Imagine running up a $200 bill at the grocery store, and then paying only $50.
That's what dozens of Portland area shoppers do each week.
It's called
The Grocery Game, a website that gives you a weekly list of sale items at your grocery store, matched with coupons, and in-store specials that are often not advertised.
They even include a code to show you where to find the coupons.
You pay $2.50 a week for a weekly list per store you shop. The point is to stockpile your items when they're the best buy. It does take some work, organizing your coupons and finding the sale item.
Here's another coupon tip. Only cut out coupons for what you already use.
Always check online for a coupon for a retail purchase and print it out—from stores like Borders Books to JC Penney—you'll just about always find one that's good on any purchase.
Top 10 Coupon-Clipping U.S. Cities (from Entertainment Publications)
Entertainment Publications has announced the top 10 Entertainment coupon-clipping U.S. cities. As consumers clamor for savings to maintain or enhance their lifestyle, Entertainment coupon usage has spiked. The top U.S. cities for savings are
- Detroit
- Dallas
- Irvine/Orange/Fullerton (Orange County)
- Chicago
- Portland
- Phoenix
- St Louis
- Seattle
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis/St. Paul
From shabby to chic, perceptions of coupon usage have changed drastically due to the current economy. Coupon prints on Entertainment.com increased by 26 percent in March when compared to February 2009, with local events and attractions experiencing the highest spike in online coupon prints. During the same time-frame, coupon prints soared 56 percent for the category, which includes discounts for movies, museums, zoos, aquariums and more.
“In this economic downturn, discount offers drive consumer purchase behavior, from small businesses using coupons to reduce the cost of client dinners and business travel to families using their Entertainment book as a guide to determine their weekend leisure activities and friends meeting for ‘coupon exchange’ parties,” said Entertainment Publications CEO Mary Ann Rivers.
While helping consumers save more than $1 billion annually on the things they do every day, Entertainment Publications’ products also serve as fundraising tools, raising more than $75 million for its nearly 28,000 fundraising partners including schools, community groups and other charity or non-profit organizations.
Each Entertainment book is loaded with thousands of dollars worth of valuable "2-for-1" and up-to-50 percent off discounts at local and national restaurants, grocery stores, movie theaters, car washes, retail shopping, professional and college sporting events, attractions, dry cleaning establishments and more. The book also includes a comprehensive and unique travel section with guaranteed best rates at more than 35,000 worldwide hotels and resorts plus significant savings at car rental agencies and airlines.
Popularity of coupons by category varies per market. For example, in Detroit, the most popular coupon types printed in 2009 are for casual dining, sports and taverns; while in Dallas, fine dining coupons are the most popular. In Portland and Seattle, coupons and discounts for services like barber shops and hair salons as well as retail establishments are among the most printed offers.
Thrifty shoppers can print coupons after purchasing their Entertainment book by registering the Entertainment membership cards included in each book online for access to thousands of additional printable coupons, coupon codes, hotel offers, special online discounts and other member benefits. Monthly and yearly online-only memberships also are available and provide access to coupons from each of Entertainment’s 150 markets and all national retail partners.
“In the current economic climate, our business is more dependent than ever on foot traffic,” said Satia Pacotti-Gambella, general manager of Applewood Rustic Grille in Burnsville, Minn. “As the average price per purchase falls due to belt tightening, we need a higher volume of patrons and the Entertainment book helps us to drive customers to our location.”
