There are plenty of tips out there for saving money, but few of them produce the same kind of immediate savings that you can find with couponing. Coupons instantly reduce the amount you pay at checkout so you spend less on the items you use most. Investing a little time in couponing can produce significant savings. If it has been a while since you clipped coupons in the Sunday paper, here are some tips for saving money that will get you up to speed and help you make the most of couponing.
- Stick to using coupons for the products and brands you already use.
It can be tempting to go overboard and start using every coupon you come across, but it's important to weigh the cost of the product versus the savings provided by the coupon. A $0.50 savings on a product that is $2.00 more expensive than the brand you usually purchase won’t translate into savings.
In addition, simply collecting as many coupons as possible can make it hard to stay organized. Too much clutter can make shopping more chaotic. Keep it simple and only clip coupons for products you need and will use.
- Get tech savvy.
Yes, there are still plenty of paper coupons that can be collected, but couponing has also gone digital. Spend some time online browsing the websites of the store you shop at most often. You will find that many of them, especially grocery stores, have coupons that can be loaded directly onto your rewards card. The additional discount will be taken off your purchase when you checkout and scan your card.
Some large retail chains also offer special savings to customers who download their app. Discounts won't be prominently advertised in stores, but they will be available to those who use the app and show the corresponding barcode at the checkout.
- Combine sales and coupons for extra savings.
One of the best tips for saving money through couponing is to look for ways to double up on savings. If an item is already on sale, you can use your coupon and save even more off of the already-reduced price. This is a great way to save on items that don't go bad quickly or are non-perishable and easily stored. With the right strategy, you can enjoy significant savings on canned foods, toiletries, paper goods and other essential products. While this approach can take some planning and strategy, you will be amazed to see how much you can save.
- Stay organized.
Place all your coupons in one place and keep them as organized as possible. In fact, it is a good idea to purchase a coupon organizer and create different tabs and categories that will allow you to quickly find the coupon you want. Your exact system will vary according to your own personal preferences. Just find a method that makes sense to you and stick with it.
The experts will offer a lot of different tips for saving money, but none of them are quite as satisfying and offer the same kind of immediate savings as coupons. As you begin looking for discounts and different ways to save, keep in mind that most stores today use a combination of paper coupons, apps, and other digital discounts. Don't get overwhelmed by all the options; stick to researching the stores you shop at most often and the products that you usually purchase.
