Never purchase an item simply because you found a great coupon for it. A lot of the time, people spend more than they save because they’re buying things that they don’t need and will never use. For the most efficient coupon usage, stick to your favorite brands and products.
Learn your store’s coupon policy. Policies vary from store to store and even day to day. Many stores offer double coupon days, accept coupons directly from other stores’ sale flyers, etc. If you aren’t familiar with the policies, you won’t be able to take advantage of all the savings you have gathered.
Try to use as many coupons as possible. Clip more than one of the same coupon on items you will buy. You can stockpile coupons on things you buy a lot. If you’ve collected five coupons for jelly, and your family eats it often, then buy five jars of it.
Look for local stores that will accept coupons from their competitors. This will help you save time and you won’t have to travel all over town using your coupons. Finding a store that is willing to take competitor coupons while also doubling coupons is like finding a goldmine.
Always create a list when you’re at the store shopping with coupons. When checking things of your shopping list, check that you have the respective coupon too. Also, keep a tally of how many of an item you are purchasing.
Bring all your coupons with you to the stores even if you do not plan on using them. You may run across a one-day manager special or something similar that you have a coupon for, and it’s best to have it with you should you need it.
Don’t purchase anything online until you do a coupon search. Use a search engine to search for coupons from the retailer you are shopping at. This will lead you directly to coupon codes that will give you access to whatever sorts of discounts the retailer currently has to offer. Sometimes these codes will provide a discount on your purchase, others will reduce your shipping costs.
Do not let couponing monopolize your time. You can find yourself spending far too many hours clipping coupons. Measure the amount of money you save for each hour of work to see if you are using your time effectively.
Make sure you find the best coupon available. Many companies have a variety of coupons available. For example, you might find both a 50% coupon and a 10% coupon from the same retailer. You will find that you will know what you need to do to suit your budget and time constraints.
Keep in mind that you can’t double the coupons you receive upon checking out. It makes sense to look through your coupons for a coupon that can be doubled before using one that cannot be double. By doing this, you can maximize the money you save with your coupons.
A good coupon tip is to be organized and always have them readily available to use whenever you leave your home. Coupons are often forgotten, so be sure yours are somewhere obvious, so you remember them.