Using coupons can seem daunting and complicated to many people. This is not entirely accurate. While it does take a little time to get organized, using coupons can be rewarding in many ways. Coupons are not just a great financial help, they can also be exciting and fun. Follow these tips to get started on saving money and having a great time!
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.
Join an online forum about coupons and deals. There are many websites that allow you to print coupons. Not only can you print the coupons, you can also get feedback on how well the coupons worked and whether or not it is a good deal.
Try using competitor coupons at your local grocery store. Many grocery stores will honor competitor coupons to garner your business. This technique will not only save time, but it will also save money on the gas you would spend driving to multiple stores. If you do not know if your grocer honors competitor coupons, simply ask the store manager for a copy of their coupon policy.
Make friends with the cashiers. Particularly if you are in the same stores fairly often, it is important to be polite and thank them whenever possible. They can really help the process go much smoother if they aren’t annoyed at having to scan all your coupons. A little personality can go a long way.
It is important to have coupons that offer the most amount of savings. Many companies have a variety of coupons available. For example, they may offer a 10 percent off coupon as well as a half off coupon. You will find that you will know what you need to do to suit your budget and time constraints.
“Like” your favorite companies and brands on Facebook. When you like a brand on Facebook, you may receive access to sales and special coupons. Companies often times reward loyal fans, so you don’t want to miss out.
Compare prices between the warehouse and the grocer. There can often be a better deal waiting for you at the your local ‘warehouse’ store. Check online or check the prices between the two, in person, and evaluate the best use of your coupons. You may buy a little more, yet save a little more as well.
Understand grocery pricing in general. You may think that getting a coupon means you are getting great savings, but sometimes that isn’t the case. Know what the price of the item is in the first place, and keep an eye on price-comparison websites that can give you a general idea of what the products are really worth.
Keep coupons in a place where you will not forget them prior to leaving the house. Many times people forget their coupons; however, if you keep them with you, you will never be without them.
A good coupon tip you should use is to do all of your shopping at the end of the month. Most stores have it so that their coupons expire at the end of the month. Shopping during this time will make it more convenient for you to get the best deals.
Organize your coupon collection. As you get more and more into coupons, you’ll reach a point where coupons are everywhere. You need to create an organization system so that you don’t miss out on any of those great opportunities. Consider organizing them by brand, by store or even by expiration date
Stop relying on the newspaper alone. Thanks to technology, coupons can be found in a number of different places. Try different kinds of coupon websites online. You can search all the coupons, or just print out the ones found through your zip code.
Sign up for the mailing lists of your favorite stores and brands. Many companies send out coupons to people subscribed to their list that aren’t available otherwise. Stores also send valuable store-specific coupons like a percentage of your purchase or a dollar amount off a purchase of a certain amount.
If you spend a lot of time cutting out coupons, ask the clerk at the store if you could sign up for a program to have them mailed to you. This will reduce the amount of time that you spend, as you can have the coupons that you desire the most at your instant disposal.
You can use more than one coupon when you are making a purchase, it just has to be of a different item most of the time. Read the fine print to be sure of this, but in theory, you should be able to use a coupon for almost everything that you buy if there’s a coupon for it.
You don’t have to spend a lot of time and money purchasing publications like newspapers if you want to clip out your coupons. Just get your friends and family to help out. Just have them save the Sunday inserts for any coupons they don’t use. The coupons won’t cost you a thing. Remember, you could also thank them by giving them homemade cookies every now and then.
The Sunday edition of your local newspaper can be a great place to find coupons. If you have friends, family or neighbors who also get the paper but do not use the coupons, then ask them is they will save the coupons for you. This can help you get multiple copies of the same great coupon.
The tips you just read gave you plenty of information on finding, using, and enjoying coupons. Knowledge and organization are two of the key pieces needed to be successful with coupon use. Now you have seen that it is not really difficult, and can even be enjoyable. Follow the advice given and you will be ready to get started!
