Here are a few simple tips to help you start saving with coupons.
1. Know Your Stores Coupon Policies
Find out whether the store doubles coupons, accepts competitor’s coupons, and how they ring up buy-one-get-one-free specials. The more you are familiar with these policies the more money you will save.
2. Double Coupons
There are a number of things that if combined can save you significant money when shopping with coupons. Many stores will double coupons up to .50¢. For example: if you have a coupon for .40¢ off toothpaste and the store doubles coupons then you get .80¢ off the price.
3. Competitors Coupons
Some stores also accept competitors coupons. If this is the case, you could combine a manufactures coupon, a competitors coupon and a store coupon. Find out which competitors coupons your store accepts. It may be only stores with in the same zip code or within a certain distance.
4. Buy One Get One (BOGO) Free
When shopping for buy-one-get-one-free offers some stores will ring up the full amount for the first item and the second will be free. Other stores however, will charge you half price for the first item and the other half for the second item. This can be beneficial if you have a coupon for only one product. You get it for half price plus your coupon savings.
5. Manufacturer Coupons
When you’re buying multiple items you can use one manufacturer coupon per product unless the coupon states otherwise. For example: if the store has a buy-one-get-one-free sale on Yogurt for $2.00, and you have 2 coupons for .50¢ off 1, and the store doubles the coupon, the yogurt would be free.
6. Know the Rules
Make sure to read the fine print on your coupons and check the expiration dates on your coupons. If you know exactly what “the rules” are the smoother things go in the check out line. Don’t be “one of those people” that holds up the line. 🙂
7. Try New Things
If you are brand loyal try to branch out and try new things. The more brands that you are willing to try the more money you can save.
8. Buy Extra
Most sales repeat about every 6 weeks. Try to buy extra products that you know you will need while they are the cheapest. This will save you from paying full price when it’s not on sale. This may mean that you buy extra newspapers each week to have multiple coupons on hand when the products go on sale.
9. Organize
Organizing your coupons can be done a number of ways. I personally have a binder with clear baseball card album sheets. I clip my coupons each week and file them into categories such as dairy, frozen food, cosmetic, pet, household, grocery, produce, and meat. I take this to the store with me and can pull coupons very easily when needed. There’s no right or wrong way to organize your coupons. Do what is easiest for you.
10. Look First
If you need an item now and don’t have a coupon, look before you buy. Check manufacturers sites and coupon sites to see if you can find the coupon you need.
