Extreme couponing

Shaving a $100 grocery bill down to just a few dollars seems impossible, but extreme couponers have figured out how to do exactly that. Now, stores are adjusting their policies to keep those shoppers in check. Kelli Grant, Senior Consumer Reporter for SmartMoney.com has advice on how you can keep saving.

Pay attention to store policies. Rite Aid, Kroger, Publix and Target have all shifted policies in recent months. Among the changes: shoppers can use only four of one coupon per shopping trip, and they can't pair buy-one-get-one-free coupons and sales to get both items free. That keeps extreme couponers from clearing shelves, which will actually be a boon to shoppers who just want one of a sale item.

Stores have become more cautious about accepting print at home coupons, since it's relatively easy to make fakes or photocopies. Ask the store whether it accepts them or not, and make sure you get yours from a reputable source like Coupons.com or RedPlum.com.

Extreme couponers get their serious savings by stacking store sales with store coupons and manufacturers coupons. Some stores still automatically double coupons, and even offer overage if the coupon is worth more than the item's price. That cuts your bill even further. Look for those kinds of promotions.

Use technology. Giant Eagle, Kroger, Shop Rite and other chains have started offering online coupons that you load directly onto your loyalty card. They come off your bill automatically at checkout, and negate the need to remember your coupons. Target offers coupons delivered directly to your phone, and J.C. Penney and other stores have similar apps.

Stock up within reason. Extreme coupons know to buy a lot when there's a good sale. They clear shelves, but you can get great savings with more reasonable methods. Most items go on sale just once every 12 weeks, so content yourself with at most a three-month supply. It's better than paying full price in the meantime should you run out, but not so extreme that you have to find space to store two years' worth of canned tomatoes.

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