Are you trying to save in a tight economy? Would you like to reduce your grocery expenditure while still getting the things you want and need? Coupons might be just the answer you are looking for. Coupons are easy to find, easy to use and they can really help you save.
If you get heavily involved in using coupons, but don’t like to spend money printing or buying newspapers, talk to your friends. Many people throw out the coupons from their Sunday papers, and will hold on to them for you to come and collect. Do not try to collect them out of the trash, as this can be illegal.
When you are clipping coupons always make sure you look on the front and back of each sheet of paper to make sure you are not going to cut into another coupon on accident. Often times the papers make sure that this will not happen by offsetting the coupons, but you will want to double check.
Let your friends and family know you are clipping coupons. What will probably end up happening is that everyone will save their “junk mail” for you. This mail can be a treasure trove of coupons and deals. If they don’t want to use them, they miss out–that doesn’t mean you have to!
When you clip tons of coupons, it can be hard to remember which ones you have; this is why it is wise to get a coupon organizer. With this handy tool, you can organize your coupons with one of two methods; either alphabetize them or put them in the order of the aisles in your favorite supermarket.
Do not buy something just because you have a coupon for it. Many extreme couponers will only buy an item because they have a coupon for it; this can make you waste tons of money. Instead, hold onto the coupon and when the item is on sale, use it then.
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.
Be prepared to spend a few days a month getting your coupons together. This is necessary if you are going to do couponing and be completely successful at it. You will also have to visit several different stores on your shopping trip to get the very best deals that you can in your area.
If you carry a loyalty card for a particular store, check the store’s website for coupons. Many retailers offer manufacturer’s coupons on their website and allow you to download them to your card. Your stored coupons are automatically deducted when the cashier swipes your card at the cash register.
Always keep a copy of the store’s policy with you. If you run into trouble and are told that you can’t make a certain transaction, simply get out the policy and go through it with the employee. Make sure that you don’t lose your temper, either. The only way you will get the situation resolved is if you remain patient and kind.
Try to accumulate coupons just for items you actually buy. This can help you to not spend so much money on things you do not need because this can totally mess up your budget. Buying products you don’t want or need is what some people stop using coupons altogether for. Only collecting needed coupons also ensures your coupons are neatly kept.
A good way to save money through coupons is by using their loyalty or rewards program. A lot of times stores will offer incentives for you to continue shopping there so they will offer you points. After getting enough of these points, the amount can be applied towards your next purchase.
If you want to be a real coupon-clipping aficionado, you have to understand the lingo. For example the term “BOGO” means that you buy one item and get one. Mail in rebate is denoted with MIR. These acronyms are a great way to remember sales or discounts for specific stores. If you do not know about them, you could miss out on using the coupon to the best advantage, or the deal itself.
A lot of the times you can check one of the bigger named stores you are going to visit online for coupons. You can print out a lot of coupons by doing this and save a lot of money in the process. Just make sure you read the details of the coupons before you use them.
Locate coupons on the Internet. There are a lot of sites online that have coupons and let you print out coupons from your own computer. You can put them all on one page, print and cut them out individually. Most stores will accept these coupons, so they are much like the ones you find in the newspaper.
Know which stores near you offer the lowest price to begin with, then go to them with your coupons. If store X is selling an item at two dollars more than most and your coupon is for a dollar off, you are just selling yourself short! Do the basic legwork and maximize your total savings!
Coupons can really help you save! That has been clearly explained in this article, as well as some of the best ways to find them and really take advantage of their benefits. Take some time to clip a few coupons the next time you head to the store. You might just find that the savings adds up to a whole lot more than you ever imagined!
