There’s a hot hobby that has launched a thousand blogs, inspired a whole lot of classes and saved families cash on the things they buy all the time, like groceries. Maybe it’s a result of the recession, but couponing has become all the rage for moms who want to save a lot of money on groceries, kids’ items and much more. Many might ask, how hard can it be? I just cut the coupons I see in the paper or wherever, and I take them to the store. Many wonder if it’s worth the trouble in the first place. The short answer is yes – it’s well worth your while to cut coupons. But instead of brandishing scissors every time you see a price break, it’s a good idea to establish a strategy. First, look into the stores in your area. Find the ones that offer customer reward cards, which can enable stores to mail or e-mail you exclusive coupons, not to mention give you discounts when you use the card. A newspaper may be your best source of coupons, especially on Sundays, if you subscribe. And if you find a wealth of coupons on a certain Sunday, then it may be a good idea to get another copy of the paper to clip more of what you use most. Weigh the cost of the paper against how much you may save in coupons. Check area stores to see if they accept printable online coupons, and check to see if they double or even triple coupons on certain days.

Now that you have coupon sources, start clipping. Watching TV at night is a perfect time to clip and file. Many people clip coupons on an as-needed basis, which is fine, but may be inconvenient storage-wise. Find the best way for you to store coupons. It may not be in a file divided by types of items. Maybe your file is organized by aisles of the grocery store, expiration date or some other way that’s best for you. Purge the file often to avoid carrying around expired coupons, and carry it with you whenever you plan a trip. Plan to use coupons on items that are already on sale to maximize savings – if your store is having a buy one, get one free sale, then use a coupon to make the items even cheaper. If the size of the item isn’t limited on your coupon, then go for the small trial size if it’s practical – you can almost get these items free! Try “stacking” coupons – use a manufacturer’s coupon and a store coupon to get the most for your money. A little strategizing and clipping can take you far when it comes to getting more for your money on the things your family needs most.