In order to maximize your savings I have compiled several tips/guidelines/rules that one should know if they have the desire and urge to make couponing a way of life. I hope you find these helpful.
1. Please check your store's coupon policy and become familiar with it. Some will double coupons but only up to a certain amount. Others do not double at all and only redeem coupons for the face value. Others only allow you to double up to three of the same coupon in one single transaction. For example, Walmart excepts manufacturer coupons, but they do not double. So if they sell mustard for 1.56 and you have a coupon for $.50 cents off, you are paying $1.06. Martins supermarket in Eldersburg doubles everyday up to $.99 (meaning the value of the coupon becomes $1.98 off; $1.00 coupons or greater are usually NOT doubled). Because of the different rules per each store and business, please familiarize yourself. Most of the time you can find their coupon policy on their website, and if you still have questions call the store- someone there will lay out the guidelines for you.
2. If you think you may run into any issues, print the policy and take it in with you. Cashiers aren't schooled in their stores coupon policy, so it's better to be safe than sorry.
3. You can receive overage for an item at some stores. I know Walmart, Target, and Dollar General allow this. This means if the coupon value is more than what the item is worth, you get the money to apply to your order. For example, the $3.00 off Nivea body wash coupon from this past week can be used at Dollar General where they sell the product for $2.50. You as the consumer get that $.50 applied to your order. So if you are buying an item you don't have coupons for, this is pretty much like getting a discount on it anyway.
4. Stacking coupons is allowed by many stores. Stacking means you can apply a store coupon and a manufacturers coupon to maximize the amount saved. Safeway usually has store coupons in their weekly circular found in the paper. Walgreens does as well. Let's say Safeway has Kraft Cheese Singles Slices regularly priced at $3.50, but in their circular they have a coupon that places the price at $2.50 (with use of store loyalty card). You would present the coupon and your store card to get that price. Even better is if you have manufacturers coupon because you can use this as well to lower the price even more. So if you have a $.50 coupon for that product that the store doubles (again all stores are different), that becomes $1.00 of the sale price of $2.50. You would get that item for $1.50. Now you may ask- how do I know the difference between a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon? The coupon will tell you on the face of it...it will either say Manufacturer or the name of the store. Target's coupons say "Target Coupon".
5. Some stores accept competitor coupons. For example, Walmart may take a Target coupon. This is why it's important to check those individual store policies again.
6. Please use the coupon exactly for what it is intended for. If the coupon says, excluding trial sizes, and you use it on that and the register excepts it, that is coupon fraud. The coupon will specify what it should be used on/for. Other's aren't so specific and may say "$1.00 of ANY".
7. Bigger isn't always better. Smaller portions tend to be priced cheaper, and if the coupon can be applied you can get the product for fractions of the cost of the larger product. If you have several coupons you can pick up more than one of that item to equal a larger size, and usually still end up paying less.
8. Keep note of where you find the best prices. Sometimes Target's prices of an item are cheaper than Walmart, and vice versa. This makes it easier to use the coupon again in the future when you need the item again. Getting the best value means shopping at multiple stores and being brand flexible. If you usually use Skippy, but there is a coupon for Peter Pan, would you be willing to use the other product if it meant you were saving? (Not all coupons make it a good deal. If the brand you use is still cheaper than the item there is a coupon for, go with the latter....just because you have a coupon doesn't mean you HAVE to use it....this is called impulse buying).
9. With gas prices on the rise, it is best to knock your shopping all out at once, especially if you are going to several stores. You don't want to run out to one store for one item just to get a deal (that deal will be back again I am certain).
10. Sales are cyclical. This means that usually once a month a certain item goes on sale for a really low price. This is why it's best to check the grocery store circulars either on line or that come in the paper. I like to try to hold off buying the item until I know its at a really low price. Once you get into the groove of couponing you will know what's a good price, when something is due to go on sale, and where the best deals are.
11. LIKE COMPANY PAGES ON FACEBOOK. I cannot stress this one enough. Many times companies do freebies, giveaways, special coupon promotions, etc. Definitely worth it. Sure your news feed gets flooded, but considering the perks, its worth the sacrifice. Now you may ask- what about the junk email I could get for signing up. Simple- create a free email at either google, hotmail, yahoo, etc, and designate that email address for all sign ups. This way your real email stays clutter free.
12. Utilize websites like
Coupon Mom. It's free to sign up for and they offer so many wonderful tools. They offer store match ups, printable coupons, etc. Wonderful site to explore!
13. Learning to coupon takes time. The first few times I did not understand everything I am explaining now, so my savings weren't that great. Now I can get my amount owed to 35-50% off.
14. Extreme Couponing, as featured on TLC, is far from realistic. Possible, yes. But these people don't do extreme hauls all the time. This is usually a once every so often, hence why its called EXTREME.
15. Be organized and develop a method that works best for you. I use the binder method as opposed to the accordian method. I know others who use an index card box with dividers. Some have no method at all. The more organized you are the easier couponing is.
16. Where can you find coupons? The weekend paper is usually the best place. Smart Source and Red Plum usually are in there every week, and P&G saver usually once a month. Check out places like
www.coupons.com for internet printable coupons. But beware internet printable scams....if a site wants you to pay for their printable coupon, its not legit. If you want to see if a coupon you have printed is fake or real, please refer to the
Coupon Information Corporation website for help.
17. Network and blog! There are many stay at home moms or retired moms who are out looking for the best deals too and love to share. In this economy we all have to have each others back! When you find one, share it! Others will appreciate this simple deed.
18. Target coupons are printable on their site. Two prints allowed per coupons. Some are store coupons and some are manufacturer....just make sure you check once its printed. They add new ones often, so visit frequently. Check it out
here.
19. Walmart also offers promotions where you can receive free samples for products. Click
here to explore this. This is only available some times, not always.
20. Be courteous of other shoppers. Some block shelves because they are busy searching for coupons, or go at the peak of grocery shopping hours when the lines are long. I try to go during the least busy hours so that I do not hold other shoppers up.
I'll be adding more tips! Leave a comment if you have any questions, would like further clarification, or would like to add one of your own tips/rules/guidelines. Thanks for stopping by :)
Never spend your money before you have it.
-Thomas Jefferson
