Want to cut the price of your food shopping? Here’s how to save a bundle by getting started with couponing
There are loads of places to get free vouchers, so here are some tips
EVEN if you haven't been directly effected so far, you'll probably know there's a fear that food prices are going to soar.
Bank of England boss Mark Carney has already warned that the plunging pound could mean the weekly shop rises, and that's before we even get into the drama with Unilever.
So suggestions about how to cut the cost of your food shop using coupons couldn't come at a better time. It's something which has been massive Stateside for years, and it's growing over here too. According to , in 2014 Brits saved a whopping £1.7 BILLION through couponing. Getting started can seem pretty daunting though, which is why these tips from are so helpful.
Why bother?
Put simply - you will save a packet.
People who are really down with the couponing lifestyle can save a staggering 50% on their weekly shop.
Not sure you but it? Coupon queen Sammy Hancock, 28, saves £73 every week thanks to her dedication to cost-cutting.
Where to get started
Right, so you're up for spending less on food but now what?
Of course you can wait to get supermarket leaflets through your door, but if you want to save the big bucks you need to step things up a level.
There are a lot of websites which list vouchers, and are good ones.
Mags and newspapers sometimes have free pull-outs too, or else you can go high tech and downloads apps like and Redeemia.
There are forums for people to share tips too, and never underestimate the power of writing to a company.
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Whether it's to complain about or praise a product, they'll often get back to you with some vouchers.
A lot of products run competitions which can get you money off as well, plus loyalty cards will bag you more deals.
If you like trying new things, go on sites like and which let you test and review things and get freebies in return,
Now get organised
Now you've got wads of money off vouchers, it's time to make sure you use them all.
The best way to do that is to get really organised, which means buying ring binders or photo albums.
Section each off so you have all your food, health and beauty vouchers in set places.
It's worth putting them in order of when they need to be used too, as you don't want to waste coupons you've spent ages collection.
Start stacking
This is the way to save big money on your food shopping, and it's just another way of saying you should combine your vouchers.
The key thing here is to research, as not everyone will let you use more than one coupon at a time.
You'll often find waiting until something on sale is a good idea too, as then your voucher will cut the cost even more.
Using coupons from the manufacturer as well as the shop you're buying from is another way to maximise your saving.
Final tips
Having a reliable printer is key. Although it's a big outlay to begin with, over time you'll make the money back when you start saving with all the coupons you print.
Try using ranges which are one step down from your usual - they're cheaper so you'll save more.
Also, beware of fake coupons! There's nothing worse than meticulously planning what you're going to spend, only to find one of your vouchers isn't real.
Keen for more money-saving tip? There are six ways to cut your grocery bill here, or you could learn how to save when shopping on Amazon.