It’s hard for anyone to argue against the vast amount of money that couponers save. However, without the right knowledge and understanding of the best ways to use coupons, many people find the process to be quite tedious. Implement the following tips, and it will not be long before you, too, can save lots of money each time you go to the store.
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.
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!
When using coupons, be sure it’s actually the best deal out there. While the coupon you have may be a decent deal, it is often still better to shop for the off-brand equivalent. Never assume that a coupon is your ticket to maximizing your savings.
Before beginning any coupon strategy find and print a copy of the store’s coupon policy. Many stores limit the number of coupons that can be used on each transaction, while other stores may not accept internet coupons. It is therefore, important that you print a copy of your store’s coupon policy.
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.
A good tip when clipping out coupons is to place them in a pouch or somewhere you can easily keep track of them. This will prevent you from creating a mess and you’ll have your coupons readily available when you need them so you won’t have to dig around to find them.
Check coupons online to see if there are any coupons available for items you need. If you find a coupon for an item, you need, look at the store’s flyer and see if there are any sales on the item. If there aren’t, check the price when you go to the store.
Before you head to the stores, check out the newspaper circulars from home to match sales with your coupons. You may realize that there are other stores where you can save the most amount of money, rather than just going to your regular store.
Scan magazines at the doctor’s offices if they are new for coupons. Most places will not mind if you tear out a coupon if there is not any publications on the other side. Most of the time a magazine is good about only printing coupons on the other side of ads or using tear outs.
Organize your coupons by the expiration date. You might find, when you start clipping, that you are collecting a bountiful supply of coupons for the same item. If you organize these coupons by the expiration date, you will make sure to use the ones that expire first during your next trip, and save the others for a later date. This helps you to take advantage of all the savings you have gathered.
Don’t get picky. To get the most out of your coupons, disregard any brand loyalties you may feel. If the brand you use isn’t on sale, don’t buy it. There isn’t a huge difference between most brands. Base your shopping list around the items that you currently have coupons for.
To have a basic filing system for your coupons, it’s a good idea to put them in a shoe box stacked in chronological order or just arrange them by an expiration date. In doing this, you do not have to waste a ton of time organizing. However, you always know which coupons are about to go out of date and become useless.
One key tip for anyone who collects coupons is to never throw away those coupons you get in the mail. You can actually get some great value in these coupons, particularly with fast-food restaurants. Make sure that you at least glance over them before throwing anything away in the garbage.
Start a coupon exchange club in your neighborhood. By meeting monthly with friends and fellow couponers, you can effectively garner the coupons you need most. For example, if you have an infant or small child that uses diapers, many of your fellow couponers will have no need for diaper coupons and would be willing to clip and trade diaper coupons for other coupons they would use.
Learn what the regular prices are for items that you use frequently, or for expensive items that you only purchase occasionally. Sometimes, stores will raise the prices of items before putting them on sale or offering other in store specials. By learning the true regular price, you are prepared for these events.
Before you buy anything, look for a coupon. Oftentimes, there are coupons available online that are not advertised elsewhere. Use a search engine to see if there is a coupon you can print for that next purchase. Do this even if that purchase is small. Even the small savings add up quickly.
Coupons definitely are a great way to save serious cash if you are willing to put in the time to do it right. It is important to understand how to correctly use coupons to get the most for your money. If you keep these tips in mind, you’ll turn into a coupon expert in no time.