So the economy isn't doing so hot right now, you have heard about this coupon craze going on and all these people are shopping on a budget and getting everything they want and more. Maybe a few people you have seen go a little crazy with the coupons and it scared you off a little. You think what do I want with 500 rolls of toilet paper or 100 tooth brushes?! well that is something that often happens with current fads. People get so excited about saving money or the prices of things that they buy way too much and their houses become filled like mini hoarders!
The great thing is it does not have to be that way! You can save money and get what you need without going overboard. That is why I'm writing this, to share a few tips to keep in mind when you start your new adventures of couponing or you want to scale back what you are doing because you realize you are spending MORE now that before you started couponing.
Okay so here we go!
Tip #1: Make a list- What I like to do is sit down and write out (or type it if you feel more comfortable on the computer) what we need. The last thing you want to do is get so excited about a savings on something that you forget that you don't even need/want what is on sale. Think about it if you don't like black olives but you find a deal on them and buy 10 cans of them what are you doing to do with them? They are just going to sit in your cupboards taking up space and eventually expire. Then you wasted your money and your space and sanity (trust me every time you open your cabinets to get something and see a whole bunch of something you cannot stand you will kick yourself)
After I make a list of the things we need and could use for our food storage I make another shorter list right next to it and this is perhaps just as if not more important that the list of what you need.
That is a list of stores you like to go to. One must be practical about where they are going to shop. If there is a deal on bread at a store you never go to because it's either too far away or everything else there is so expensive that is all you would be going their for then you are wasting gas, time and energy for a trivial purpose. The point of couponing is to help save money not add to your expenses. So make sure you know which stores you are going to it will not only insure you are going to where you frequent but also in helping find specific coupons you need.
Tip #2 sign up with some coupon sites online- The good thing about online is you can get them for free (never pay for coupons!) and then you can print out the ones you want instead of dealing with ones you don't want. Also if you already know where local deals are for the week you can keep that in mind and find coupons that you can use with other discounts already applied.
Tip#3 sign up for rewards cards from your local stores- if you have stores with free rewards cards it's a good idea to have them. Even if the store gives the discount without the rewards card it's always a bonus. Many times you will get rewards in the mail for things on discounts you wouldn't normally get and sometimes even free items. Also there are stores that offer discounts on gas. If your already shopping there you might as well be rewarded for it! Since it is all electronic they know what your purchasing and will send you coupons for relevant things you want. I recently signed up for a rewards program at Safeway that with the online account you can click which coupons you want and they automatically go onto the card so at checkout instead of holding a bunch of coupons it's on the card when they swipe it or you enter your number.
Tip #4- Make sure the coupons do not have restrictions- Sometimes you have to read the fine print and make sure they are not saying you cannot use more than one coupon or other restrictions that will limit other coupons you have. If they are good coupons and you want to use them just make sure it's not at a time when you want to apply other discounts that will not work.
So there is a million more things I could say but I just wanted to put those few tips out there. The bottom line really is to do the front work so that your not scrambling at the register confused and end up spending more than you wanted to. The point of couponing is to save you not to cause you more stress or more money.... so go on check out these sites below and start saving!!!!!
www.couponsuzy.com
www.coupons.com
www.dailygrocerycoupon.com
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