A SAVVY couponer has revealed the ONE thing she does to save almost £400 a year on Christmas gifts – by starting her shopping a YEAR early.
Charlie Brown, 31, has been using coupons to save money since she was a teenager – as she wanted to “help out the household”.
Now said she will get her Christmas dinner using coupons and spend around £30 for seven people – including meat, vegetables and gravy – saving £150.
She spends around £300 on Christmas gifts for her family and friends by shopping for gifts all year round – starting in January and grabbing the presents when the deals are on – saving at least £377.
This year alone, Charlie estimated she has saved her family over £3000 by shopping with coupons – and £377 on Christmas alone.
Charlie, a couponer, from Bradford, Pennsylvania, said: “Each year for Christmas, I probably save close to £400 because of couponing, shopping, sales and buying out of season.
“This year in total, I have saved £3000 through couponing in general.
“With the holidays approaching, I anticipate that I will save even more than that.”
After wanting to help out her parents as a teen, Charlie took to couponing at an early age.
She would watch TV shows, waiting for deals, and look through the weekly coupon magazines to see what bargains she could grab.
“This has been a huge part of my life,” Charlie said.
“I have been doing this for well over half of my life.
“When I was a teenager, I would watch TV shows, and wait for the weekly coupon magazines.
“I saw that it would allow me to help out my family – I wanted to help the household.”
Charlie gets the majority of her deals through apps like Dollar General.
She said that most stores you visit will have apps where you can get coupons and claim cash back.
Charlie said: “Now we have apps for most stores that we shop at, which allow us to get coupons or cash back.
“I tend to use the Dollar General app, as that is where I do most of my shopping.
“They offer cash back and coupons for their customers.”
For Christmas gift buying, instead of having a holiday rush before the holiday season, Charlie recommends shopping all year round.
This has allowed Charlie to save £300 a year on Christmas gifts alone.
She said: “I will shop for gifts all year round, it is important to pay attention to sales taking place throughout the year.
“As a couponer, I gift things I got with coupons or clearance shop for all year, but at Christmas, it feels extra special.
“You can coupon clothes, soaps, games, snacks, candles, household essentials, decor, toys, and so much more.
“It’s never too early to think of Christmas, when the Christmas items drop in price, so do the gift sets.
“Grab your gift sets for next year, this year.”
Charlie’s top tips for Christmas
1 – Shop all year around and pay attention to sales throughout the year.
2 – Coupon for your gifts
3 – Give your family practical Christmas gifts.
4 – Price compare, shop around for the best deal
Charlie recommends caution when it comes to Black Friday, and said just because it says it is a good deal, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is one.
She recommends price comparing items to what they were for months prior to the sale.
Charlie said: “I always check the Black Friday flyers, but it is important to see what items the stores are offering and pay attention to their price throughout the year.
“If items are going on sale during other holidays in the year, it might be cheaper to buy around Easter.
“You will find that there are some really great deals that are on earlier in the year.
“Look for sales all year round, and not just on Black Friday.”
