Although using coupons seems simple enough, many people still find themselves challenged by figuring it all out. If you happen to be one of those people, the following article will help you learn which coupons to watch for and the best ways to use them. Pay attention, you can really save yourself a lot of money!
Educate yourself before you get started couponing. Know what various terms mean. Become familiar with the policies of your local store. For example, can you use both a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon on the same item? Does your store double coupons? Understanding the process will save you time and frustration.
Don’t clip everything. Whatever you do, avoid the trap of keeping all the coupons you can just because you “might” use them. If the coupon is for something you don’t like or can live without, forget it. Paying money for something you don’t really enjoy is not a good idea, even if you save a few bucks on it.
When you go shopping, you are much more likely to stick to your budget if you only pay with cash. Decide how much you are going to spend. Decide the amount of savings from coupons you will receive. Then only take that amount of cash with you shopping. You will only purchase what you need and you will be motivated towards using all your coupons if you shop with cash only.
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 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.
When using your coupons, try to find stores that will double or triple them. Some stores do this on a regular basis, while others offer special offers for a particular week or weekend. By doing this, you can save twice as much on your purchases. Just keep your eye on the local newspapers to find out who is offering doubles or triples and when.
Use rewards coupons carefully. You will very rarely get coupons for certain items, like milk or meats. Some stores offer rewards coupons and certificates for certain purchases, and these can be used for anything in the store. Take advantage of them and use them on products like milk, fruits and veggies, or meats.
Try to cut out coupons that you are going to use more often than not. If you use coupons regularly, this will give you a better mindset for cutting them out, which will give you an incentive in the first place. Furthermore, using coupons on items that you need will reduce wasteful spending.
Compare coupons of competing stores. This works great for things like food and office supplies. One store may offer bananas for 79 cents per pound, while another store offers them for 60 cents a pound. Compare and look around to make sure that you are getting the best deal possible.
Try to stack your coupons. Sometimes stores will allow you to use both a manufacturer’s coupon and a store coupon for one item. Professional couponers find that this often leads to items that cost only pennies, or are at times even free. Always ask if you can stack coupons when you are at the checkout stand to save the most money.
If a product has a mail-in rebate offer, make sure that it is worth the postage and your time. If it is, make certain that you mail it in quickly. Some stores will offer you a special receipt, specifically for rebates. If your store doesn’t, pay for the item separately so that you have your receipt for other items.
When you use coupons, try to always be respectful. Be sure to purchase the actual items specified on the coupon and that the coupon has not expired. Unfortunately, people who abuse coupons can result in stores restricting their use, resulting in fewer opportunities for others to save.
To make finding your coupons easier, try sorting them by a similar attribute. For instance, you could sort them by brand, by product type, by expiration date, etc. There are so many ways you can keep everything together so that you can easily see and use them to maximize your savings.
A good tip if you’re someone that uses coupons is to use a coupon on an item that you’d like to try out. Sometimes we’d like to try out new products but don’t want to pay full price for them. Using a coupon will sweeten the deal, and you’ll get a chance to try out the product for yourself.
Follow the blogs. There is a huge community of couponers online. Many bloggers do the dirty deal-finding work for you and make it super simple to score the deals. They tell you exactly which items are on sale, what corresponding coupons are available, and exactly where to find those coupons. It is a great way to find the best couponing deals without all the work.
Build a stockpile with your coupons. Try to get as many copies of each coupon as you can. When you have multiple coupons for an item that is on sale, use all of your coupons to purchase multiples of that item. For example, if peanut butter is on sale and you have four coupons, buy four jars. You will have a ready supply of cereal at less than full price.
Coupons can really stretch your dollars so much further than paying the regular price for items. Once you master your own personal system of couponing, you will be clipping, printing and ringing out with mega-savings like an old pro! In this economy, we could all use extra savings and coupons are an easy way to save plenty.
