Are you looking for ways to stretch a limited grocery budget during tight times? If so, you are not alone. Many individuals in today’s economy are searching for effective ways to save, and they often resort to coupons. Couponing is easy, fun and effective when it is done right. This article will teach you all you need to know to start saving.
Familiarize yourself with coupon terminology. You don’t want to get to the front register and find out you can’t use half your coupons. Look at your coupons before you make the trip to the store. Make sure you’re reading the fine print. Make sure you understand the jargon that is used on it.
Look at your list before you go to the grocery store. Check over the items you need and see if there are any coupons available online. You can also check the flyer from the store you visit most often to see if any of the items you need are on sale.
Learn about “stacking.” Stacking refers to the policy of some stores which allows you to use both a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon on one item. Using this policy can help you reduce the price of an item drastically, in some cases even making it free. Pay close attention to store coupons, and match them up often.
Make sure that you’re always searching for an accompanying coupon before you purchase any type of item. Simply go onto the search engine of your choice and enter the store’s name with “coupon”. A lot of times you can find coupons and other good deals. You can find a wide range of coupons out there, from initial savings on the purchase to free shipping coupon codes to use at checkout.
Cut grocery coupons from the newspaper. Most Sunday papers distributed by major newspapers include a coupon section. If you don’t get the newspaper, you can buy one from a newsstand. There are also vending machines outside many retail establishments. Even if you don’t read the newspaper, the Sunday paper is a wise investment for coupon shoppers.
Invest in a printer, or use your local library’s resources to print out valuable coupons. Although the newspaper is usually full of coupons, you have many more options when you look on line for the specific items your household uses. Make sure you have an efficient way to store all your coupons until you get the opportunity to use them!
Never just rely on only the Sunday newspaper for your coupons. Technology is always making it easier and more convenient to save money with coupons and other offers. For example there are many coupon websites. Enter your ZIP code to find the coupons that are available near you, and print them out at home.
If you arrive at a store, and they are out of a sales item, ask for a rain check! This is one of the least utilized coupon secrets out there. Most grocery chains will offer rain checks for items that have been advertised. This will allow you to come back and purchase items at the sales price when the store receives more stock.
Exchange coupons with friends. This is a great way to help you when you find you have coupons you might not use. Instead of throwing them away, see if you can talk a few friends into swapping with you. This is a good way to help each other while helping yourself.
You can really save a lot of money when you have coupons that get you up to 75% off the retail price. When you encounter coupons like this, you should stock up on the items for at least a three-month supply. This also gives you time to look for additional coupons during that time period to help you replenish your stock when it is low.
A good tip if you’re someone that uses coupons is to use a coupon on an item that you’d like to try out. Sometimes we’d like to try out new products but don’t want to pay full price for them. Using a coupon will sweeten the deal, and you’ll get a chance to try out the product for yourself.
Having brand loyalty is not always wise if you are going to be using coupons for savings. For instance, you may enjoy Pepsi, but if Coca Cola is the brand that is on sale and you have coupons for it, that is what you should go with. Being faithful to a brand is not going to save you money.
Save twice as much money by stacking store coupons with manufacturer’s coupons. This is the best way to get the most money off when couponing. Look at the weekly ad circular’s to see what’s on sale, then go to the manufacturer’s site and see if they have a coupon. This way, you can “double-up” and save the most money!
Join clubs. Many grocery or department stores offer club savings discounts only for their members. You can get special deals emailed to you or delivered straight to your mailbox simply for signing up. These exclusive coupons can sometimes be combined with other special offers, making it a deal you do not want to pass up.
Clipping coupons is a great way to stretch your dollar during tight times. It is a fun hobby that helps many individuals to keep extra money in their pockets, and it is easy to do. This article has provided you with several great tips to help you start enjoying the benefits that coupons can bring. So start clipping and saving with the information you have gathered.
