A decade ago, most shoppers clipped the occasional coupon that afforded them a whopping 15-cent discount on creamed corn or toilet tissue. These days, however, couponing has become a way of life for many. If you want to get the most from your couponing adventures, read on, and learn the ins and outs of successful couponing.
One easy way to get coupons is to use the social media resources you likely already have. Facebook and Twitter have many companies that use their sites for networking. Liking or following these pages can get you access to exclusive coupons that others may not have the chance to score.
Go to the website of your favorite grocery store to find out what kind of weekly specials they may have and then go through your coupon book to see if you can get any extra deals. The coupon websites do not always have everything listed. You might find a great deal on your own.
Check coupons online to see if there are any coupons available for items you need. If you find a coupon for an item, you need, look at the store’s flyer and see if there are any sales on the item. If there aren’t, check the price when you go to the store.
Don’t forget about online coupons. Traditional paper coupons are great, but there are tons of great coupons online. There are various coupon sites that you can join too. Receiving instant notifications to your inbox can help you get access to many deals before other people. Some sites also have promo codes that can help you boost your savings.
When grocery shopping with a lot of coupons, don’t visit the store at peak hours. This frustrates not only those waiting behind you in line, but extra-busy cashiers and baggers, as well. You are less likely to inconvenience other shoppers or the store staff during slower times, like weekday mornings.
Ask for coupons when you are out and about. Many businesses have flyers that offer discounts to people, but employees forget to provide them or simply do not. When you’re in a store where you shop regularly, ask about coupons or deals so that you can get a shot at saving money.
Don’t only look to print papers, look to the Internet as well. Many websites contain coupons that you can print and bring with you. Some even have digital coupons that you can scan from your smart phone while in the store. Or if you are online shopping, they may provide a coupon code for your use.
Know your coupon lingo. You may not be aware of the things that you can do with your coupons. Look out for “coupon deals.” These are store promotions where the stores double the savings. Keep an eye out for ‘stackable’ coupons. These are coupons that you can use multiple of, stacking up the savings. When you know the lingo, you’ll be ready to take advantage of the opportunities.
Go ahead and get the Sunday paper so that you can find all of the coupons and discounts that are in them. You can save a lot of money buy paying a few dollars to purchase the Sunday paper for all of the coupons that are inside of it that offer you good deals.
The best coupon websites will give you a list of all of the major stores and tell you where you can find the best coupons to go with their weekly deals. You need to pay attention to these and do not forget about your chain drug stores that always have good coupon deals.
Do not forget about your national chain drug stores. These places have a ton of their own in store coupons every week and stacked with manufacturers coupons you will be saving big. Alot of these places also have rewards cards that will give you dollars back to spend there once you spend so much.
Don’t be embarrassed about using coupons. With the tough economy, coupons are a practical alternative for you to use. Every day, people are maximizing their savings. There’s nothing wrong with having the savvy to save money.
Learn what the regular prices are for items that you use frequently, or for expensive items that you only purchase occasionally. Sometimes, stores will raise the prices of items before putting them on sale or offering other in store specials. By learning the true regular price, you are prepared for these events.
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.
Some of the best coupons that you will find are going to be in your local newspapers. These coupons will be for the stores that are local in your area and very easy to get to, which will improve the level of convenience you have and reduce your stress level.
Do not discard expired coupons. Take them with you to the store and ask the clerk or manager if they accept expired coupons. The number of locations that are happy to take expired coupons will surprise you.
As mentioned, couponing has become a serious endeavor. To get the most out of your time and efforts, however, you need a few good tips and tricks to help you out. Now that you have the information you need, you are all set to head out and save some serious money.
