Nichole Schaubroeck has managed to cut her grocery bill significantly using an underrated saving method — couponing.
When she started couponing 10 years ago to get good deals on groceries and other products, it was still a pretty niche practice.
Now, the seasoned couponer from Manitoba says it’s more accepted and routine, especially given Canada’s cost-of-living crisis.
“People are so open to it now because everything’s increased so much in price that it doesn’t matter who you are… everybody wants to save money,” she told Daily Hive in a phone interview.
In 2020, COVID affected not only immune systems but also the global economy and, as a result, people’s ability to afford to live.
Schaubroeck saw how Canadians were struggling and decided to share her couponing expertise to teach others how to save money on groceries and essentials.
“TikTok had just started becoming popular, and no one was really helping people save money, and I was like, ‘let’s try and see what we can do,’” she said.
She began posting helpful videos on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube under the username @couponcutiecanada and has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers.
Depending on how much effort you’re willing to put into it, Schaubroeck says couponing can save you thousands of dollars on your grocery bill and other shopping expenses.
She also broke that down, adding that if your grocery bill is around $100 a month, you could save a minimum of $20 through coupons and price matching.
Every dollar counts, especially with food prices expected to worsen in the coming years.
If you want to jump on the coupon train but aren’t sure where to start, here’s the coupon queen’s advice for beginners.
Not just physical coupons
Couponing has come a long way from when our parents used to cut out the pages of grocery flyers.
“The main thing that I do isn’t just about using an actual physical coupon,” said Schaubroeck. “It’s about trying to save money on everything.”
In addition to physical coupons, she uses price-matching apps to get the best deals on groceries, rebate apps to earn cash back, points apps, and cards.
How to get started
Schaubroeck suggests you start small. Begin by collecting coupons you see at stores, which can be found in the aisles, on the shelves, and in products.
She then advises people to download helpful apps for price matching and points. These include Flipp for price matching, Checkout 51 for cash back, and points programs like PC Optimum and Scene.
“If there’s an opportunity for some extra points to get free groceries back, definitely always scan that card to have that opportunity for yourself,” she said.
The coupon queen herself is also a helpful resource for amazing deals.
Couponing might sound daunting when you’re first starting, especially when the image you have in your mind is of someone dedicating a crazy amount of time to scouring flyers and researching online for deals.
Schaubroeck does all of the “extreme couponing” so you don’t have to, posting videos about the best prices at different stores to stock up on every Friday, new finds at your go-to shops like Costco and Dollarama, and how to triple stack deals on groceries.
@couponcutiecanada Have you seen these? #dollaramacanada #mysterysquishmallows #mysterybag ♬ original sound – Coupon Cutie Canada
Best stores for grocery deals
Not all grocery stores are created equal when it comes to finding the best coupons and deals.
Schaubroeck says her go-to supermarkets are Superstore, No Frills, Sobeys, and FreshCo.
She says you can usually price match and use coupons at those stores, making them beginner-friendly for new couponers.
Walmart used to price match, but now it doesn’t, so Schaubroeck says it can be hard to coupon there.
@couponcutiecanada Would you try this deal? #fairlifemilk #canadiandairy #allbran #canadiancouponer ♬ original sound – Coupon Cutie Canada
Couponing household items and clothes
Schaubroeck says non-grocery items like household products and clothes are some of the easiest to coupon.
She says new household items will usually be sold with points offers or even discounts.
The coupon queen also shares deals for clothing stores like GAP and Old Navy, allowing you to stack promo codes online.
@couponcutiecanada Back to school deal. #gapcanada #backtoschooloutfit ♬ original sound – Coupon Cutie Canada
Schaubroeck has a website where you can find all the latest deals on her radar so you don’t have to do the research.
Couponing amid soaring cost of living
Even with all of the research Schaubroeck puts into finding the best deals for Canadians, she still finds herself stumped sometimes when she cannot price match or find a coupon for a product that costs too much.
“Yeah, [we don’t want to] have to price match or coupon everything, but if we can, at least it can make a difference,” she said. “It’s hard for everyone right now, and I just wish it was easier.”
Do you have any tried-and-tested ways to save money on food? Please share them with our readers by commenting or emailing us at [email protected]. Your favourite money-saving hacks could be featured in a future story.