Top Tips from an Extreme Coupon Clipper

Take note shoppers: You could be saving nearly two hundred dollars a week.

How so? Extreme Couponer Linda Morgan, who will teach her money-saving tricks next month at , has tips for you.

What is extreme couponing? 

In my opinion, extreme couponing is obtaining a lot of coupons, following websites for store matchups and purchasing items as close to free as possible while also doing your normal grocery shopping.

For example, I purchase 10 newspapers. I clip and save almost every coupon. I also get a lot of coupons from friends, family and coworkers. I follow certain websites that post matchups (sales with coupons). I focus on these deals each week when I'm grocery shopping. Almost every week, I get items free or super cheap and I stock up on those items. This week alone, I redeemed over $80 in coupons, getting over $100 (retail value) worth of items free.

How much money can someone save a month with coupons? I save anywhere from $30-$200 each week, depending on the sales and deals. Each week is different. 

Where should they go to find the best deals? Quite honestly, has the best prices for grocery savings. However, I find many deals at , , and . It really depends on the product, sales and coupons available at the time.

What items could they potentially save the most on? I was surprised to learn that almost all personal hygiene products can be free. People actually never need to pay for toothpaste, dental floss, toothbrushes or deodorant, as examples. I hear many critics saying that all the coupons are for junk.  My response is generally that we all use personal hygiene products and geting at least those items for free can be helpful for anyone. 

How does someone stick with it and not stray from the plan? I find that once you get started and see how much you can save and reduce your weekly grocery budget, it keeps you going. 

Most serious couponers can't wait for the next coupon inserts and sales ads.  You feel really good when you know you're saving your family money and can possibly even help others through donations. 

While every bit of savings helps, I don't know if those who only get one newspaper's coupon insert feel the same. But since I buy at least six newspapers, when you get a deal and can really stock up on an item for cheap/free, you really see a difference and keep at it. 

Many people tell me they get one newspaper and clip only the coupons for products they use. While extreme couponing is not for everyone, you can't get the same reward if you don't collect a lot of coupons, try different products and really follow the matchups. Anyone can save a little money using coupons. But to make the most difference in your grocery budget, I feel, you need to take it to the next level.

What else can someone learn about couponing by attending your session at the Chesterfield Township Library?  

I will talk about all the ways I get coupons. I will tell everyone how I organize them. I plan to talk about the websites I follow and other tips to prepare for shopping. I will explain what I've learned regarding each of the store's coupon policies. 

I plan to discuss all the various products that I've gotten free or cheap and how the deals come together. There are a lot of intricacies with extreme couponing.  I love to help others save money and will share all that I've learned over the past 10 months and how much it has helped my family.

Program information

Linda Morgan will host "Clip It: A Moderate Form of Extreme Couponing" from 6:30-8 p.m. April 25 at Chesterfield Township Library at 50560 Patricia Ave. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 586-598-4900. Morgan, a Trust Administrator at Talmer Bank and Trust, has mastered her money-saving skills with coupons.