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.
Go online. There are a lot of coupons on the Internet that aren’t available in your local papers. Not only that, but some companies offer Internet only deals that others are not going to get. Before you buy anything, check online and do a search to find any coupons available.
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.
Think before you click the submit button! Always do an online search for coupon codes before making an online purchase. There are even whole websites dedicated to keeping databases of coupon codes. Visit retailmenot.com or couponcabin.com before making a purchase. It only takes a second and could save you a lot of money.
When you go shopping, leave the children at home. Children will get you off your shopping and coupon list and try to get you to buy impulse items for them. They are a distraction and difficult to keep entertained while shopping. If you can leave them at home with your partner, that is your best choice.
Find a store that offers the value of doubling your coupons, to save some serious cash. Even if you need to drive a little further, the money you spend for gas will be well worth the savings you experience at the register when those coupons give you twice the discount.
There are many stores out there that let your double, or in some cases, triple your coupons. Ask around to find out which local stores do this. Take the time to check around with anyone you might know who could show you where these ideal stores can be found.
Look for 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.
Before you buy anything, look for a coupon. Oftentimes, there are coupons available online that are not advertised elsewhere. Use a search engine to see if there is a coupon you can print for that next purchase. Do this even if that purchase is small. Even the small savings add up quickly.
Read the fine print for all the coupons that you use. You do not need to be embarrassed in line when you are trying to use coupons. A simple read can help you figure out if there is anything you should consider when you are going to buy anything with a coupon.
Always save your expired coupons. Take your expired coupons to the store and see if the people that work there will allow you to use them. The number of locations that are happy to take expired coupons will surprise you.
If you know of places that accept double coupons, shop at that store. A lot of grocery stores make this offer, and it can reduce your grocery cost a lot. You can get double coupons and get a item for nothing. Free items are awesome! You might want to try to score some things you might not have gotten if you weren’t saving money on them.
If you have lots of coupons, try to shop on off-peak hours. Many people who are shopping right after work are simply picking up a handful of groceries for dinner. If you come in with your massive pack of coupons and hold up a line for an extended period, you’ll certainly get some frowns from your neighbors.
Stay away from coupon clipping services. These people claim to charge you only for the time it took to clip coupons, but some manufacturers do not see it that way. It is illegal to buy or sell coupons, and if you are caught, you can be charged with coupon fraud.
If you shop at a store regularly, inquire about their customer loyalty program. All loyalty programs offer their members coupons and discounts that other people do not get. This is especially helpful at the grocery store, because that is a place that you do need to visit every so often.
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.
Find the coupon sites that you can utilize to make the process faster for you. Time is a commodity in today’s world, and you don’t want to lose the opportunity of finding coupons just because you’re short on time. There are many sites that can have you matching coupons to your list and be printing within 15 minutes.
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.
