Food prices are going up, time to clip (online) coupons
(CBS) - You chuckled about the woman who dives into dumpsters to retrieve discarded coupons on TLC's "Extreme Couponing," But knowing how much food prices have gone up, the thought of crazy couponing doesn't sound so strange anymore.
"The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization says food prices are higher than they have been in the last 20 years, surpassing the 2008 price spike that set off food riots in cities around the world," The Washington Post reported.
As food prices swell, take some tips from TLC's "Extreme Couponing" stars. Here are some of their favorite coupon resources...
Nathan Engels, who often cuts 90 percent off his grocery bill, operates WeUseCoupons.com. "It's the best couponing forum out there," says the couponing king. "It has nearly 100,000 couponing moms and dads that come together and help each other. If I have a question, they are there to help me immediately!"
Engels also likes a blog called DeliciouslyFrugal.com because it translates what you buy onto your plate. "We all know that if you can't convert your grocery savings into actual meals, then what's the point?" Engels points out. "The blogger [writes] about what she's eating, and how she got it so cheap."
Joni Meyer-Crothers, an Ohio woman who saves for a good cause, has two favorite sites. She likes TheKrazyCouponLady.com because of the large database of printable coupons. "I can type in the coupon I am looking for and it pops right up," she says.
Meyer-Crothers also likes Hip2Save.com because it's fun, personable, and gives a ton of great deals.
Identical twin couponers, Tai and Tarin Perry, have their own site: DoubleSavingDivas.com, where they list deals and coupon match-ups to local and nationwide stores daily. "We also find the latest deals on items beyond groceries [on the site], such as diapers, wipes, movie tickets, DVD rentals, just to name a few," they explain.
These money-saving sisters also love Coupons.com. "In addition to finding coupons in Sunday newspapers, this site offers internet printable coupons," they explain. "These coupons are accepted at most stores, just like a coupon you would find in your newspaper." The site, which the twins find "painless and simple to use," also offers codes for online shopping.
For more couponing strategies, tune in to "Extreme Couponing" on TLC on Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. EST.
