Using coupons to save yourself some money when grocery shopping is a very smart idea. There is much to consider, and you need the right information. Remember that the ball is in your hands. Continue reading for some helpful advice regarding shopping with the use of coupons in order to save money.
Combine your coupons to save more. To do so, you might have to store a coupon for awhile before using it. Getting the most out of your coupons often means shopping at more than one store.
A good tip when clipping out coupons is to place them in a pouch or somewhere you can easily keep track of them. This will prevent you from creating a mess and you’ll have your coupons readily available when you need them so you won’t have to dig around to find them.
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.
Figure out a good organization system. If you don’t have your coupons in the right order, some may expire before you get a chance to use them. Consider purchasing a few baseball card holders and putting them in a book. This will help you clearly see your coupons and allow you to grab and go when necessary.
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.
Always keep a copy of the store’s policy with you. If you run into trouble and are told that you can’t make a certain transaction, simply get out the policy and go through it with the employee. Make sure that you don’t lose your temper, either. The only way you will get the situation resolved is if you remain patient and kind.
Having a coupon for an item does not mean that you have to buy the item. A lot of people waste money when they buy something just because they happen to have a coupon. While it might seem like a good idea and a great deal, try to avoid it if you really want to save.
Avoid always falling for the word, “sale.” A sale doesn’t always mean that you will save a lot. Start doing some research on how much the items generally sell for before deciding to act on a sale. There are also many price-comparison sites out there that you can use to see if you’re getting the best price available.
Sometimes your grocery store will let you stack coupons with others from the manufacturer. This will get you double the savings and potentially have the grocery store owing you money at the end of the transaction! Of course you will not get this money because of the coupons but it is funny to see.
Target the smaller sizes on the grocery shelf to maximize your coupon. The reduction in size also carries a reduction in initial price. When you reduce your unit cost, you save more in the long run. This will let you control your usage of products better overall as well.
Start a coupon exchange club in your neighborhood. By meeting monthly with friends and fellow couponers, you can effectively garner the coupons you need most. For example, if you have an infant or small child that uses diapers, many of your fellow couponers will have no need for diaper coupons and would be willing to clip and trade diaper coupons for other coupons they would use.
If your Sunday paper has a great coupon circular, buy more than one copy. The cost of the paper is often less than the savings the coupons offer if they are for items or brands that your family regularly uses. In addition to buying extra copies, you can also ask your friends or family members for their copies.
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.
Find a store that offers double coupons. A double coupon could turn a fifty cent off coupon on a dollar item into a freebie. This can help you with the costlier items that only have coupons for lesser amounts like dish soap or toilet paper. Look closely at your coupons because some of them will have special instructions.
If you want to do well with coupons, search engine tool bars can be added to an Internet browser. Before you attempt to make a purchase look up a code or promotion to see if you can get a discount. These can yield different free items that you can get from just a little research.
Watch couponing videos and television shows to give you great tips and tricks and so that you know what to expect. Take a few extra pair of hands with you on your shopping trip because often you will have more than one cart of items if you have found some good deals.
You now should have a better idea as to how to save money by using coupons when shopping. It’s not complicated, but it takes the necessary planning with the right information regarding where to find those coupons. Now that you know this information, you are ready for your next grocery store visit.
