Using coupons can be a great way to save money and to make your grocery dollars buy more. But unless you are finding a using coupons in an organized way, you may find that you are simply wasting a lot of time and not getting back the great savings that you thought you would. This article can help you find and organize coupons so that you get the most for time and money.
To get coupons for brands you particularly enjoy, all you have to do is ask. Many companies are willing to send out coupons to people who email or write to them. Simply send a letter noting how much you enjoy a product and ask if they would provide you with coupons. You will be surprised at how often they oblige!
Try to use as many coupons as possible. This will allow you to make more purchases of essentials while shopping. Best of all, you can do this with your favorite products to build a reserve for later. If you have 5 coupons for ketchup you’ll be using weekly, then purchase five ketchup bottles with your coupons.
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.
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!
Search the web to find coupon codes or promotional discounts for websites you shop from frequently. Often you will find a code or coupon that will save you money on your bottom line.
When shopping with your coupons, make yourself a list. Having your coupons matched up with your list will help you keep track of what you’re doing. This will save you a whole lot of time while shopping. Record how many items you have in mind.
A great tip if you’re someone who likes to use coupons is to look into whether specific stores have an online coupon that you can use. All you have to do is log onto their web site, and you can usually tell within minutes, whether they’re offering their own coupons online.
Use store coupons along with manufacturer coupons. Most stores will allow you to use one of their coupons along with a manufacturer coupon; utilize this technique for extreme savings. Many stores will honor both coupons; however, when utilizing this savings strategy have a printed copy of the store’s coupon policy.
Take your time. You don’t have to be a couponing expert overnight. Begin by frequenting just one store. Get used to its policies and figure out how best to manage your coupons. Once you start to get the hang of things, pick up a second store. Eventually, you may have several that you visit on a regular basis.
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.
Don’t purchase anything online until you do a coupon search. Use a search engine to search for coupons from the retailer you are shopping at. Special deals that are currently running should be displayed via coupon codes. You can find a wide range of coupons out there, from initial savings on the purchase to free shipping coupon codes to use at checkout.
Know your coupon lingo. You may not be aware of the things that you can do with your coupons. Look out for “coupon deals.” These are store promotions where the stores double the savings. Keep an eye out for ‘stackable’ coupons. These are coupons that you can use multiple of, stacking up the savings. When you know the lingo, you’ll be ready to take advantage of the opportunities.
Go ahead and get the Sunday paper so that you can find all of the coupons and discounts that are in them. You can save a lot of money buy paying a few dollars to purchase the Sunday paper for all of the coupons that are inside of it that offer you good deals.
To know where you can use certain coupons, write down a list of the coupon policies at your local retailers and grocers. Some of them are not going to accept the Internet printed coupons, or competitors. Check their websites for their policies, and consider trips to stores you might not currently visit if they are more coupons friendly.
As was pointed out at the beginning of this article, coupons can be a great way to save money. But, as with any money saving tool, you need to know how to use them properly to be able to get the most from them. Use the tips from this article to help you find the best coupons and the most effective way to organize and use them.