Save Money With Coupons
In these tough economic times, there’s nothing wrong with saving a dollar here or there on essential products that keep you and your family comfortable. Coupons have been around for a long time, but recently, this money-saving practice has attracted the attention of the entire country, which made many people want to know how to do it. There are dozens of coupon books, courses, and websites that teach impatient consumers of coupons.
At first glance, the coupons seem pretty simple: you’ll figure out where to get the coupons and then cut or print them. Each week, manufacturers of your favorite perishable and non-perishable brands offer coupons to lure you into the store for an item you can save on. Coupons save money. When the family budget is tight, it can be an exciting feeling when you save 30-75% on your purchase bill. TV shows, books, and seminars about extreme coupons are fueling the current coupon craze. Extreme Coupons are for those who have the time and energy to collect and use coupons in a way that saves tons of cash at checkout. I’m sure you’ve heard of those people who walk into a store with a pile of coupons and a shopping list and walk out with a cart almost full of cash.
While that’s great, the average shopper just wants to save a few bucks here and thereby take advantage of discount coupons. Sure, you want to save money on regular shopping trips, but you don’t want to make coupons your life.
Here are the rules for using coupons wisely:
Use coupons when there is a sale
You’ll get more “Pay For Your Money” with a coupon when the same item is also on sale at your local store. Check your store’s weekly flyers for special discounts, then see if you can find a coupon for that item. If so, you are in luck because you will save twice the money. Also, check if there’s ever a day in your store when coupons cost twice as much.
Keep Coupons Organized
You must separate and organize your coupons neatly so that you can find them when you need them. It doesn’t make sense to have a bunch of coupons somewhere in a big pile. Buy a folder of index cards or a folder and put plastic baseball card holders inside. This way you will be able to see the actual coupon and expiration date. Also, get a portable bag that you can carry your coupons in when you go to the store.
Check your store coupon policy
Stores that accept coupons work differently, and you can’t assume that you can use coupons in one store in the same way as in another. It is recommended to visit the store’s website and print its coupon policy. Take this with you when you visit this store to shop. This way, if there is any dispute or questions regarding your use of a particular coupon, you will be able to know their policy right away. Read the policy and find out in advance if there are certain restrictions on coupons.
Be alert when you go out
Some cashiers are adept at processing coupons, while others…not so much. Make sure all your coupons are handed over to the cashier and that each one is scanned correctly at the cashier. Sometimes a seller refuses to accept a particular coupon or refuses to accept all coupons for your product. This is where your knowledge of store policies will come in handy. Sellers can make mistakes sometimes, so if you think your coupon should be accepted, don’t worry. Instead, calmly ask to speak to the store manager and tell him or her about the printed store’s policy. The manager will check the correct coupon policy and hopefully, everything will be decided in your favor.
Get coupons for things you already use Clipping coupons can be so much fun that people sometimes go overboard and pick coupons for products they don’t usually use or need. Worrying about a discount won’t save you money in the long run. Likewise, storing a quantity of cake mix for six months is excessive and prevents you from using that money for other items that may be more practical. Before dispensing with this coupon, consider how the item will be used.