Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Looking To Use Coupons? Read This First

By Allan David


It seems like extreme coupon user are everywhere. They are on TV shows, on websites and in the news, all proclaiming how they save hundreds of dollars and get get hundreds of free products. They make it sound so lucrative but there is more to coupons than clipping a few coupons and shopping as usual. This article can help you brush up on your coupon collecting and using skills so you can earn some of those super savings today.

Watch yourself carefully when you are collecting coupons and avoid clipping something just because it is a good deal. Just because you can get a large dollar amount off, it does not instantly mean you should use the coupon. If the brand is not one that you would normally buy, you can actually end up wasting money by using the great coupon you have found.

Find store coupon policies online and print them out. Keep these hard copies in the front of your coupon binder. Every once in a while, or perhaps often, you will find a cashier that is either misinformed of their own policy or just does not feel like dealing with all your coupons. Know your rights in advance.

To maximize your coupons from savings, take the time to check the prices on all of the options when you shop. For example, if you have a coupon for $1 off a bottle of Windex, but the store brand glass cleaner is $2 cheaper than the price of Windex, then you'll be ahead without the coupon.

Those of you bargain shoppers who love to use coupons to save would be wise to browse a stores clearance section. The savings you can get with a clearance item coupled with a coupon can be quite significant. Make sure to see if any items on clearance are still eligible for coupon 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.

Some stores offer coupons after you make purchases on items. So ask a cashier to see what items offer coupons for you after you make a purchase, that way you can buy those items. There are a ton of items that you might regularly buy that offer coupons after you purchase them.

Go to the website of your favorite grocery store to find out what kind of weekly specials they may have and then go through your coupon book to see if you can get any extra deals. The coupon websites do not always have everything listed. You might find a great deal on your own.

Check the clearance aisles in stores. Sometimes you will find an item on clearance that you have a coupon for. You can get products for a small amount of money when you use a coupon when purchasing them. Be sure the store accepts coupons for items on clearance before trying to use them.

Some stores now have additional deals you can access online. If your local store has a member card, ask for details about special deals. Usually, these can be accessed from your computer and your telephone. That way, if you see an item you want in the store, you can use your phone to see if you can save even more!

Discuss your new couponing hobby with everyone you know. Some of them may not be as interested in it as you are, and they may be willing to give you inserts from their own papers. Try to obtain as many copies of these inserts as possible; there is no such thing as too many coupons!

If you're serious about couponing, get organized! Struggling to find the most recent coupons in a messy pile is problematic. If you don't find them quick enough, they can expire. Try keeping your coupons inside some binder-sized sleeve protectors or baseball card holders. These can keep all of your coupons tidy so that you can easily see them and take them to the store with you.

Look for a like-minded individuals to help you share in saving money with coupons. Sometimes a friend might have a coupon for an item that you really want and you can trade them for something you may have that interests them. This makes saving money on the things you want much easier.

If you are stuck in a difficult financial situation, one of the best things you can do is to make use of coupons. By diligently applying all of the great coupon tips you have learned from this article you can save money every time you go shopping. You may be shocked at just how much money you end up saving.




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