Grocery Couponing 101 for Chicago Newcomers

Welcome to Chicago! It’s a vibrant city with a world-class food scene. But if you’re new to the city, the grocery landscape can be a bit overwhelming. This guide will help you navigate the world of grocery couponing in Chicago so you can start saving money right away.

1. Know Your Stores

Chicago has a wide variety of grocery stores, each with its own coupon policy. Here are a few of the major players:

• Jewel-Osco: The largest grocery chain in the Chicago area. They have a great loyalty program called “for U” that offers digital coupons and personalized deals.
• Mariano’s: Another popular chain with a great selection of prepared foods and specialty items. They also have a loyalty program with digital coupons.
• Aldi: A budget-friendly store with a no-frills approach. They don’t accept manufacturer coupons, but their everyday prices are hard to beat.
• Trader Joe’s: Known for its unique and affordable private-label products. They don’t accept manufacturer coupons, but they have their own weekly ad with great deals.

2. The Jewel-Osco for U App

If you shop at Jewel-Osco, the “for U” app is an essential tool. You can clip digital coupons, see the weekly ad, and track your rewards all in one place. You can also create a shopping list in the app to help you stay organized.

3. Where to Find Coupons

There are several places to find coupons in Chicago:

• The Sunday Paper: The Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times both have a large coupon section in their Sunday editions.
• Online Printable Coupon Sites: Websites like Coupons.com and SmartSource.com have a wide variety of printable coupons.
• Digital Coupon Apps: In addition to the Jewel-Osco and Mariano’s apps, there are other apps like Ibotta and Checkout 51 that offer cash back on your grocery purchases.

4. Stacking Coupons

“Stacking” is a couponing term that means using a manufacturer coupon and a store coupon on the same item. This is a great way to maximize your savings. Jewel-Osco and Mariano’s both allow stacking.

5. Understanding the Lingo

Couponing has its own language. Here are a few common terms you should know:

• BOGO: Buy one, get one free.
• Catalina: A coupon that prints out at the register after you pay.
• Overage: When the value of your coupons is more than the cost of your items, resulting in a credit that can be applied to the rest of your bill.

6. Planning Your Shopping Trip

To make your couponing trip as efficient as possible, it’s important to be organized. Make a shopping list, clip your coupons ahead of time, and organize them by aisle.

7. Don’t Get Discouraged

Couponing takes practice. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t save a lot of money on your first few trips. The more you do it, the better you’ll get at it.

8. The Power of a Coupon Clipper Extension

If you’re new to couponing, a browser extension that automatically finds and applies digital coupons for you can be a great way to get started. It takes the guesswork out of couponing and ensures that you’re always getting the best deal.

Welcome to Chicago! We hope this guide helps you save money and enjoy all the amazing food this city has to offer.