Using grocery coupons is a growing trend with American consumers. New television shows feature shoppers that use coupons to extremes and new websites and blogs pop up all the time sharing couponing techniques with consumers looking save where they can. A recent survey said that more than three out of four shoppers regularly used coupons in 2010. That indicates that the majority of shoppers are integrating coupons into their savings strategy.

It is worth their time, too. One study found that a family spending only 20 minutes a week collecting and redeeming grocery coupons could easily save 20 percent on their grocery bill. That can equate to annual savings of $1,000 with the average American family spending approximately $5,000 each year on groceries. So, where are all of these free grocery coupons? Shoppers can find coupons in their mailbox, online, on their mobile phones, and in the grocery stores – just to name a few spots.

The Sunday paper is probably the most widely-known place to find grocery coupons. Many Americans subscribe only the Sunday paper instead of receiving the paper each day of the week. This is because they are interested primarily in the coupons that come on Sundays – or they like funnies. In the Sunday paper, consumers can find free coupons from major manufacturers that develop and distribute numerous products found in grocery stores. Also, most major grocery retail chains offer their own free grocery coupons in the Sunday newspaper.

Many free coupons simply arrive in consumers’ mailboxes each week in coupon mailers and weekly shopper newspapers and magazines. Sometimes referred to as circulars, these papers featuring offers typically are delivered without the consumers ever signing up for them. Free coupons just show up without any necessary action from shoppers looking to save.

Manufacturers of many products found at grocery stores offer free grocery coupons on their own websites. Some manufacturers even created dedicated websites just for their free grocery coupons offers. On these sites, shoppers can search for a specific product or by categories. Then they select the grocery coupons that interest them and print them out to redeem in store. Shoppers can subscribe to the site’s coupons newsletters and receive more offers by email.

One of the newest and fastest growing free grocery coupon trends is mobile grocery coupon apps. Consumers with a smartphone can download these mobile apps right to their cell phone. With the smartphone’s camera, shopper can scan the barcode on products. The mobile app will locate any available grocery coupons for that item, either from the manufacturer or from the grocery retailer. Downloading the mobile coupons is extremely easy and convenient.

A few mobile grocery coupon apps load the coupons right to the shopper’s loyalty card for that store. To redeem the coupons, shoppers simply hand the loyalty card to the cashier. Even these mobile coupon apps have their own websites where they offer savings to shoppers that do not carry a smartphone. Users simply register on the website based on their geographic location and the website provides grocery coupons in the shopper’s area that can be printed straight from the site.

In these tougher economic times, consumers are looking to save anywhere that they can. Finding free grocery coupons is becoming a crucial part to American families’ savings strategy. With the ability to save hundreds even thousands of dollars each year on groceries by using coupons, it is no wonder that consumers are adopting new technologies and scouring circulars to locate savings on products they regularly purchase in grocery stores. Countless resources are available to shoppers looking for free grocery coupons and they can be found with the convenience of opening the mailbox or turning on a cell phone.

Green shopping has gotten easier for consumers, thanks to a smartphone and mobile coupons. Mobile coupons apps are a paperless way for consumers to shop at their favorite store, save money, and even help the environment. 

By using mobile coupons, shoppers do not have to clip and save paper coupons, only to forget them on the counter when they leave for the store. These mobile coupon apps allow consumers to shop smart and shop efficiently. They also allow consumers to try their hand at green shopping. These user-friendly mobile apps allow consumers to go paperless, to save time, and to even save gas.

Rather than clipping coupons out of the Sunday newspaper or sorting through circulars that come in the mail, savvy shoppers can just download a coupon app to their mobile phone. These apps are a digital way to green shopping, because they are completely paperless. Once shoppers read their newspaper, the can just throw the newspaper in the recycling bin. Or, if they only buy the paper for the coupons, they can forego the paper completely, since several mobile coupon apps have the coupons on their very own website.

The best mobile coupon apps allow shoppers to build a grocery shopping list. This is a great way for consumers to stay organized and stick to a shopping plan and budget. Shopping with a list is one of way shoppers can save money in the grocery store, because they only buy the items on the list, rather than shopping from memory or mood.

Creating a shopping list through a mobile coupon app, shoppers can also eliminate the additional waste of paper grocery shopping lists. All the sheets of paper that make up most shopping lists rarely land in the recycling bin. People who want to reduce their trash and carbon foot print can take a step in the right direction with a digital shopping list. Going paperless is another way to achieve green shopping nirvana with mobile grocery coupons.

Green shopping with mobile apps also means less driving around town, looking for the best possible deals. The best mobile apps work on several major grocery retailers, not just one app for one store. These apps help consumers with green shopping by locating deals closest to their home or office, using the smartphone's built in GPS function.

Once the shopper selects their preferred grocery store, they can also register that store’s loyalty shopping card. Then the shopper hands the cashier his or her loyalty card to redeem all the applicable and loaded coupons. The register will pull out any coupons that match up to items in the bags, after they have been scanned, and apply the savings.

Mobile coupon apps also allow shoppers to save on the items that they normally buy at the grocery store. Since the shopper scans their desired product with their mobile phone’s camera, they are looking for savings on that item. Some shoppers will buy whatever item is on sale in the store instead of looking for saving on the products that they actually want. This can often result in additional waste because eventually they will buy the product they wanted in the first place. Shopping with mobile apps that allow consumers to search for saving on their preferred product helps green shopping as well as savings, because it reduces the potential for wasted purchases and wasted money.

Coupons may seem like a small amount of paper. However, according to a recent survey three out of four shoppers used coupons in 2010. With that number of people using paper coupons, the waste can add up quickly. For consumers looking for green shopping tricks to save money, mobile coupon apps may be the answer.

Grocery coupons may not be top of mind in consumers' holiday shopping strategy, but perhaps they should be. As the holiday season approaches, American shoppers start to scramble to find enough cash to make it a holiday season to remember. With all the pressure to create a memorable holiday, shoppers can put themselves in a financial debacle if they are not smart about their holiday shopping.

According to LearnVest founder and CEO, Alexa von Tobel, people have poor spending habits during the holiday season. She also said that 13.6 million Americans entered 2011 in debt, partly due to their holiday spending habits. Grocery coupons can help shoppers save on the weekly necessities and free up some holiday spending cash to avoid getting deeper into debt.

According to a recent news story, there were $485 billion worth of grocery coupons in 2010. The average savings per coupon was $1.46 and one site claims that it is possible to obtain $40 in savings each week just by redeeming grocery coupons. Within the weeks prior to the holidays, those grocery coupons savings can add up to a couple of hundred dollars. That can make a substantial and positive impact on the holiday shopping plan.

Cooking expenses typically increase with the holidays. Large family meals, cookie exchanges, and holiday pitch-ins all happen outside of the usual household monthly budget plan. These festive occasions do not need to stress the holiday budget with a little help from coupons. Not much effort is required for shoppers to start building these savings.

Savvy shoppers find grocery coupons in the newspaper that show up on the front door step every Sunday. It may take a little time to sort through the coupon section to find the grocery coupons that match up with needed items. The key here is needed items. For savings to accrue, shoppers need to be careful to not just buy items because they found a coupon. It is important to search for grocery coupons for regularly purchased items or a similar product.

Mobile coupons apps give consumers savings opportunities right at their fingertips, with very little effort. A good majority of consumers carry a mobile phone with them at all times and rarely forget it at home. Introducing mobile grocery coupons into a shopping strategy can ensure that the opportunity for savings is never missed. These mobile coupon apps offer savings on holiday essentials like baking goods, turkeys, plastic storage bags, and the like.

Major manufacturers feature coupons on their own websites as well, which is a great way for brand-loyal shoppers to find savings through printable coupons on their favorite holiday products. Typically, consumers can search the manufacturer’s site for a desired product and print the grocery coupons directly from the site.

While mobile coupon apps have an advantage over printable coupons in that the mobile coupons can notify a user when the coupon is going to expire, printable coupons have the advantage in that it does not require a smartphone to access.  There are also some entertainment and restaurant coupons that are only available on a website and not a mobile app.

No matter the method used to obtain coupons, the savings available for shoppers is substantial. When the typical household budget goes haywire nearing the holiday, grocery coupons can help consumers stay on track and even get ahead of the spending game. With a pinch of effort to collect the coupons and a smidgen of discipline to buy necessities with coupons, a family can pull together a recipe for a successful holiday season of spending. The key is sticking with a plan and buying necessities and limiting impulse splurges. Grocery coupons can be found for just about anything needed this holiday season.

New mobile coupons become more readily available each day and more consumers are adopting them into their regular shopping strategy. As mobile technology advances, thanks to mobile coupon apps, they also become easier for shoppers to use as well. Mobile coupons are not as widely used as paper coupons, but they have a lot of potential, in terms of convenience, time savings, and even environmental impact. When considering the pros and cons of integrating these types of coupons, it is hard to find many cons.

The fact that a most people carry a mobile phone with them at all times creates an obvious fit for businesses looking to connect to specific demographics and target audiences on a regular basis. More and more retailers and manufacturers have been jumping on the mobile coupon bandwagon, giving consumers more and more options for savings. A definite pro to these types of coupons is manufacturers’ desire to catch the attention of these shoppers. They are creating offers to compete with others already using mobile coupons to draw in shoppers. Competition makes for better offers for consumers.

If most consumers today carry a mobile phone and if these consumers are downloading savings with their mobile phones, then these shoppers are more like to have their coupons readily available. The convenience of mobile phone coupons beats having to remember to bring coupons on each and every shopping trip. For shoppers who often stop off at the grocery store on the way home from work, this convenience is a huge pro for mobile coupons.

Many mobile coupons tie into shoppers’ loyalty cards at major grocery store chains. Shoppers scan items and locate coupons with their smartphone’s camera. The coupons then download to their loyalty card. Shoppers simply hand over their loyalty card to the cashier to redeem the savings without fumbling through a bunch of loose paper coupons. Mobile coupon apps work with most major grocery retailers who issue loyalty cards. This indicates that the savings are available to most shoppers throughout the country.

Also, there need for sorting through a stack of clipped coupons while shopping only to find that the coupon has expired. Good mobile coupons apps alert users when a coupon nears the expiration date and will notify shoppers which store is nearest their current location to redeem the coupon. If a coupon expires before the shopper redeems the offer, the mobile coupon apps suggest a similar product available with a coupon.

Very few cons actually exist relative to mobile coupons. A shopper could possibly leave his or her mobile phone at home, but they are more likely to forget a cluttered stack of clipped coupons at home. Even if the shopper left his or her mobile device at home, he or she could redeem any coupons already loaded on the loyalty card for that store. And of course, the shopper will have his or her mobile phone handy even when they make spontaneous impulse trips; not so with an envelope filled with coupons.

Several specialty grocery stores and local markets do not accept mobile coupons yet which could be a problem right now — a definite con. Stores of this type often offer unique and specialized products that rarely come with a coupon, printed or digital. Shopping local positively impacts the economy and environment, but so do mobile coupons. These digital coupons save the waste of paper, especially when many coupons expire and never get redeemed.

The cons of this growing coupons trend are few and far between. Mobile coupons introduce a way to save for shoppers who already carry their mobile phone at all times. With a little learning curve and practice, shoppers can start saving with a convenience they have never experienced. With so many pros for mobile coupons, this technology will continue to improve and offer additional conveniences to shoppers looking to save.

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Mobile grocery coupons have an unexpected benefit to those grocery coupon users who are looking for some convenience, as well as a way to help the environment. Grocery coupons have long been an important way for consumers to stretch their money, especially in difficult economic times as we have now.

Who hasn’t gotten a lot of satisfaction out of redeeming coupons at the mall, grocery store or a favorite restaurant? But today’s smart shoppers are saving more than just cash — they’re helping improve their "carbon footprint" with electronic grocery coupons. Here are five ways mobile coupons are more environmentally friendly than print coupons.

Read more...

Printable coupons gain popularity with consumers seeking to save anywhere that they can. Coffee prices rise, gas prices fluctuate to new highs, and the cost of daily necessities keeps creeping up while unemployment rates stay at frightening lows. Signs of an improved economy evade the public’s eye.

Consumers turn to coupons and discounts for groceries and regular household items. Mobile coupon apps reach many shoppers with a smartphone but leave out those without a cellphone. Of course, there is still the Sunday newspaper for shoppers that are used to flipping through all the pages to find the coupons that they need. However, for consumers looking to cash in on the savings that do not have a cell phone or are not interested in digging through the paper to clip coupons, printable coupons are a welcome solution.

Most coupon sites exist with an option to print coupons, while some also offer a mobile app as well. Grocery coupons remain the most popular type of coupons on these sites, but are by no means the only type. Major manufacturers of household cleaning items feature their own coupon sites online. Anyone with a computer and printer can take advantage of savings on cleaners, laundry detergent, and even air filters. Even if consumers do not have a computer at home, they can visit their public library for computer and Internet access, usually for free.

Savvy shoppers can find printable coupons for just about anything they can dream up, aside from the usual household items and groceries. Family entertainment is getting on board with online coupons as well. Families looking for affordable ways to have fun can print out coupons for amusement parks, museums, movie rentals, pizza delivery, and party stores. Printable coupons are helping families find fun in addition to saving money on groceries.

Most sites offering printable coupons make it easy for frugal shoppers to locate the deals they need. Consumers browse the different coupon categories or use the site’s search feature, and then select each coupon they want and keep browsing the site. Once they have found all the coupons that they want, they can "check out" and print them all out at once. This way a shopper can print multiple coupons on one printed page, not wasting paper or extra ink cartridges. This also saves on the need to sort through newspaper inserts and coupon mailer packs.

With all the money that shoppers can save on groceries and household items with printable coupons, they could find extra dollars for a night on the town, with a new outfit to boot! Of course, with coupons being offered on any and everything, shoppers can sometimes even find printable coupons for major department stores. That little black dress does not need to put on the back burner. Even trendy stores feature printable coupons for shoppers to print out at home.

Finally, with the holiday season approaching, gift giving does not have to break the bank. Craft stores offer printable coupons to help the creative gift giver create a personalized and affordable gift to remember. Even some of the major children’s toy stores offer online coupons to be printed by shoppers. And of course, the beloved family pet is not excluded from printable coupons savings opportunities. Dog and cat lovers can save on food, toys, and even sweaters with coupons printed from online coupons sites.

In tight financial times, families demonstrate their best creativity in making a dollar stretch. Printable coupons can help anyone find a few extra dollars even if they do not have a cell phone. Mobile coupon apps are a great way to save, but printable coupons can reach more people looking to save, and are sometimes the only things available when mobile coupons are not.

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Mobile coupons have been gaining popularity with the ever-evolving advances in smartphone application technology. One recent online survey, showed that smartphone users want to receive advertisements and mobile coupons to their device and welcome the marketing.(1) The type of coupons these surveyed consumers said they were most interested in receiving were grocery mobile coupons.

Retailers and manufacturers recognize that consumers’ smartphones are a great way to directly reach shoppers. Typically, smartphone users carry their device on them at all times. Marketers have countless opportunities to target these mobile phone users throughout each day instead of waiting only for the weekly circular or Sunday newspaper coupon section to offer coupons to consumers.

In fact, one study indicated that a family spending just 20 minutes each week collecting and redeeming grocery coupons easily could save 20 percent on their grocery spending. That can add up to an annual savings of $1000 based on the average American family spending about $5,000 each year on its grocery bill.(2)

The average data plan with a smartphone costs $30 each month, so a 12-month spend on a data plan equates to $360. With the annual $1000 savings available to users of grocery mobile coupons, the $360 data plan would take less than half of those savings. By upgrading to a smartphone with a data package and enrolling with a mobile coupon app, shoppers could still save approximately $640 each year on grocery spend.

As the economy continues to hover around the "barely recovering" mark, it has become more evident that shoppers are looking to find savings on their annual household expenses. With retailers and manufacturer using mobile coupons more and more each day to offer savings to their customers, some regular cell phone users feel like they are being left out on the savings opportunities. Many of these non-smartphone users claim that the required cost of a data plan with smartphones is too expensive or outside of the budget comfort zone.

Very few mobile coupons exist for cell phone users without a smartphone. Some text messages services target these users. However, the majority of mobile coupons available come through a smartphone’s application (apps) center. (Not to worry, there are some mobile coupons app manufacturers that also have a way to download printable coupons with their system.)

With mobile coupons on the rise, the savings are becoming more convenient and more targeted for consumers. Most mobile coupon apps allow shoppers to save on items they normally buy. While shopping, they snap a picture of the barcode on their item with their smartphone camera. The mobile coupons app locates an available retailer or manufacturer (or both) coupons for that particular item. The app uploads those mobile coupons right to the shopper’s store loyalty card, and then they simply hand the shopper’s card to the cashier to redeem the savings.

Savvy shoppers find additional savings when using mobile manufacturer coupons coupled with their favorite grocery retailers’ sale items. Coupon “stacking” is a common couponing technique used by creative consumers. Couponing is becoming an art form among consumers looking to stay afloat in this shaky economy. They keep tabs on when grocery stores offer double or triple coupon days and also locate both manufacturer and retailer coupons. The savings opportunities are endless with a little wit and will.

However, finding enough savings to justify a new smartphone with a data package does not have to be that well-thought out or complicated. Simply by finding a mobile coupons app that locates both manufacturer and retailer coupons can take the guess work out of finding hundreds of dollars to put back in shoppers’ pockets. That money can then be used keep up with the advances in mobile technology and couponing, without going into the red on the family budget.

Resources:

1) http://blog.compete.com/2010/03/12/smartphone-owners-a-ready-and-willing-audience/
2) 1) http://saveitsomewhere.com/september-is-national-coupon-month/

Using grocery coupons can help new moms find savings on frequently purchased items like formula, diapers, and wipes. No one ever said that having a baby would be cheap. Quite the opposite, in fact. The new little bundles of joy are certainly priceless to new moms but pricey they can be. The new expenses that come along with newborns can rattle a family’s budget, but with the help of grocery coupons new moms can save on the household necessities.

A recent study found that a family spending only 20 minutes a week collecting and redeeming grocery coupons could save 20 percent on their grocery bill. With the average American family spending approximately $5,000 each year on groceries, that can equate to annual savings of $1,000. That is encouraging news for new moms. Finding grocery coupons has never been easier with Internet sites and mobile coupon apps popping up to offer grocery savings. Not to mention the traditional means of locating coupons like newspapers and grocery store coupon fliers.

Major grocery store retailers are finding new ways to create and keep loyal customers by introducing convenient ways to save. For example, often at the checkout line coupons will print out with receipts for popular products. Shoppers’ loyalty cards often trigger grocery coupons for frequently purchased items. Generated coupons from loyalty cards might offer discounts on a different product similar to ones a new mom regularly purchases. Being flexible on brand names can create a greater savings opportunity with these types of cash register coupons.

Hitting the grocery store with a shopping list is a well-tested and proven way to save on the final bill. Mobile grocery coupon apps provide new moms the ability to create multiple shopping lists and to stay organized with grocery coupons. The mobile app allows new moms to build a list of regularly purchased items and then finds the grocery coupons for those or similar products. Time is hard to find with a newborn at home and shopping lists with mobile coupon apps can help reduce time spent looking for discounts on diapers and formula.

Some of the mobile coupon apps also offer printable coupons from their website. Instead of scouring through various newspapers and circulars, new moms can let the website find the needed discounts. They can print the coupons out from one spot. This saves time and helps to keep grocery coupons organized. Shoppers can also apply the coupons to their shopper’s loyalty cards from the website. Some grocery retailers offer double and triple savings with coupons that are redeemed from a loyalty card. New moms do not have to make any effort to cash in on these valuable savings.

Another convenience available to new moms is the geo-location feature with mobile apps. If a new mom is on her way from the baby’s doctor appointment and needs to get diapers, she can have the mobile app locate which store is offering diaper grocery coupons closest to her current location. She does not need to drive out of her way to save. She can make a quick stop and keep baby on schedule.

Utilizing grocery coupons relieves some of the financial stress of having a new baby. With mobile coupon apps, collecting and redeeming these savings is convenient. The time saved with mobile apps is a great benefit to new moms juggling feedings, naps, doctor appointments, and all the excitement of a new baby. New moms can find great discounts in ways that work with their schedule – either by going online to print coupons or downloading grocery coupons right to their smartphone. The joys of motherhood do not need to be dimmed by financial burden of necessities. Grocery coupons provide a little relief.

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Mobile coupons may save people a lot of time consuming clipping, collecting, and shuffling as they sort through paper coupons in an attempt to save money at the grocery store. Everyone wants the deals and perks that stores offer by becoming a free member or getting the store shopper card. And they peruse all the junk mail and Sunday circulars in the hopes of finding the best deals, only to forget the coupons at home.

Now there is a better way to organize all of these into cell phones and smartphones with apps for mobile coupons. Mobile coupons apps make the shopping experience more enjoyable and will also save everyone the time and hassle of finding each specific store’s shopper cards and coupons.

With seventy-five percent of American shoppers using coupons in 2010, clearly consumers are looking to save, and mobile coupons apps will make this easier and more organized for all who are looking to do so. A lot of stores around the country are making their coupons more accessible, while more mobile coupons applications are being created for smartphones so shoppers can get the best deals possible.

There are a variety of different apps that are offered for smartphones such as iPhone and Android that can be downloaded, and will let consumers find the coupons they are searching for more easily. It saves them from keeping an envelope or flex-folder of all the collected paper coupons. Instead of going through piles of coupons and membership perks from multiple stores, the mobile coupons app will search the store that the shopper is shopping in that very moment to find deals. This saves them time, money, energy. It also helps the environment by saving all that paper. Some mobile coupons apps will even let shoppers bookmark a coupon for later usage.

Having a mobile coupons app will help shoppers to find all the coupons that are available in that specific store using their smartphone’s GPS and a location based service to ensure they save the maximum amount of money possible at that very moment.

Shoppers are also able to sign up for membership and rewards in specific stores through their mobile coupons apps. It is important to research the types of applications that are offered because there are multiple coupon apps for smartphones, but there are different features that are more useful to different kinds of shoppers. Experimentation with different apps will help shoppers to find their favorites.

Most of the mobile coupons apps that are available today allow shoppers to use the coupons directly off of their mobile devices at checkout, exactly how paper coupons are used except shoppers just upload the coupons to their loyalty card, and then show the card at the checkout counter.

Other mobile coupons apps will let consumers type in the specific product or brand they are looking for and will create a comprehensive list of all the stores that offer that specific product or brand and what the best deal is. Shoppers can find apps that will help them keep track of everything they are buying in-store by scanning all of the barcodes and will let shoppers know the price tag of the purchase before check out. Technology has made life easier for most people by creating applications that will be used regularly. Mobile coupon apps are one of those daily products that makes life easier and saves money at the same time.

Mobile coupons apps offer everything from searching for eco-friendly and animal friendly foods to organizing purchases at the most frequented stops.

Say goodbye to the excessive junk mail and a drawerful of expired coupons, and say hello to mobile coupon apps that will make life easier in hard economic times by making it possible for shoppers to save without losing the quality that they want and need.

Grocery coupons are becoming all the rage these days: Couponing ninjas, couponing experts, couponing television shows. With the economy seeing rockier times, it is no wonder that consumers seek to save their hard earned dollars any way they can. Where shoppers can find grocery coupons and how they use them varies as much as the wide-range products being discounted.

Of course, the traditional paper coupons found in the Sunday paper still make it to the grocery check out line on a regular basis. However, with the growing use of cell phones, mobile coupons are becoming extremely popular for consumers looking for additional savings. A good majority of shoppers carry a cell phone on them at all times and accessing coupons through their mobile device provides a convenience unmatched by paper grocery coupons. Currently, consumer may find more coupons available through the Sunday paper than on a smartphone. Chances are that trend will shift as more and more cell phone users adapt a data plan with their phones.

So, the question is which to use – paper grocery coupons or mobile coupons? Each offers its own benefits and limitations and combining both can create a huge savings opportunity for shoppers at this time. Paper coupons found in the Sunday newspaper are delivered right to consumers’ doorsteps and are packaged in one spot. Some people are just used to spending the time clipping, sorting, and organizing these coupons. It is just what they do and have done, so they continue to do so. Most major manufacturers send their own coupon booklet through the paper, featuring numerous products.

However, more manufacturers are starting to offer their grocery coupons through mobile grocery coupons apps. Newspapers are suffering from declining subscriptions and advertising revenue, causing them to reach their audience online and through mobile devices. The changing distribution of information and news affects how readers receive and respond to advertisements. Media outlets are trying to reach more people on their mobile devices and so are grocery product manufacturers.

Mobile grocery coupons apps give shoppers a one-stop shop for mobile grocery coupons much like the Sunday paper and weekly circulars. The more users these apps obtain, the more mobile grocery coupons manufacturers will offer. These mobile grocery coupons apps allow shoppers to save in ways that best fit their shopping plan and strategies. They provide an on-the-go way to save instead of worrying about remembering to grab all the clipped paper coupons stacked up on the kitchen counter.

Users of mobile coupons have many ways to adapt couponing with their cell phones. They can access shopping lists that they have created. Then the app’s geo-location technology can point them to the closest grocery store offering coupons for items on their shopping list. When shoppers are on their way home from work and are without their paper coupons, they can still take advantage of savings with mobile coupons.

Once consumers are in their preferred major grocery chain, they can simply scan the barcode on any product to locate a coupon with their mobile app. No forethought about mobile coupons is required. They just grab what they need and find a coupon while shopping. That is a convenience that is just not available with paper coupons.

Currently, more grocery coupons and a wider variety of coupons are still available through the Sunday paper and weekly circulars than through mobile apps. That trend will likely change as more and more shoppers start to use mobile grocery coupons apps. While both still offer significant savings to consumers, using both types of coupons can be a great way for shoppers to take advantage of discounts and beat the rocky economy.

As mobile grocery coupons popularity grows, as a result of both the strained economy and new cell phone technology, like smartphones, grocery stores managers and grocery manufacturers are trying to keep consumers shopping by offering more coupons. They have also found that smartphones are an excellent way to reach their shoppers.

Some companies have created apps that monitor and provide mobile grocery coupons. These apps allow shoppers to collect coupons from both grocery stores and product manufacturers, alerting the shoppers to times their coupons are available, or when certain stores offer specials on specific products. This is a great alternative to people who do not want to search for coupons in the Sunday paper or wait for the weekly value pack of coupons. (However, they can scan these coupons into their smartphone to save and use later.)

But even though the grocery stores and manufacturers have targeted smartphone users does not mean they are actually reaching everyone. Not everyone has a cell phone with a web browser, or the ability to download any mobile apps for grocery coupons. Many people still use feature phones (also called flip phones), while many others don't even have a cell phone at all. But a large portion of Americans have a computer with Internet access, which means they still have access to online grocery coupons.

Some companies have begun creating mobile grocery coupons websites that offer people the option to print these coupons from a home computer. Some people still prefer to have a printed paper coupon and have become comfortable surfing the Internet for deals.  All the shopper needs is Internet access and a printer to get the same savings. They do not need to scan their Sunday paper or use the weekly value pack of coupons either.

So shoppers who are looking to save money on monthly necessities like groceries, they can simply visit their favorite mobile coupons website and find savings being offered in their area. Some companies even provide a field on the website where user enters their ZIP code to narrow the search to local offerings.

The coupons are listed in categories like Food, Health, and even Office Supplies. Some grocery coupons are offered only by a specific grocery store. Other grocery coupons are from the product  manufacturers coupons to be used at any store the shopper chooses. Once the shopper has narrowed their grocery coupons search by location and category, the grocery coupons will appear on the page. The shopper can then "clip" several coupons at once by checking the box next to the desired coupons. There is no limit to how many grocery coupons they can select.

After the desired coupons are chosen, the shopper just has to click the "print coupons" button on the page, and the coupons will print out so they can be clipped and saved. Some mobile coupon sites will ask the user to install their printing program first, but be sure that these will work on your computer's operating system, and will not put any unwanted software on your computer.

The printed version of these mobile grocery coupons often looks just like traditional coupons cut from the Sunday paper or circular, and work exactly the same way. Most of the time, the coupons will have a barcode on them, so the shopper can just hand the coupons to the cashier, where they will be scanned and the savings applied to their total.

Just because technology moves and changes so quickly, does not mean that shoppers need to be left behind in the dust. Grocery coupons offer convenient savings not only to consumers with smartphones but also anyone with access to a computer and printer.

Coupons are being used by more shoppers as staple items’ prices rise and the economy remains unpredictable. Consumers seek any way to save on their household’s monthly budget. Some shoppers have gone to extreme couponing and have become Coupon Ninjas.

These consumers rarely purchase an item without coupons in hand. This was true with an Atlanta shopper whose coupons were refused at a major grocery store chain. She has a family of 10 and said that she, like most Coupon Ninjas, never buys an item unless she has a coupon to match. The supermarket said they would not accept her coupons, not because of the volume of coupons she had. The store manager called her a habitual coupon user and objected to the way she was couponing. The grocery store claims they have the right to refuse any coupons and/or limit the amount that is redeemed. This is true, and they were free to exercise their right in this manner.

However, this Coupon Ninja may have been able to avoid this couponing debacle by using a mobile coupons app. These couponing apps are tied to most major grocery retailers and their loyalty cards and are becoming another tool in Coupon Ninjas’ arsenals. Instead of handing over a pile of clipped coupons from the Sunday paper, shoppers simply hand the cashier the loyalty card for that store.

Grocery stores would most likely not refuse any discounts issued from their own loyalty card. The way these mobile coupons apps work enables shoppers to stay organized and save time with their couponing. Armed with a smartphone, shoppers can scan an item’s barcode, the mobile app locates any savings offered by that store and the manufacturer. The applicable coupon is then uploaded to the shopper’s loyalty card for that store.

Coupon Ninjas often spend several hours each week clipping out discount offers and then creating a shopping strategy for the week. They determine which stores they will hit on which day and start to plan their lives around shopping with coupons. Gas money can be wasted driving all around town looking for the best deal on discounted products.

Mobile coupon apps empower Coupon Ninjas to save while on the go, without a complicated couponing strategy. They can find savings from the store in closest proximity by using an apps’ geolocation technology (although not all apps have this feature). Shoppers benefit from having all discount offers for each store on their smartphone. When they are out and about, smart shoppers can simply pull up the mobile app to see which nearby store that is offering savings on their desired products.

Building and organizing shopping lists for preferred items offers mobile coupon app users additional organization. Spending a little time up front building a list of commonly purchased items and products saves smart shoppers time, car fuel, and money in the long run. Savvy shoppers using a mobile app’s shopping list can select the store they plan to visit and the app’s geolocation technology will pull up coupons that apply to that store.

If a Coupon Ninja is in a particular store and cannot find a coupon for a desired item, the mobile app will recommend a similar product that does have a coupon. For the savvy, budget-conscious shopper, this means never having to purchase an item without a coupon. These apps will even trigger double and triple coupons for stores that offer shopper those types of discounts.

Extreme strategies for couponing have debuted on TV shows, blogs, and websites. It is no wonder that Coupon Ninjas are popping up all over the country, ready for the next big savings adventure. Mobile coupon apps can help these savvy shoppers avoid being refused coupon usage and help to create a simple and organized couponing strategy.

Mobile coupons will continue to grow over the years, as industry experts predict 300 million people are expected to adopt mobile coupon technology by 2014. For those accustomed to clipping out coupons from the Sunday paper or weekly circular, figuring out how to use these new coupons is the first step to make this projected statistic a reality.

With mobile coupons, there is no need for a computer or printer to redeem them; all shoppers need are a smartphone and a data connection. There are new software applications for smartphones that allow shoppers to access coupons frequently to gain the savings while they are on the move.

Here are four ways shoppers can use mobile coupon technology to save money and time:

Text: Some retailers post an offer in their store window or on their website with instructions to text the retailer for a special offer. A user simply follows these instructions, receives a text message and then shows it to the retailer to redeem the offer. Some restaurants are participating in text clubs where customers can join to receive occasional messages and special offers that are available only to text club members. These clubs are free to join and help consumers find the best deals at their favorite restaurants, bars, and stores.

QR Codes: These are the funny looking squares that are being seen more and more on store windows, in magazine pages, and even on outdoor advertising, like billboards along sidewalks. With so many consumers carrying a mobile phone, and new barcode scanning apps being introduced continually, retailers are adapting their mobile coupons to evolve with the changing technologies, like QR codes. Consumers can scan the QR codes posted on retailers' doors, menus, or marketing materials to find out more about the establishment and/or locate any mobile coupons available. Then they can download the coupon to their mobile device and have the retailer scan the QR code or coupon to redeem the special offer.

Barcodes: The same barcode reading technology that reads QR codes can also read barcodes. All mobile barcode readers are able to read the traditional barcode on any item available for purchase at a grocery store or retail store. This allows shoppers to find the best deals or read more information. It also allows some stores to send users to their own store's website, where they can offer special coupons for shoppers.

Email: Email campaigns are still a part of the mobile coupon trend because retailers treat their consumers’ email addresses like gold — it is a direct line of communication to their loyal base of customers. Retailers can email a coupon with an embedded barcode or QR code directly to a customer, who can just pull up the email on their phone and have the cashier scan the digital coupon, much like traditional paper coupons.

Location-based Mobile Apps: Some location-based apps — also called check-in apps — offer targeted coupons to users based on where they are at that exact moment. A prime example is someone standing on a street corner with a hungry stomach and five dining establishments as an option. She can turn on her mobile phone and connect to one of these services to narrow down the selection by identifying which restaurant has a coupon available at that moment. For example, some restaurants offer their guests 10% off their meal if they check in and show their mobile device to their server.

The more consumers adopt this growing mobile coupon technology, the more retailers will learn about their consumers’ mobile habits, allowing them to offer more valuable coupons and special offers, and consumers win with extra savings on places and products already of interest to them. The key is making these coupons easily accessible and available in real time.

Printable coupons are helping shoppers find new and easier ways of saving on regular household items they normally buy. Rather than waiting for the Sunday newspaper to arrive each week, or the coupon circulars to show up in the mail, some savvy consumers have found a new way to save money on their own schedule.

Mobile coupon apps are a growing trend in shopping, thanks to the advancements in smartphone technology and the ubiquitous use of cell phones. However, many cell phone users have not upgraded to smartphones for which these apps are designed. Some manufacturers and retailers have started to push their coupons in that direction. But a few of these mobile apps offer printable coupons for the shoppers that either do not have a cell phone or do not have data package with their phone.

Some people just feel more comfortable using a tangible paper coupon for their shopping. A few mobile coupon companies understand the need to include these shoppers in their coupon offerings and make them available to print from their websites. While the majority of these coupons target the most widely-used grocery products for the home, many printable coupons offer savings on entertainment, books, office supplies, and even restaurants. Getting savings on other household budget line items besides groceries is an additional savings clever shoppers have found.

On the websites offering printable coupons, users enter their zip code to locate saving for their area. No one needs to drive dozens of miles out of their way save on a dinner out or get a coupon for yogurt. The website provides geo-targeted coupons at popular family restaurants and pizza delivery places. Many of the restaurant coupons are from dining establishments that people frequent in their area.

Even entertainment packages from cable and satellite providers offer printable coupons on these sites. The cost of television packages can be steep and using these coupons is a great way to make a monthly household bill more affordable. Coupon users can create an affordable night of entertaining just by taking advantage of these types of coupons. They can print out coupons for pizza delivery, grocery coupons for sodas and snacks, and order a televised boxing match or a movie with the savings on their satellite package.

Another area that printable coupon users have found additional savings is in gift giving. Budget experts say that gifts and charitable donations are the line items that are most often forgotten in budget planning. Printable coupons provide savings on gift favorites like flower bouquets. Flowers are a perfect gift for any occasion and with a little forethought, these coupons can offer great savings. Personalized photo items like coffee mugs and collages make for a pleasing gift. Savings on these types of items can be found with printable coupons as well.

Even home security systems companies offer printable coupons with on the websites. Peace of mind and savings is a fit for any home. Coupons are available for just about any item on the family budget and can help consumers find the additional saving they need in this volatile economy.

Consumers who buy the Sunday paper only to clip coupons can still save by using printable coupons. They can find printable coupons on these items they mostly frequently use without having to flip through each page of the circular. With printable coupons sites, they can search, sort and print with just a click of a mouse.

With the growing trend of mobile coupons, websites continue to meet the needs of those shoppers without a smartphone. Any savvy consumer with a computer and printer can find additional savings on weekly groceries, entertainment items, and even gifts with printable coupons.

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Mobile coupons can help travelers save money on vacation, which is always helpful, because planning a vacation on a budget can be a stretch during the shaky economy. As fuel prices, plane fare, and food prices continue to rise, many Americans are left scrambling just to make ends meet, forget about planning a vacation. But with some planning, and some help from their smartphones, travelers are able to take advantage of some budget travel options that are becoming widely available to keep consumers vacationing.

Once travelers get to their destinations, they are looking for savings. Mobile coupons and mobile grocery coupons make destination savings easier than ever. With the advancement of smartphone technologies, new mobile coupons apps offer consumers savings no matter where they are.

One of the great things about smartphones and mobile coupon apps is that some of them will link a shopper's coupons with the stores in their area — even stores where they are on vacation. Thanks to the phone's GPS function, these mobile apps show shoppers where the best savings area, no matter where they are. This means that shoppers can take advantage of savings anywhere in the country, whether they are on vacation or moving to a new city.

Even local Chamber of Commerce chapters are keeping up with the technologies by providing their visitors mobile coupons upon their arrival. One island city created a text service for its tourists who took advantage of the program by sending a text message upon their arrival, and waiting for the coupons to start coming in for local attractions and restaurants.

So how can mobile grocery coupons be important on vacation? Because the biggest budget buster on a vacation is eating in restaurants for every meal. To get an idea of how much is going to be spent on food, here is a basic budget. If a family of four is trying to travel cheap, they could get by with spending $30 at breakfast, $40 at lunch, and $80 at dinner. That is $150 per day, for 7 days, or $1,050 in food for an entire vacation. (And that assumes they are not eating inside a theme park or other "captive" food choices.)

A great way to cut down on that expense is to limit how many meals are eaten out each day. With mobile grocery coupons, travelers can reduce some vacation spending by hitting the local grocery store to stock up on some basic food items, like granola bars, fruit, and sandwich fixings. These can be used to pack a picnic for the beach or have a quick breakfast before heading out for a big outing. Skip eating breakfast out and use the extra time to sleep in, and eat some granola bars and fresh fruit for breakfast. Pack a picnic lunch with sandwiches, fruit, and bottles of water. It is possible to feed a family of four a picnic lunch for $10 total, not $10 per person.

Mobile grocery coupon apps can not only save travelers on their dining dollars but also while shopping for souvenirs or collectibles. Vacation destinations can be overflowing with enticing shopping opportunities that can quickly thin a traveler’s pocketbook. Many retailers have caught onto the mobile coupon trend, realizing that shoppers are more likely to spend money in their store if they offer coupons. Thrifty vacationers can still indulge in a shopping trip but can better prepared with mobile coupons to make their traveling dollars stretch.

A lot of Americans are working hard for that one vacation and need all the help they can get with their travel budget. Taking advantage of some savings strategies like mobile grocery coupons can help vacationers to better enjoy their destination and find some piece of mind while on that hard-earned getaway.

Grocery coupons continue to be a growing trend in today's marketplace with the advancements in mobile phone technology. Savvy consumers "clip" coupons with mobile phone applications that tie into other components of their phone, such as their GPS system and online calendars. Many shoppers visit multiple grocery stores looking for the best deals on their shopping list. Organizing paper coupons from the Sunday paper creates an organizational challenge for these types of shoppers, but a mobile coupons app can help shoppers keep things organized and running smoothly.

More and more, smartphones act as consumers' home office, organizing their finances, schedules, and personal communications. People carry their mobile phones at all times and have come to rely on the device to keep them moving through their day. It is no wonder that new mobile phone apps target users with ways to simplify using grocery coupons. Instead of having to organize grocery coupons for each separate trip to separate stores, these apps offer a systematic place on the mobile phone to take advantage of savings opportunities on the go.

Mobile grocery coupon apps offer shopping lists for their users. Shoppers create multiple lists based on the stores they frequent and the products they prefer. When a shopper needs a particular item, they can add it to their shopping list. The mobile coupons app identifies which of the shopper's preferred stores carries grocery coupons for that item and locates any available manufacturer's coupons. Then the app adds the identified coupons to the user's shopping list.

Once the shopper hits a particular store, they pull up the shopping list for that store, and they are ready to go. Along with the shopping list, the grocery coupons upload for that store's location based on the shopping list. For shoppers who frequent various stores with grocery coupons, this technology provides an organizational solution saves a lot of time and money.

The mobile app will even locate grocery coupons available for that item based on the consumer's geo-location. Some grocery apps incorporate the smartphone's GPS technology to help them locate grocery coupons at stores nearest their current location. For shoppers on the go, identifying location-based savings generates savings that would have otherwise been missed.

Often times, grocery coupons sit at home while the shopper visits the grocery store on the fly. While shoppers go about their day's business, an impromptu stop at the store is not uncommon. Clipped paper grocery coupons do not always make it on those types of shopping trips. With the GPS technology and shopping list features on mobile grocery coupons apps, shoppers will not miss out on available savings.

A shopper can pull up their shopping listed created on the mobile app and select the items they need. The application identifies which of the shopper's preferred stores is carrying grocery coupons for their list's items. A shopper has a choice to either make a trip to the store nearest them or to the store offering a coupon on their item. If a coupon is not available for the exact item desired at the nearest store, the mobile application will provide coupons on an alternative item. The alternative item will be similar to the preferred product selected by the user. Having choices in product and location savings generates savings for shoppers out and about who may typically forget paper clipping coupons at home.

Mobile grocery coupon technology eliminates the need to separate coupons for each store or product. Mobile coupons appear in one systematic place on the smart phone. These coupons are always ready for your quick trip to the store. The application finds shoppers' grocery store's location and combines all the offers on the products they buy into a single streamlined mobile site.

It is no surprise mobile grocery coupons are gaining popularity. With gas prices rising, food prices escalating, and inflation taking off, everyone is looking to save a few bucks anywhere that they can. And now mobile phones have become another channel for money savings.

A recent survey said that more than three out of four shoppers regularly used coupons of some kind in 2010. That is a huge indicator that people are searching for ways to save on their shopping budget and make their dollar stretch as much as possible. But it is the way people are getting their coupons that is changing a lot of this shopping behavior.

Anyone with a smart phone already knows the benefit of having this kind of phone. It is changing the way people absorb the world. People get their news, communicate with their friends, find places to visit, and even find shopping information through their mobile phones. So why not take it one step further and start using mobile grocery coupons?

Retailers and marketers already understand the mass acceptance of smart phones, and have begun offering mobile grocery coupons as a way to offer special savings to their technology-minded customers. Mobile apps have been created for the iPhone and Android for people to download mobile grocery coupons for their favorite grocery store. Rather than printing out these coupons, wasting expensive ink cartridges, it is possible to simply download these mobile coupons to a mobile phone or loyalty card account to be redeemed electronically.

Shoppers can even find mobile apps that do not tie their mobile grocery coupons to any one store, allowing them the flexibility to choose a store that may be having a sale that week where they can combine coupons and on-sale items. Watching store ads and downloading mobile grocery coupons gives two-fold savings opportunities. And some mobile apps will even use the geo-location feature of the phones, and alert shoppers when they are near a store that has those items on sale.

These apps not only provide mobile grocery coupons but some also tie in retailers’ loyalty points for their customers. Some grocers even have gas stations where customers can redeem loyalty points for up to 50 cents per gallon. This is a huge savings opportunities for people who use these mobile coupon apps. Groceries and gas are two significant household expenses that are not optional for most people, and any savings that can be seen as a result of mobile grocery coupons and loyalty programs are always a huge help to everyone.

Also, by using mobile grocery coupons, users can actually reduce their gas consumption as well (another savings), because they can see where and when items will be going on sale at their favorite — or nearest — grocery stores. Rather than driving around from store to store, trying to find the best possible deal, now shoppers can be sure. Just check the mobile grocery coupons app, use the geo-location feature, and plan accordingly.

Mobile grocery coupons save users time and effort in coupon collecting in comparison to thumbing through the newspaper and clipping out the coupons. The younger generations are more apt to take advantage of the digital savings and can see a positive financial impact by simply using the mobile device that they have on them at all times.

The more consumers user mobile grocery coupons, the more these retailers will understand their end user. They will know which coupons are most redeemed from certain demographics and in certain locations. They can then focus more attention on creating the best deals and offers for shoppers, which in turn makes mobile coupons more useful to shoppers, which increases the number of users, and so on.

Grocery coupons have made shoppers’ lives easier, and saved them tens, hundreds, and even thousands of dollars over the years. At the same time, grocery coupons have made many shoppers lives hectic, because they're tedious to clip, a pain to organize, and maddening when they are forgotten.

The disappointment of an expired coupon or the crushing agony of leaving them on the counter can sour a shopper on grocery coupons altogether. But with a smartphone or even just Internet access, grocery shoppers are finding an easier way to save money. Through a mobile app, or even a website, money conscious consumers can access coupon savings that are tied directly to their shopper loyalty cards.

When getting started with one of these mobile coupons apps, the shopper adds the stores where they shop and use their grocery coupons most frequently, and registers their store loyalty cards. The shopper should to be careful to add the loyalty card number and not their alternative ID number of phone number that is associated with the card in order to register their savings opportunity.

Mobile grocery coupons apps are typically compatible with most major grocery stores, and can even help shoppers find the stores which are closest to them. During the registration process, the shopper will be able to select the grocery store where they prefer to shop. Once they see their favorite grocery store will work with the grocery coupon app, the fun begins.

When the shopper hits the store, they start scanning the desired items with their smartphone’s camera. The grocery coupon app searches for that manufacturer’s coupons and for any grocery coupons being offered by the retailer. Some stores offer double or triple grocery coupons and the mobile apps will pick up on any current offers through the stores' own loyalty card system. Once grocery coupons are recognized after scanning the barcode, the app will add any applicable coupons to the shopper’s loyalty card.

Then the shopper simply hands the cashier the loyalty card to redeem all the loaded coupons. The register will pull out any coupons on the loyalty card that match up to items in the transaction and apply the savings. These coupons could be direct from the manufacturer, from the grocery store, or both if the retailer allows double dipping. The shopper does not have to scrounge through their personal items to locate all grocery coupons that apply to the purchase. The savings that apply are all already on the shopper’s loyalty card.

Some shoppers will buy items on sale in the store, instead of looking for saving on the products that they actually want. Shopping with mobile coupons apps allows consumers to search for savings on their preferred products. Once an item has been scanned, it is added to a shopping list on the mobile app.

Mobile coupon apps allow shoppers to save on the items that they normally buy at the grocery store. Since the shopper scans their desired product with their mobile phone’s camera, they are looking for savings on that item. These grocery coupon apps start to track items that are purchased and customize the website and mobile app to each shopper.

Mobile grocery coupon apps enable thrift shoppers to make the most out of shopping experience by tying saving to their loyalty card. Loyalty cards typically fit into a credit card slit in a wallet or on a key chain. Shoppers do not usually leave the house without their wallet and keys, but grocery coupons often get left behind and are wasted when the coupon expires. Tying the mobile coupons to the shopper’s familiar loyalty cards makes it more likely that the customer will actually save. All they need are items they already carry – a loyalty card and their smartphone.

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Use of grocery coupons is back in vogue, thanks to the economic downturn. For four straight years, coinciding with the news of the U.S. economic crisis, the use of grocery coupons has increased. And for shoppers who own mobile phones, the use of digital grocery coupons have gotten much easier.

More than three out of four shoppers (78 percent) of shoppers regularly used coupons in 2010, compared with 77 percent in 2009, 76 percent in 2008 and 64 percent in 2007, according to a recent survey.

It’s easy to see why. The use of grocery coupons can add up to significant savings at retailers. One study found that a family spending 20 minutes a week gathering and redeeming grocery coupons could easily save 20 percent on their grocery bill. With the average American family spending about $5,000 annually on groceries, the savings would come to $1,000 a year. For a family on a budget, these savings are dramatic.

Meanwhile, digital grocery coupons are gaining more acceptance among shoppers and retailers. Over the past year, the number of digital coupons distributed to consumers increased by 34 percent. Part of this can be attributed to the increased use of coupons in general, but it also has a lot to do with the increased use of mobile smart phones, which allow people to install apps, browse the web, and even scan items with a barcode reader to find out more information.

One reason may be the tremendous convenience of digital grocery coupons. Shoppers can redeem digital grocery coupons without having to print or clip paper. This saves time and effort, allowing shoppers to use one tool they constantly carry, and are never without. Furthermore, many grocery stores allow consumers to load digital grocery coupons onto their loyalty cards from their websites, making them electronically redeemable. Load a coupon via the website, access it on the phone.

Several grocery stores are even launching mobile apps that allow shoppers to download grocery coupons to their loyalty card, helping them earn loyalty points and rewards. Meanwhile, third-party companies are creating mobile apps for iPhone and Android that are not tied to any one grocery store. This allows shoppers to pick and choose betwen their favorite stores and nearby locations, using digital grocery coupons wherever is most convenient, or where they spend most of their time.

A third of those polled in a recent online survey reported that they use coupon websites to get grocery coupons. The same survey showed that newspapers remain the most popular method of acquiring coupons, with nearly seven in 10 shoppers using them as a coupon source. Other methods include:

• Postal mail (50 percent)
• On or inside product packages (43 percent)
• In-store displays (42 percent)
• On the back of receipts (30 percent)
• In emails (28 percent)
• In magazines (25 percent)
• On manufacturer or retailer websites (24 percent)
• With a retailer club card (15 percent)
• On social networks (4 percent).

For shoppers, it seems that coupon use has become the "new normal."

"Couponing began as a need and has now evolved into a way of life," said blogger Ashley Nuzzo. "It doesn’t make sense to go back to a way of life where watching our money isn’t the norm. It isn’t a hobby, it is a habit."

For shoppers, digital coupons will fast become the new normal, as the use of mobile phone grows, as the acceptance of coupons continues to grow, and as the technology is created to make the combination of the two much smoother and easier. For shoppers who are still on the fence, there is nothing to lose to try these new coupon methods: download an app, load up some coupons, and give it a try.

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Grocery coupons can help thrifty shoppers save a lot of money on their monthly grocery expenses by being part of their coupon strategy. By spending a little bit of time up front, shoppers can end up saving more time and money once they are actually shopping in the grocery store. Here are a few tips for consumers looking to save some cash with grocery coupons:

Select One Store. It can be easier to keep track of sales and discounts for one store than trying to keep a pulse on every grocery store in the area. Once a shopper clips select coupons, either from the manufacturer or retailer, targeting one store can save time, money, and gas. Planning out one trip can reduce the amount of extra buys that occur on each trip to the store.

Shop At Different Stores. Yes, this completely contradicts the last point. But there may be times that shopping at different stores can make a difference. Maybe the different store has double or triple coupon days, but is farther from home. While this may not be ideal for a weekly stop, it could be useful for that once-in-a-while shopping trip, like before the holidays or large gatherings.

Internet Coupon Sites.

Grocery coupons become more widely available every day on the Internet. For those who do not receive the Sunday paper with the grocery coupons circulars, there is still an opportunity to find coupon savings on websites. Many of these websites allow users to select either manufacturer’s grocery coupons or local store coupons and then print them from their home computer. These coupons can be used just like traditional grocery coupons.

Mobile Grocery Coupons. Consumers can download mobile apps on their smartphones to keep an eye on local grocery savings. They can then download desired coupons directly to their phone in order to have the grocery coupons always on them. It is pretty common that people will clip coupons that never actually make it to the grocery store. They leave them on the kitchen counter or in a purse that is not in use that day. Keeping up with coupons on a mobile phone is great way to have the savings on hand at all times.

Stack Discounts. There are manufacturer’s coupons and store specific grocery coupons available to consumers. Clipping manufacturers’ coupons and then matching up one store’s sales items can save time and money. Shoppers can keep track of store sales by looking at the circulars that arrive by mail usually on Thursdays or by looking on a specific grocery store’s website. Organize shopping days based on times items go on sale (usually every three weeks) and days stores will double or triple up.

Stay Organized. It is important for a shopper to have a savings system that they will use week after week. Once the grocery coupons are clipped, it is helpful to keep them in one place. When new coupons go into the file or wallet, expired ones should come out. Knowing which coupons are still valid and what is actually on hand will help a shopper better plan a targeted shopping trip packed with savings.

A recent study found that a family spending just 20 minutes a week clipping and redeeming grocery coupons could easily save 20 percent on their total grocery bill. That could equate to a savings of $1,000 a year with the average American family spending about $5,000 each year on groceries. (1) Just by spending a little bit of time putting a plan together and following a few tips — organize coupons, shop the right grocery stores, stack discounts, use mobile apps — the savings can be significant with grocery coupons.

Sources
1) http://saveitsomewhere.com/september-is-national-coupon-month/