The art of couponing has become more popular than ever in recent years, and for good reason. The incredible savings that can be realized in this way is something that just about every family can use, provided the main shopper of the household knows how best to clip and apply their coupons. The information in the piece below is a great place to start.
It is a good idea to have a large coupon holder and organizer. This way when you are clipping coupons, you will be organized and know exactly where to look for it. If it is large, you will have plenty of room to clip all the coupons you find and possibly trade them with others.
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.
Coupon clipping services are a great way to save more. These services allow you to access coupons throughout the country, and may have a higher value than those offered in your area for the same products. Research services that are consumer friendly and offer a quick turn around on your coupons.
Go to the manufacturer’s site directly. Usually you can save a few bucks on your preferred brands by signing up online at your favorite retailer. All you have to do is supply them with your email address, and they will send you some coupons. Since it is a retailer you shop at, getting email from them is something you want.
Don’t buy every product that you cut a coupon for. Sometimes, you may not find a coupon for an essential. The deal might be good, but it is a waste of money if you do not use the item.
To have a basic filing system for your coupons, it’s a good idea to put them in a shoe box stacked in chronological order or just arrange them by an expiration date. In doing this, you do not have to waste a ton of time organizing. However, you always know which coupons are about to go out of date and become useless.
Whenever possible, stack your coupons to get an even better deal. Layering your coupons like this isn’t always allowed, but when it is, it can result in significant savings. For example you could combine a manufacturers coupon with the stores coupon to great the greatest savings possible for you.
Some places will take coupons that are out of date. Take them with you to the store and ask the clerk or manager if they accept expired coupons. You will learn that many stores will often still accept the expired coupons.
It is impossible to deny the amazing utility of coupons in this difficult economy. In order to achieve noticeable savings through the use of coupons, however, it is important to do one’s homework. By taking the ideas and advice in the above article to heart, it is possible to become an expert coupon shopper in short order.