subject: Smart Couponing Secrets Straight From The Pros [print this page] Avoid always falling for the word, "sale." A sale doesn't always mean that you will save a lot. Start doing some research on how much the items generally sell for before deciding to act on a sale. There are also many price-comparison sites out there that you can use to see if you're getting the best price available.
Be open to buying alternative brands and sizes of products. If you can do this, then that opens the doors to you utilizing coupons even more according to your shopping list. This takes a little sacrifice, but the money you save turns out to be much more important overall to you.
Bookmark two or three reputable coupon websites and visit them regularly. You can find thousands of coupons online if you just take the time to look. Make sure to check a coupon site you trust, at least, once a month. Try to collect these coupons early in the month to find the best deals.
Do your research about each store's coupon policy. In order to save the most amount of money at your favorite stores, it is best that you speak with them concerning their coupon policy. You would hate to start collecting all these coupons thinking you are saving money, then you go to the store only to find out they don't accept them.
Watch yourself carefully when you are collecting coupons and avoid clipping something just because it is a good deal. Just because you can get a large dollar amount off, it does not instantly mean you should use the coupon. If the brand is not one that you would normally buy, you can actually end up wasting money by using the great coupon you have found.
Find reliable coupon sites on the Internet. There are a lot of options out there, but a lot of sites do not update their coupons or provide all the ones available. That can waste your time and end up costing you money. Make sure that the sites you visit update regularly and provide you with suitable information.
Before beginning any coupon strategy find and print a copy of the store's coupon policy. Many stores limit the number of coupons that can be used on each transaction, while other stores may not accept internet coupons. It is therefore important that you print a copy of your store's coupon policy.
A great tip for people who love to use coupons is to print your coupons online. These days, online coupons can result in really amazing savings. Sites like Coupons.com or Coupon Cabin are great sources to find truly great values. You may find savings online that you can't find anywhere else.
If you find a good coupon in your Sunday paper, check local stores and gas stations on Monday morning. They are likely going to still have some extra copies of that paper laying around. Buy them, and you are going to have extra copies of that coupon to use yourself.
Use a system for keeping your coupons tidy and organized. Envelopes, binders or expandable files are all great tools. Not only does being organized keep you from forgetting to use your coupons, but it saves time at the register. Preparing ahead of time keeps you from having to dig for and sort coupons while checking out, leading to quick grocery trips.
Familiarize yourself with coupon terminology. You don't want to get to the front register and find out you can't use half your coupons. Look at your coupons before you make the trip to the store. Make sure you're reading the fine print. Make sure you understand the jargon that is used on it.
Organize your coupon collection. As you get more and more into coupons, you'll reach a point where coupons are everywhere. You need to create an organization system so that you don't miss out on any of those great opportunities. Consider organizing them by brand, by store or even by expiration date
A good tip if you like to use coupons is to not get carried away with simply clipping out coupons. Only keep coupons that you intend to use. If something is on sale that you're unlikely to buy then you should just leave it. Time is also money so you don't want to waste more than you have to.
Now that you have read this article, you are hopefully aware of some tips and ideas you can use to get more from coupons. When you effectively use these regularly, you can start saving more of your hard earned money and keep it for the future. Maybe you can even save it again with another coupon!
