Many people find it hard to save money while shopping, but it isn’t as hard as they think. All it takes to save is a simple piece of paper known as a coupon. How can such a simple piece of paper do so much? You can find out in the following article.
Another method of getting coupons is to stop by your local cafe on Sunday. Many coffee shops provide their customers with free newspapers, and will often hand over the coupons to the first person who asks. Do not be afraid to ask for what you need! People are often willing to help out.
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.
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.
Make comparisons with store sales and the coupons that you find. Doing so will increase your savings. Most coupons can be used for a few months so you should hang onto them and wait for deals when possible. This can help you to reduce your grocery bill by as much as 90 percent, so it is worth your while.
Don’t only look to print papers, look to the Internet as well. Many websites contain coupons that you can print and bring with you. Some even have digital coupons that you can scan from your smart phone while in the store. Or if you are online shopping, they may provide a coupon code for your use.
Get stacking! Look into your favorite stores’ coupon policies. Many stores, like Target, allow you to combine manufacturer and store coupons on one item. So, basically, you can use two coupons on one item. To figure out which type of coupons you have, look in the box located at the top of the coupon near the expiration date.
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.
Shop weekly to get the most from your coupons. Simply buying the stores’ weekly specials can save you a nice chunk of change. Most stores offer weekly coupons that will allow you to maximize your coupon savings.
Purchase a good-quality binder for all of your coupons. You will need to purchase several sheet protectors to hold your coupons. In addition to sheet protectors, you will also need dividers to organize your binder. Use these dividers for each type of coupon or each aisle in your grocery store.
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
Try to stack your coupons. Sometimes stores will allow you to use both a manufacturer’s coupon and a store coupon for one item. Professional couponers find that this often leads to items that cost only pennies, or are at times even free. Always ask if you can stack coupons when you are at the checkout stand to save the most money.
Look for coupons on your favorite items early every month. Most of the time, manufacturers put a cap on the number of coupons available to consumers, and different sites and stores will be allotted different amounts but all around the first week of each month. Make sure you get your savings by checking in early!
Exchange coupons with friends. This is a great way to help you when you find you have coupons you might not use. Instead of throwing them away, see if you can talk a few friends into swapping with you. This is a good way to help each other while helping yourself.
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.
Use a system for keeping your coupons tidy and organized. Envelopes, binders or expandable files are all great tools. Not only, being organized keep you from forgetting to use your coupons, but it saves time at the register. Preparing ahead of time keeps you from having to dig for and sort coupons while checking out, leading to quick grocery trips.
So there you have it, the magic of coupons. These simple cuts of paper hold the power to make you save money whenever you make a trip to the store, so you would be wise to keep them on hand. Remember this article when you want to use a coupon to save a dollar.