Many Canadians over the age of 30 can remember when Mom scanned the Wednesday newspaper food sections for cents-off coupons to help save on the weekly groceries.
It wasn't unusual with careful shopping that many homemakers of the day realized significant savings through clipping coupons.
Now with food prices on the rise, there is a resurgence of interest in this activity, although technology has changed how consumers can get in on the game.
Most Canadian homes receive weekly promotional flyers from grocery chains, but many are going electronic. It's just a matter of visiting the websites by doing an online search for "Canadian supermarket coupons."
There are hundreds of ways to retrieve online coupons that can be run off on home printers offering discounts for everything from bread to toothpaste.
Melanie Badgley has always been a coupon clipper to help her save on her weekly grocery shopping.
"I learned early on in our marriage that the grocery budget was about the only place you could cut corners, so I was determined that I would use coupons," says the Memphis, Tenn., mother of four sons.
She uses some online sites to clip and get tips on shopping economically. As her interest has grown, so have her ideas on getting the most from coupon shopping.
But she found that shopping with coupons in supermarkets was frustrating.
"I was using a little accordion file to contain the coupons and it took so long standing in the store digging through them and half of them had expired," Badgley, 41, says.
Then she had an idea. She designed a binder with plastic pockets to hold coupons, gift cards, her shopping list, cellphone and debit card.
"So there is no need to take my purse (to the supermarket); I have everything I need," she says.
Now on the market for other coupon savvy shoppers, the Koupon Keeper also has tabs indicating the type of grocery item and its coupon as well as a strap to attach it to the grocery basket.
The product is available to Canadians online for $19.95 plus tax at www.kouponkeeper.com.
"I am working on a smaller version for seniors and singles," says Badgley.
Here are a few Canadian online sites to check for food shopping tips, how to save on groceries and downloading coupons: Frugal Shopper www.frugalshopper.ca; www.save.ca; www.smartcanucks.ca and www.thriftyfun.com.
