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Tips For Using Coupons To Your Advantage

By Pamela McNeill


Coupons are making their way back into popularity these days. A lot of stores are realizing that people need a little help to make them shop at their store, but they don't want to make everything that they sell cheap. So they put coupons for people to find, learn more about reading ahead.

One of the best ways to find coupons is through the Sunday paper. Manufacturers will place coupon savings into the Sunday edition of the paper over any other edition, so every copy of the paper has a chance for savings. You can buy more than one paper in order to gain multiple sets of coupons, but be careful, as some stores do not allow you to double up.

Pick up a convenient binder to organize all your coupons and make it easy to transport them to the store. Use labels for different categories so you can quickly compare store stock to your coupons and checking out with the cashier will not be a hassle or cause delays for the people behind you.

Ask your local convenience store if they can save the coupon section out of old newspapers or if you can come and dig them out before they throw them away. Often times all that the newspaper company takes with them is the UPC code off of the corner of the paper.

Create a reading list for your coupon goals. Think of it as weekly research to save you lots of money. Discover what newspapers tend to carry good coupons on each day of the week. Subscribe to multiple weekend papers. Know when your favorite stores release their weekly circulars. Then you'll have the most intelligence at your fingertips.

Ask your friends and family if they know of any cool sites where you can find some discounts. It is always a good thing to share information with other people about where to get discounts that way you can all figure out where to save together. Just remember to always share your secrets with them and things should work out.

To make your coupon hobby run more smoothly, try purchasing a three-ring binder, and fill it with baseball card collector sheets. Each sheet contains 9 pockets that you can fill with your coupons. Coupons can then be divided into categories, such as cleaning supplies, beauty products and many other categories.

Keep your coupons organized. If you are using a lot of coupons, it is important that you keep track of them. File them by the type of product they are for and how much they can save you. Be sure to keep an eye on any coupons that could be expiring soon.

Before beginning any couponing strategy, review your budget and spending habits. Do you spend more at the grocery store than you can afford? Make a log that tracks how prices fluctuate weekly and when stores offer in-store coupons. By making a log of this information, you can effectively save at least one-quarter of your grocery budget.

Look at your list before you go to the grocery store. Check over the items you need and see if there are any coupons available online. You can also check the flyer from the store you visit most often to see if any of the items you need are on sale.

If you decide to use a great coupon to stock up on an item, make sure you have the space to store it. This might mean investing in a chest freezer for perishable items or a shed for the yard for items like toilet paper or toothpaste. If you don't do this, your home will feel cluttered from too many purchases.

If you are couponing to save on groceries, remember that you can't favor brands. You have to be willing to purchase items that are both on sale and that you have coupons for. While it may be okay to keep one or two favorites, in general, you have to be flexible.

Now that you know what to do, it's your turn to utilize the information you've learned. Put a smile on your face when you see the bottom line on your next shopping bill. The power is in your hands to save yourself some money, so make sure you do just that.




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