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'A Penny Saved': Savings Strategies

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 23, 2008

"A penny saved is a penny earned" wasn't only true in Ben Franklin's time.

A Brandon Coupon Club member since 2000, Aimee Hargett clutches a stack of neatly clipped coupons she plans to use on her next visit to the grocery store. Some are for 25 cents off. Others will earn her free products when she buys one. Individually, they don't seem like a lot of savings. But collectively, they represent hundreds of dollars over the course of a year.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average family of four spends $709 a month on groceries, and that's expected to go up 4 percent in the coming year.

Clipping coupons and searching for bargains doesn't have to become a full-time job, however. Coupon club members say people can save money by following five tips:

•Buy products when they are on sale and use coupons when they are available. Club members religiously subscribe to Sunday newspapers for the coupon circulars.

•Buy in bulk when an item you regularly use is at a particularly low price.

•Sign up for preferred savers' cards at local stores.

•Redeem those rebates. It's now easier than ever because it can be done online.

•Join a coupon club or start your own.

Club members also recommend searching for coupons at Web sites such as Boodle

.com and Coupons.com.

Mary Harrison, professor of consumer education for the Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Florida, also is a fan of coupons, scratch-and-dent sales and discounts for quick sales.

In addition, she advises consumers to get organized. She said one of the easiest ways to save money is to plan grocery shopping excursions and avoid last-minute runs to the store, because people tend to spend more money when they are rushed.

"Check your refrigerator and pantry before going. You may be able to combine a food on hand with an ingredient to be bought to make another meal without spending much money," she said.

People also tend to spend more when they are with children or a spouse who tempts them to make impulse buys, shopping during peak times when stores are crowded and they get distracted, and when they are tired or hungry, she said.

WHAT'S YOUR TAKE?

Do you have savings tips to share? Send them to Felix Martinez at fmartinez@ tampatrib.com, fax to (813) 643-6844 or mail to Brandon News & Tribune, 505 W. Robertson St., Brandon, FL 33511, attention: Felix Martinez.

VOTE IN THE POLL

Tell us what you're doing to save money at the grocery checkout. Go to Brandon.TBO.com and scroll down the page to the lower right corner and click on "Cast Your Vote." Tell us what you're doing to save money at the grocery checkout. Go to Brandon.TBO.com

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