Coupon use confuses a lot of folks. Many feel that coupons are too difficult and not worth the time, but that isn’t the case. Keep reading for some great ideas you can use immediately.
Be on the lookout for “Buy One Get One Free” deals. These are some of the best bargains around. To make the deal even better, see if there is an additional manufacturer’s coupon you can use with the store offer. You can practically get items for free with these rare opportunities.
Discuss your new couponing hobby with everyone you know. Some of them may not be as interested in it as you are, and they may be willing to give you inserts from their own papers. Try to obtain as many copies of these inserts as possible; there is no such thing as too many coupons!
Using coupons on sale items will result in the biggest savings. Sometimes, this might mean giving up the immediate gratification of using a coupon during your next shopping adventure. This may also mean that you will need to make more shopping trips, but the money you save will be worth the trouble.
Try to clip coupons for every item you find, even if you do not use that product. Sometimes you may have a neighbor who needs coupons for diapers, and you could trade them the diaper coupons for ones that you can use. This helps you and your neighbor as well.
Get organized with your coupons. Use a three ring binder with baseball card holders to sort them. Separate the coupons into different sections, such as dairy, baking products, frozen, and others. Keep a section open for coupons you plan to use immediately. That way, when you get to the store, you are ready to go.
You should set aside one day per week where you really focus on your couponing efforts. This can help you to organize as best as possible. The rest of the week it is fine to clip a coupon you happen to come upon, but having a designated day for coupon searching is the best strategy.
Don’t forget about online coupons. Traditional paper coupons are great, but there are tons of great coupons online. There are various coupon sites that you can join too. Receiving instant notifications to your inbox can help you get access to many deals before other people. Some sites also have promo codes that can help you boost your savings.
Signing up for a couponing website is a good idea so that you can trade with people from other areas. Many companies will print coupons in one area of the country that they do not in others. They are still good nationally, but they may just not be available to you.
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.
A great idea for couponers who live in the same area is to start a coupon group that meets regularly, such as weekly or monthly. Members get together and bring all their unused coupons, which can be traded for coupons that others do not use. It’s also a great time to exchange tips and information on the best coupon deals available.
Use every medium available to collect your coupons. You can find them locally in newspapers, mailers and on receipts. They are also available online on store websites, manufacturers’ websites, Facebook, Twitter and on a specific coupon- collecting sites. Always keep your eyes open for coupons to save the most money.
Find out whether you can double up on your coupons. If you have more than one coupon, can you buy more than one item in one visit? That is the question you need to ask the store before you go shopping. Don’t make the mistake of waiting until you’re checking out.
To make your coupon hobby run more smoothly, try purchasing a three-ring binder, and fill it with baseball card collector sheets. Each sheet contains 9 pockets that you can fill with your coupons. Coupons can then be divided into categories, such as cleaning supplies, beauty products and many other categories.
Always have your coupons available. The truth is, you never know when you might need to stop and pick something up while you are out. By keeping your coupons either in your vehicle or in your bag, you will always have them readily available should the need to shop arise.
Start your coupon collecting with only one store. Coupons may seem like an easy thing to collect and utilize, but there are many complexities. Some coupons have multiple policies. Some stores allow coupons from competitors. Some stores will even accept coupons that have expired – even months after the expiration date.
Buy two or more Sunday newspapers. If there are coupons for items you use, then you will have double the coupons for those items. This is a good way to stock your cabinets with items you use if they are on sale. You can save a good bit of money this way.
It is important to have your coupons organized, to avoid expiration dates passing without your knowledge. In addition to sorting by type, put the ones with the soonest expiration dates first. When you see that the time is approaching, add the item to your shopping list. Knowing what you have in advance will also help you to work with the in-store sales.
So now that you understand how to use coupons you can begin saving lots of money. Coupons aren’t something to be afraid of. With these tips, you can really save a lot of money starting now. Start using coupons today.
