In tough times when prices are high and incomes are low, coupons become more popular. Understanding the benefits of coupons is simple, but it can be hard to use them effectively. The advice that follows includes some of the best tips from extremely effective coupon users. Read on to find out all you have to know in order to start saving.

TIP! Use coupons together with in-store sales in order to generate the greatest savings. This may mean hanging onto coupons for a while before using them.

Don’t always rush out to use your coupons as soon as you get them. To maximize your savings, use the coupon to purchase the item you are interested in when it is on sale. This will help you get the best possible price on the items you buy.

Take a day out of each week to work on your coupon collecting. This an efficient method for finding time to put your coupon collection together. There is always something to be clipped, but one day each week should be set aside for strict devotion to finding coupons that you can use for the upcoming weeks.

TIP! Shop at local stores that honor competitor’s coupons to minimize your shopping trips. When you find that perfect retailer who takes coupons from competitors while also doubling up, this is truly the best place to shop.

Before shopping, make sure your coupons have not expired. There are some coupons that will only last for 24 hours. Others can last for a month. Take the time to organize your coupons so you know which ones are expiring soon. Use any that are close to their expiration dates. This can help your coupon savings add up.

You should match coupons with your store ads before you go shopping. There maybe a different store you can visit and get more out of shopping than your regular place.

TIP! Never forget to write out a list before you take coupons to the supermarket. As you shop, check each item off when you pull out the coupon.

Set aside time for coupon clipping or printing. If you really want to see some savings, put some effort and time into clipping coupons. If you are serious about couponing, fit it into your schedule. Devote 30 minutes or so every day to couponing.

‘Dollar’ stores can save you big money on some items. A lot of times they have items to use your coupons on for a much lower price. Overstocked products are often sent to these low end retailers in an effort to offset costs. You can save tremendously by utilizing coupons at these dollar stores.

TIP! If you’re interested in getting extra coupons from the local paper, try calling your local paper’s office and ask if they have a couponer’s discount. Lots of papers offer discounts to Sunday edition subscribers who order multiple copies.

Don’t let your coupon search take up too much time. Going thru pages and pages of coupon circulars can be a time consuming task. Estimate the cost of your savings versus your amount of hours put into the effort of clipping and organizing coupons to see if it is worth your time.

Some places will allow you to use double or ever triple coupons. Ask around to find out which local stores do this. Your neighbors and co-workers can lead you into the right locations.

TIP! Make comparisons with store sales and the coupons that you find. By doing this, your savings will be maximized.

Learn and understand coupon acronyms. For example the term “BOGO” means that you buy one item and get one. Mail in rebate is denoted with MIR. These acronyms are a great way to remember sales or discounts for specific stores. If you are not familiar with them, you may not be aware of the value of the coupon.

To stay on budget and still buy what you need for you and your family, couponing can be the key. After perusing over this article, you should be aware of all the best ways to maximize your abilities to use coupons and save yourself lots of money. You will have a great time shopping now that you understand how to save lots of money!