I’ve saved thousands of dollars a year on groceries using coupons… here’s how you can too

A mom has revealed how she has saved thousands of dollars a year on groceries just by using coupons.

Lauren Finney Harden, 40, from Atlanta, Georgia, came across ‘couponing influencers’ on TikTok back in 2020 when she was stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She became enthralled with the activity and made it her mission to learn everything she could about it.

Flash forward nearly five years later and she’s now cut down her food bills by thousands.

‘According to my CVS app, I’ve saved $2,322 in the last five years – and that’s just at one store,’ she recently wrote in an essay for Business Insider. 

‘I haven’t paid for toothpaste in years and had a good couple of years-long streak where I never paid more than $1 a gallon for oat milk.

‘With steep prices these days, couponing is an essential and easy way for me to keep costs down.’

So how does she do it? Well, the mom-of-two explained that uses apps dedicated strictly to couponing, like Fetch, Merryfield, Aisle, and Ibotta.

Mom-of-two Lauren Finney Harden, 40, from Atlanta, Georgia, has revealed how she has saved thousands of dollars a year on groceries just by using coupons

She said she came across ‘couponing influencers’ on TikTok back in 2020 and became enthralled with the activity, making it her mission to learn everything she could about it

She said they allow you to scan the barcode of an item while shopping, and they will tell you if there’s any coupons available for it.

She explained, ‘Merryfield, for example, is a couponing app with coupons for expensive brands like Applegate Farms, Vital Farms, and Lesser Evil. 

‘I regularly see coupons for Siete and Dave’s Killer Bread on Ibotta, and I’ve gotten free Wow Bao buns from the app Aisle that retail for $8.79 at Kroger. 

‘I’ve even used coupons from some of these apps at Costco and Trader Joe’s.’

In addition, she recommending checking the store’s app directly for coupons.

She said that popular chains like Kroger, Publix, Target, Dollar General, and even Sam’s Club often have deals on their apps that people miss out on.

‘They regularly [have] deals for name brands such as Bounty, Pampers, Arm & Hammer, and Rubbermaid,’ she revealed.

‘Coupons can get you great deals on everyday items like canned goods, yogurt, and cheese.’

Flash forward nearly five years later and she’s now cut down her food bills by thousands (stock image)

So how does she do it? Well, the mom-of-two explained that uses apps dedicated strictly to couponing, like Fetch, Merryfield, Aisle, and Ibotta

Lauren explained that couponing isn’t just about saving money, as it’s also become a social activity for her

Lauren explained that couponing isn’t just about saving money, as it’s also become a social activity for her.

She explained that she now has a group chat with her neighbors where everyone shares deals that they find to help one another out. 

‘It’s social for me. My neighborhood group text is always buzzing with advice on what deals were good this week,’ she shared. 

In addition, she said she gets a ‘huge dopamine hit’ when she finds a good deal. 

‘Every time I tell someone I’m a couponer, they scoff that it’s too much work to keep up with, but to me, spending a few minutes each shop doing the work is absolutely worth it,’ she concluded. 

‘I’m saving money and getting a huge dopamine hit. I squeal with glee when I work a good deal, begging my husband to ask how much I paid for something.

‘In today’s economy, every cent counts, and coupons are a proven way to make your money go even further.’