Couponing Tips

Time to read my Top 5 Couponing Tips! Are you a beginner or a pro couponer? Either way you will find these five couponing tips helpful.When couponing, if you follow these five tips, it will not only make your couponing life a little easier, it will help you save more as well.

1.) Always carry a copy of an up to date store coupon policy with you. If you are planing a trip to your local store like Target, Walmart or wherever you are doing your shopping be sure to have a copy of your store coupon acceptance policy. I usually print a new one when ever there are updates to their policy and keep it in my coupon binder. This way if you find your self trying to remember a policy while shopping you can look it up. It is also GREAT for when you get new cashiers that are not sure of the store polices.  You are your best advocate for savings! (ACME store guide here, Giant Store Guide here, Walmart store guide here, Target store guide here, Rite Aid store guide here, Walgreens store guide here)

2.) Keep all coupons. This is true unless you trade them with a friend for a coupon you need. You never know when a deal will pop up and you’ll be able to snag  a freebie! Even if it is a freebie you would not normally purchase,  they still make great donation items, or gift for  family and friends. Now that does not mean you have to clip all of the coupons from your Sunday newspaper insert. I cut ONLY the ones I know I will use and then leave the rest in the insert and file them by date. This way when I see a deal and am looking in my coupon database, I’ll know exactly where to find the coupon.

3.) NEVER, buy an item just because there is a coupon for it. I think this is one of the biggest “no – no’s” new couponers make. You have a coupon and then you say to yourself, “I must be getting a deal right?” WRONG!  You need to match up coupons with sales each week. This will get you the biggest savings for your buck! (see my Walmart coupon matchups, Target coupon matchups, Safeway coupon matchups, Walgreens coupon matchups, CVS Coupon Matchups, Rite Aid coupon matchups, Giant Foods coupon matchups, ACME coupon matchups)

4.) It is ok to let some coupons expire. When you keep all of your coupons from every insert chances are you will not use them all. I know this sounds wasteful but its really not.  Remember your matching coupons with sales and once in a while that harmony just don’t come together.

5.) Last but not least, make sure that you follow the wording on a coupon. I know some may say that as long as the cashier takes the coupon or if the coupon scans and does not beep then it is ok to you use it. NO! This is nothing more then coupon fraud. If you use a coupon on the wrong item, (even if the cashier takes the coupon) the store will not get their money back for that coupon. It is just like walking in and putting an item in your pocket and walking out. More and more people have been doing this and that is why so many stores have become so strict on their coupon policies. So please be sure to follow brand/size restrictions on the coupon so that we all are ethical couponers. ☺ See my post here on How to Red a coupon.