Using coupons is a great way to save money and make a serious dent in a tight budget. While everyone understands the benefits of coupons, not everyone understands how to use them right and really save. This article contains some wonderful tips that the average person can use to take advantage of all that coupons have to offer.
Learn your store’s coupon policy. Will that store accept competitor coupons, Internet coupons, or allow you to double up coupons? Without knowing the coupon policies of each store, shopping with coupons can be a hassle.
Use your coupons when the items are on sale to maximize your savings. Sometimes, you will need to wait to use your coupon at a later date. You might even have to shop at more than one store, but it can be worth it.
Before beginning any coupon strategy find and print a copy of the store’s coupon policy. Many stores limit the number of coupons that can be used on each transaction, while other stores may not accept internet coupons. It is therefore, important that you print a copy of your store’s coupon policy.
You’ll find great coupons in newspapers, so make sure you’re subscribing to several of them. This is especially true of the Sunday paper. Don’t just get one copy. Buy several copies. More often than not, you will find that you are saving far more than what you spent on the newspapers.
Join an online forum about coupons and deals. There are a lot of people who can help you, and you can find coupons online so you can really save money. These sites allow you print coupons and also interact with others to gain knowledge of the best buys and offers.
Try using competitor coupons at your local grocery store. Many grocery stores will honor competitor coupons to garner your business. This technique will not only save time, but it will also save money on the gas you would spend driving to multiple stores. If you do not know if your grocer honors competitor coupons, simply ask the store manager for a copy of their coupon policy.
Many people check trash dumpsters for discarded coupons, and it has become quite acceptable to do that these days. You do not have to dig through garbage, just put on some gloves and dig through newspapers. You’ll be amazed at the number of valuable coupons that people throw away.
Sign up for a coupon trading circle with other women. You can do this online or in your local area. You will find coupons from places you do not know about and maybe trade away once for items that you are already stocked up on, or that you know you will never use.
If you are clipping coupons, add a binder to your list of supplies. A binder is a great way to store and organize your coupons, and you can carry it with you every time you shop. Having it on hand will help to ensure that you use the coupons you clip and save money.
Save smarter by only using coupons for things you were going to buy anyway. Lots of people end up paying good money for items they really have no use for. Unless it’s something, you know you and your family will make good use of, don’t just get something because you have a great coupon for it.
Purge old or unwanted coupons from your collection routinely. Keeping your coupon stash filled with expired coupons is a waste of time and money since the clutter keeps you from finding the coupons that are most useful to you. Make it a point to clean out expired coupons every week or so.
Do you have more than one of the same coupon? You can usually use more than one coupon at the same time. Just make sure you follow the rules on the coupon and buy the amount of product that your coupons are for. For instance, if you have four coupons for one item, you can buy four items.
Where do you find coupons that will save you some serious money? First, look in your local newspaper, and next print them from home by searching online according to your shopping list. It’s amazing what you can find when you search for coupons online. You will find yourself saving money on just about everything.
Don’t just go after the advertised deals when making use of your coupons. Check other products in the store for reduced prices that may not have made it into the sales flyer. These can either be small price changes or, in the case of overstock or discontinuation, drastic cuts to the cost.
If you shop at a store regularly, inquire about their customer loyalty program. All loyalty programs offer their members coupons and discounts that other people do not get. This is especially helpful at the grocery store, because that is a place that you do need to visit every so often.
Be wise about your choice of coupons. Getting free offers is great, but you need to avoid buying something that you do not need. Make a shopping list before you get out the coupons. This makes it easy to avoid spending too much money.
Check the clearance aisles in stores. Sometimes you will find an item on clearance that you have a coupon for. You can get products for a small amount of money when you use a coupon when purchasing them. Be sure the store accepts coupons for items on clearance before trying to use them.
Coupons offer instant savings on the things that people use every day. While this savings is easy to understand, it is not always easy to understand how to find, effectively use and really save with coupons. The tips in this article provided a great starting point with some important tips. Use them and start saving today!
