The prices of items in stores have risen to unbearable levels. People are cutting back on their purchases because they can’t afford to buy some items. It may seem like there is no solution in sight, but there actually is one. Coupons are an easy way to combat high store prices, and you can see how to utilize them in the following article.
If you are going to make the most out of your coupons, make sure you are well aware of what policy is in place at the store you wish to redeem them at. Some stores, for example, have a limit on the number of coupons or which ones they will accept.
In order to get as many useful coupons as possible, you should not confine your searches to conventional sources alone. By expanding your coupon hunting beyond newspaper circulars to include online resources and coupon trading groups, it is likely to maximize the products for which you can receive discounts and realize the greatest amount of savings.
Only use coupons for products that you will actually use. You won’t save any money by purchasing items that your family does not need or brands that you don’t like just because you have a coupon. Cutting out coupons for items you don’t use also costs you time, which could be better spent.
One method of securing coupons easily is taking advantage of the Sunday newspaper. Sunday papers almost always have coupons, unless it is a Sunday before a major holiday. Different newspapers have different coupons, so get a local one as well as the newspaper for the closest metropolitan city to ensure you have a range of coupons.
Use the Internet to your advantage. As couponing has become more popular, more and more websites are offering coupons that you can just print out at home. Frequent these sites, and check them often. These coupons are free and snagging them often does not require a large time investment either.
Ask your friends and family if they know of any cool sites where you can find some discounts. It is always a good thing to share information with other people about where to get discounts that way you can all figure out where to save together. Just remember to always share your secrets with them and things should work out.
Acquire copies of the couponing policies at the stores you frequent, and keep them in your coupon binder on each shopping trip. Having this policies in writing can help to clear up any misunderstandings at the register quickly. Many stores make their policies regarding coupons available on their web sites.
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.
Whenever you go shopping, make a budget and stick to it. If you are using coupons to save money, you have to stick to your food budget and keep your money in your pocket, not on impulse spending. If you have extra money after shopping, put it aside so that you can stock up on something special another week.
Learn about “stacking.” Stacking refers to the policy of some stores which allows you to use both a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon on one item. Using this policy can help you reduce the price of an item drastically, in some cases even making it free. Pay close attention to store coupons, and match them up often.
Become familiar with the acronyms that are used with coupons. An example would be the ‘BOGO’, which means buy one and get one free or discounted. Or did you know that mail-in rebates are shortened to MIR? Acronyms are all over coupon collecting. If you don’t understand the terminology, you might be losing out on the deals.
You don’t have to waste costly color ink printing coupons on your home printer. If you have an inkjet printer, you can set your preferences to print in black and white or simply remove the color cartridge. This way, everything will print in black and white. Retail establishments will still accept these non-colored coupons.
Be a conscientious coupon-clipper by never wiping the shelf clean, especially for-sale items. Buying the last two of a given item is understandable, but purchasing twenty of an item with limited stock is frustrating to other shoppers. If you know that you will be purchasing several of the same item, call the store a few days in advance to see whether they will order extra.
Make sure you use the coupons you have in conjunction with a store that has good sales. Check the store’s weekly flyer before going there. No matter what coupons you use, if the store does not have good sales, you are not getting the best deal possible. If one store does not have good sales, check another store.
Whenever possible, stack your coupons to get an even better deal. Layering your coupons like this isn’t always allowed, but when it is, it can result in significant savings. For example you could combine a manufacturers coupon with the stores coupon to great the greatest savings possible for you.
Keep an eye out for stores that accept competitor coupons. Some stores will match prices and take coupons regardless of the store the coupon was made for. Be aware of stores like these. If you happen to be at one, go ahead and use your coupons rather than going around to several different stores.
Do you see how easy it is to counteract the rising cost of items in stores? You can do it as long as you have coupons. The coupons are your magic ticket to saving money on the items you need, so don’t hesitate to clip them and take them on your next shopping trip.
