positive relationship with the stores you frequent will help you out in the long run. My favorite cashier at Kroger is always very helpful when I have trouble getting a coupon to ring up properly. It doesn't hurt that I share coupons with her from time to time. ;)

10. Above all, use common sense. If it seems too good to be true or you feel squeamish about doing it, don't.

Part four of the Grocery store savings series will be posted on Thursday night. This weekend I'll be starting another coupon giveaway, so make sure you bookmark The Healthy Hearth!