Watching others make amazing purchases and saving lots of money with coupons is wonderful. Though it looks simple, there strategies at work that take some thought. It is more than clipping a few coupons and saving hundreds. There are many things to learn to get the best deals from coupons. Here you will find all of that information and more. Welcome to the world of couponing!
Ask friends, neighbors and relatives to save their coupon circulars and newspaper inserts for you. Many people throw coupons away or recycle them with the rest of the paper, not realizing how much they could save by using them. This is a great, free way to acquire extra coupons for the items you use most.
The Internet is now the best place to find coupons, just like the Sunday newspaper inserts used to be. You can find coupons for food, clothing, electronics and more. The greatest thing is that you can save time printing out coupons instead of wasting many hours clipping papers.
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.
Get organized with your coupons. Use a three ring binder with baseball card holders to sort them. Separate the coupons into different sections, such as dairy, baking products, frozen, and others. Keep a section open for coupons you plan to use immediately. That way, when you get to the store, you are ready to go.
Double your savings by using two coupons when purchasing more than one of the same item. If your store is having a sale and you have two coupons, consider purchasing two of the same thing to maximize your savings. This can be especially beneficial if your store is having a buy one get one free sale.
Do not buy something just because you have a coupon for it. Many extreme couponers will only buy an item because they have a coupon for it; this can make you waste tons of money. Instead, hold onto the coupon and when the item is on sale, use it then.
Learn the coupon policies for all of the stores in your local area. Check to see, which offer store coupons that can be used in conjunction with manufacturer coupons. This will prevent any shocks at the register because you misunderstood the policies of a particular store. You should also check their websites regularly for changes in policy.
Plan out your shopping list, then work on finding coupons to match it. If you cannot find all of the coupons you need, alter your shopping trip to include other stores or shop another day.
Be a conscientious coupon-clipper by never wiping the shelf clean, especially for-sale items. Buying the last two of a given item is understandable, but purchasing twenty of an item with limited stock is frustrating to other shoppers. If you know that you will be purchasing several of the same item, call the store a few days in advance to see whether they will order extra.
Make sure that you are not overly greedy when using coupons for bulk items. If your coupon is for an item that is perishable or frozen that you can’t use during a certain time period, you should either give them to a family member or friend or just don’t purchase it.
Before beginning any couponing strategy, review your budget and spending habits. Do you spend more at the grocery store than you can afford? Make a log that tracks how prices fluctuate weekly and when stores offer in-store coupons. By making a log of this information, you can effectively save at least one-quarter of your grocery budget.
A great place to look for coupons are in magazines and newspapers. Sure people may not turn to newspapers and magazines as much as they used to, but they are still a great source for coupons so make sure that you go through them to find the best deals possible.
If you have a ton of coupons to use in a store, warn any customers who may be behind you in line. The cashier, especially a novice cashier, may take a lot of time to get through all of those coupons. One mistake can add multiple minutes to get a manager to fix the issue. Letting those around you know about your coupons is just good practice.
Find a friend or two who also likes to clip coupons, and get together for a coupon swap. You’ll find that you can give them the coupons that you don’t need in exchange for the ones you use. In addition, if each of you purchased a different newspaper, you can meet to sort through the different coupons found in the inserts.
Know which stores near you offer the lowest price to begin with, then go to them with your coupons. If store X is selling an item at two dollars more than most and your coupon is for a dollar off, you are just selling yourself short! Do the basic legwork and maximize your total savings!
There are thousands of success stories where people talk about their great savings adventures with couponing. However, the folks that save the most money are those who spend lots of time and effort into using their coupons wisely. Use the tips and beneficial ideas in this article, and be on your way towards mastering the art of collecting coupons.
