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.
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.
Try to clip coupons for every item you find, even if you do not use that product. Sometimes you may have a neighbor who needs coupons for diapers, and you could trade them the diaper coupons for ones that you can use. This helps you and your neighbor as well.
Don’t rely on just one paper or website to get coupons from. Try subscribing to several sources if you can. You can even ask friends and family for their unused papers. The more sources you have in your arsenal, the more deals you have access to so that you can save money.
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.
A good tip if you like to use coupons is not to get carried away with simply clipping out coupons. Only keep coupons that you intend to use. If something is on sale that you’re unlikely to buy, then you should just leave it. Time is also money so you don’t want to waste more than you have to.
Invest in a printer, or use your local library’s resources to print out valuable coupons. Although the newspaper is usually full of coupons, you have many more options when you look on line for the specific items your household uses. Make sure you have an efficient way to store all your coupons until you get the opportunity to use them!
If you want to make the most out of your coupon savings, check with all of your local stores to see if they double coupons. Doubling coupons means that the face value of your coupon is doubled, usually up to a certain amount, say, 1.00. So, instead of saving 1.00 on your item, you will save 2.00.
Try to cut out coupons that you are going to use more often than not. If you use coupons regularly, this will give you a better mindset for cutting them out, which will give you an incentive in the first place. Furthermore, using coupons on items that you need will reduce wasteful spending.
When using coupons, it is important to recognize that small amounts of money add up over time into large amounts. Coupon savings of only 10 or 25 cents may not seem like very much, but you would be surprised at just how much money these small value coupons will end up saving you over your life time. Save little to save big.
Make sure that you pay close attention the expiration date on coupons you are interested in using. If you save them for too long, you may miss the opportunity to use them. It is a good idea to set a reminder in your calendar about a week or two before it expires.
Make sure you buy only what you need and have room for; don’t go overboard. A lot can go wrong here. For example, if you can get 20 frozen pizzas for a few dollars with your coupons, you may not have room to keep them. And if the item can go bad, then you’re just wasting time and money.
Whenever possible, stack your coupons to get an even better deal. Layering your coupons like this isn’t always allowed, but when it is, it can result in significant savings. For example you could combine a manufacturers coupon with the stores coupon to great the greatest savings possible for you.
The first thing you’re going to need when approaching using coupons for shopping is to build yourself a coupon binder. This binder will help you stay organized and have an ongoing supply of coupons for each visit. You can stock up on coupons that don’t expire for awhile, and you can also stock up on coupons that you use consistently.
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.
