Not everyone knows that there are coupons for virtually all products and stores and not just the groceries. Even fewer people know how to find and use coupons effectively for the best savings.
7 Couponing Tips
1. Find Coupons
Of course, the first thing you need to be good at is finding coupons. The good news is that today’s digital world has made it so easy to find these discounts, and you don’t even need to leave your house.
So, where can you find coupons? A quick google search brings dozens of websites like www.dealdrop.com that publish coupons on different stores and products. They don’t just provide coupons for grocery stores, but they also share some codes for oral and dental care, air travel, car rentals, and taxi services, beauty and fitness products, and even firearms and weapons.
Besides coupon websites, you can also make a specific search for a particular store. For instance, you could Google the name of the retailer and the word coupon. This produces targeted results that will help you get the deals you need without wasting too much time on the internet.
You should know that some coupon websites work directly with retailers to provide certain deals. These websites may not show up on search results when you google the store and coupon. That’s why it’s good to combine the two strategies discussed above.
Many retailers still provide coupons the old-fashioned way, i.e., from the store or through magazines. Don’t pay too much attention to online sources and forget about speaking to the salespersons at the store and checking the shelves.
You could also make coupons find you by signing up for newsletters. This is an excellent way of getting deals delivered directly to your inbox without breaking a sweat.
2. Stack Your Coupons
Many people make the mistake of discarding coupons when they don’t need them. For instance, your favorite retailer sends you a code for one for their bedroom items, but you end up discarding it since you don’t need it. Another kind of person gets a code, and they decide to use it just because they can and not because they need it. Both are bad habits.
Always think long-term and save your coupons. You may not need that deal for bedroom items right now, but you don’t know where you’ll be in a month. Secondly, instead of using a coupon for the sake of it, store it for later, and it can help you save a significant amount of money on equipment that you need.
3. Store And Organize Your Coupons Properly
We cannot discuss stacking coupons without mentioning how to store and organize them.
You must organize your coupons properly for you to use them effectively in the future. For starters, knowing where your codes save you so much time when the day of using them finally arrives.
One great way of organizing your coupons is through a binder. Invest in a good binder and develop a great coupon storage strategy. What does this mean? Well, do you prefer organizing your coupons alphabetically or by-product? Perhaps it’ll be easier if you group them by stores?
And don’t look at what’s popular; choose the technique that works best for you.
4. Check The Expiration Dates
Collecting and organizing coupons could start feeling like a hobby and make you forget the sole purpose of having them in the first place. You don’t want to experience that feeling of opening your binder to collect that “10%+ OFF” code only to find it expired days ago.
As you organize your coupons, make sure you note the expiration date of each of them. Some people put their codes in subgroups based on the expiration date.
While it’s important to use as many of your coupons as possible before they expire, don’t let them drive you into making purchases you don’t need. You should also ensure the savings are worth it. Otherwise, just let the codes expire and throw them away. Don’t feel bad about it.
5. It’s Okay To Start Small
Is a coupon of a few dollars worth it? Yes, it is! Don’t overlook deals just because the savings seem insignificant. This is especially true when it comes to basic items. Look at it this way; you will buy that item anyway, so it doesn’t hurt saving a few dollars.
6. Read The Store’s Coupon Policies
You need to understand the store’s fine print on coupons to use them properly. Most stores publish the policies on their websites, so it shouldn’t be that hard to find them. You can also speak to customer support directly just in case you need more information on items like rain checks and their stance on competitor coupons.
7. Avoid Spending Too Much Time At The Store
This general shopping hack applies to couponing as well. You may not know this, but all big retailers employ some very subtle but effective marketing techniques in the store. These strategies play around with your psychology more than anything else. Spend too much time roaming around the store, and the risk of falling victim to their ploys increases. This is great to them but bad for you. How so?
First, it makes you spend more money than you had planned. Second, it’ll force you to use a discount code on an item that you didn’t even need in the first place.
Coupons are generally good, but they are even better when in the hands of someone who knows how to use them correctly. Use the above tips to your advantage, and you’ll make insane savings.