If you, like many people, are struggling to make ends meet in this terrible economy, one of the best things you can do is to start using coupons. You may not believe it, but it is possible to save hundreds and even thousands of dollars per year by using simple coupons. Keep reading if you are interested in learning more.
You’ll save more when you combine coupons and sales. Sometimes, this means that you will have to hang onto a coupon for a couple of weeks instead of using it on your next shopping trip. This also means that you may have to make more stops on your grocery trip, but the savings are worth it.
The best way to keep all of your coupons in order is to buy some plastic inserts and keep them in a binder. You can buy different sizes of plastic pouches and perhaps keep them in categories this way. You can organize it. However, will be easiest for you to get through.
Take advantage of any reward’s cards programs that your local grocery store provides. Often times the store will allow you to load certain coupons right onto your card. This is so nice because you do not have to clip them out, but you also have to remember to note what you put on the card so that you are sure what you need to buy. Furthermore, you cannot use more than one coupon at a time, and they often limit doubling.
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.
Be prepared to spend a few days a month getting your coupons together. This is necessary if you are going to do couponing and be completely successful at it. You will also have to visit several different stores on your shopping trip to get the very best deals that you can in your area.
A great tip you can try if you like to use coupons is to do some comparing from coupons of different stores. This is a good way to find the very best deal. Some stores will even match a competitor’s price, which means you won’t have to travel all over to different stores.
If you snag a truly great deal with a coupon for an item that you won’t use, donate it. Food banks will accept nearly any packaged food item. Women’s shelters can often use diapers, shampoo, and other toiletries and supplies. Research and contact local resources in your community to find out what they need, and use your couponing skills for good.
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.
Keep your coupons organized. Whether you use a coupon holder, binder or envelopes, make sure your coupons are organized and easy to find. Organize them in a way that is easiest for you to sort through. Some ideas are sorting by item type or the section of the store the item is kept in.
Some of the best coupons that you will find are going to be in your local newspapers. These coupons will be for the stores that are local in your area and very easy to get to, which will improve the level of convenience you have and reduce your stress level.
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.
If you have the time and the notion, become an extreme couponer. For people who have nothing better to do, this can be a great way to stock up on products. It does take time and dedication, so it’s definitely not for everyone. But give it a try, and you may find it worthwhile.
Set up a dummy email account and sign up for all those coupon sites! Most of us don’t like getting spam in our regular mailbox, so have an address just for the purpose of collecting all those amazing coupons, along with whatever else you might get. Your savings will be phenomenal, but your email won’t be over-loaded with junk.
Check the clearance aisles in stores. Sometimes you will find an item on clearance that you have a coupon for. You can get products for a small amount of money when you use a coupon when purchasing them. Be sure the store accepts coupons for items on clearance before trying to use them.
Keep in mind that some places will not allow you to stack discounts on one another. You are most likely going to have to choose one or the other if you are trying to use a coupon on an item that is on sale, so choose the cheapest of the two prices.
You cannot use more than one manufacturer coupon on one item, so make sure that you know which coupon is for which item before you go into the store. Keep in mind that you are allowed to use one manufacturer’s coupon and one store coupon on the same item to maximize savings.
As you read at the top of this article, using coupons is a terrific way to save lots of your family’s hard earned money. By carefully studying the coupon tips and advice discussed in this article, you can save big. Don’t let the economy drag you down, start using coupons.