Clipping coupons can be a terrific way to save lots of money each and every time you go shopping for your family. The key to making coupons work well for you is to acquire the knowledge necessary to use them skillfully. Continue reading this piece for great advice on how to do just that.
In order to really get the most value out of the coupons you clip, be sure to keep them organized and broken down by product category. By maintaining distinct classes of coupons, you will have quick access to them while shopping, which can prevent you from being left with a large number of expired discount offers.
If you are into couponing, chances are you have some friends and family who are not; so, to save even more money, ask them for spare coupons. Often, companies mail out great high-value coupons or include them in inserts in the local newspaper. Ask friends and family to set them aside for you if they won’t be using them.
Think before you click the submit button! Always do an online search for coupon codes before making an online purchase. There are even whole websites dedicated to keeping databases of coupon codes. Visit retailmenot.com or couponcabin.com before making a purchase. It only takes a second and could save you a lot of money.
It is a good idea to have a large coupon holder and organizer. This way when you are clipping coupons, you will be organized and know exactly where to look for it. If it is large, you will have plenty of room to clip all the coupons you find and possibly trade them with others.
Bring all of your coupons when you go to the store even if you don’t plan to use it. Specials and sales might catch you by surprise and make your coupons worth using.
Figure out a good organization system. If you don’t have your coupons in the right order, some may expire before you get a chance to use them. Consider purchasing a few baseball card holders and putting them in a book. This will help you clearly see your coupons and allow you to grab and go when necessary.
If you would like extra copies of your newspaper’s coupon insert without shelling out the full price of the paper, contact the paper’s offices, and inquire about a possible couponer’s discount. Lots of offices offer newspapers for $1 a piece by subscribing to them and ordering a minimum of five copies each week.
Do not spend more time clipping coupons than it is worth. Poring over circulars and trimming those money-saving scraps of paper can easily turn into a full-time job. Think about how much you are saving for each hour of effort, and decide if it’s worth it or not.
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.
Set coupon saving goals each week. Try to come with a dollar amount you need to save every week and use that as motivation to help you find those money saving coupons. By working this strategy it puts you in the mindset of always looking for those great coupon deals.
Keep your eyes peeled for peelies! When wandering through your local store, be on the lookout for coupons stuck to the outside of products or hanging around the necks of bottles. These are called peelies and hangtags in coupon lingo, and can save you big bucks! Also look for coupon dispensers in aisles to save even more.
Be respectful and courteous when using coupons. Be sure to purchase the actual items specified on the coupon and that the coupon has not expired. Stores don’t take kindly when you try and game the system. Do the right thing and keeps things fair for everyone.
Only use coupons on items that are on sale. You can get the most out of your money this way. If an item is not on sale and you buy it just because you have a coupon, you could be wasting money. Hold on to your coupons until the next week when sales change and the item you want is on sale.
Do not make the mistake of not using as many coupons as you can to get discounts. For example, if you have four bags of chips, and you have a coupon for a discount on one bag, you can get three more coupons and get a discount off of everyone.
To maximize your coupons from savings, take the time to check the prices on all the options when you shop. For example, if you have a coupon for $1 off a bottle of Windex, but the store brand glass cleaner is $2 cheaper than the price of Windex, then you’ll be ahead without the coupon.
To get the most savings out of coupons, only clip the ones that will save on items you already buy. If you go out of your way to buy products that you don’t normally use, you’re not saving any money — you’re spending extra money that you would not have without the coupon.
Just in case your coupons do not work out, plan on paying full price for everything that you are going to purchase. If by chance something were to arise and you cannot get the discounts that you thought you would get, then you want to be prepared for the situation.
There is no doubt that the use of coupons can lead to substantial savings for you and your family. In order to maximize the potential of coupons, an understanding of how best to use them is absolutely critical. Keep the tips in this piece close at hand, and you will be surprised by how much money you can really save.
