In today’s wavering economy, many people are turning to the art of couponing to help save money on essential consumer goods. Although shows such as “Extreme Couponing” on the TLC network have recently brought couponing into the spotlight, this activity has actually been in existence since 1888. Coca-Cola was the first company to issue coupons for their customers as a marketing technique to bring in additional business. Today, more than 2,800 companies offer coupons for their products, and as of 2010 coupons have helped Americans save roughly $3.8 billion dollars in consumer goods. Learning the basics of couponing can help you start enjoying the benefits this unique hobby can provide.

Before going into the basics of couponing, it’s important to understand the definition of a coupon. A coupon refers to a document used by retailers that offer a financial discount for products and consumer goods. Although anyone can engage in couponing, becoming familiar with the proper techniques of coupon collecting can save customers a great deal of time and money whilst shopping. People regularly go shopping with the mentality of buying things they need, and not things they want. However, when starting to coupon it is also important to think about products that you will need in the future. Most coupons have an expiration date that must be abided by for the discount to be valid. The best coupons expire rather quickly, and a crucial step to remember when couponing is to take advantage of these fast ending deals whenever possible. Making a list of the number of non-perishable items that you have in your household can provide a clear idea of how many additional products you can take in. This way when you’re out shopping and you see a terrific deal on toothpaste, you’re capable of stocking up without going overboard.

Customers can find coupons in a number of different places. The important thing to remember is never to put a limit on finding these resources. A great place to start is by looking in your local Sunday newspaper. Try and buy the paper with the highest circulation, as they tend to offer the best coupons. The internet is another great resource for finding coupons. Using sites such as thekrazycouponlady.com, and couponmom.com can not only provide valuable information for coupon beginners, but will also offer deals of the week from specific retailers that can easily be printed out and used. Additional resources for locating coupons include asking family or friends for papers they normally throw away, using a clipping service or checking the store for weekly deals. Remember, the more resources you can find for coupons, the greater potential you will have for monetary savings.

Another basic tip for coupon beginners to take heed of is staying organized. By placing your coupons in envelopes, binders or insert boxes, you can categorize coupons based on your personal preference by the expiration date, brands, or type of product (i.e. bathroom, kitchen, food). Keeping coupons organized will also make toting and using them in the store a lot more convenient. Before venturing out with your newly clipped coupons, it’s imperative to learn each store’s unique coupon policy. A vast majority of stores offer free loyalty cards to their customers and these cards automatically give discounts for promotional items in the store.Certain stores and products also promote reward programs that customers can take advantage of. For example, CVS gives customers “extra bucks” when they use their CVS rewards card. These “extra bucks” are essentially free money that customers can use at any time on products they purchase. Popular examples of free reward programs include Tropicana Juicy Rewards, My Coke Rewards, and Pampers Gifts to Grow. Utilizing these programs is a fantastic way to help save some additional money within your budget.

Knowing a store’s policy on doubling and tripling coupons is also something to keep in mind because it can tremendously boost the amount of money you save. This refers to when a store takes a $.50 cent coupon and doubles it to equal $1, or tripling a coupon up to a certain dollar amount. Many stores will also participate in something known as stacking, which means that a customer can use a store coupon in addition to using a manufacturer coupon (the discount is provided by the creator of the product), on each item. Another key thing to consider is that there are certain stores that will still accept expired coupons. So be sure to take notes and write down the policies for each store that you plan to visit, because these techniques can substantially increase the money you save each trip.

Making a plan for couponing will help you better understand the most effective ways to save money. Several websites will perform a coupon matchup, matching the sale items with your current coupons giving you an even better deal on products. Some stores such as Wal-Mart will price match, meaning they will match any price of a competitor. Additionally if a store is out of the sale item you came to grab, be sure to ask for something known as a rain check. Customer service will offer you a piece of paper with that item’s sale price, and you can return in the future and still buy the item at the discounted price. By taking advantage of these offers and being prepared with a plan, shoppers will start to notice the increase in their total savings.

Couponing can be an exceptionally rewarding experience when done correctly. Extra products that aren’t needed can be donated to community shelters. In addition, programs such as Troopons also allow consumers to mail their expired coupons to troops overseas for shopping aid. The most important rule to remember with couponing is to start slow. Cutting coupons can be overwhelming and developing a stock pile takes time. Researching and practicing the basic techniques of couponing will eventually make this money-saving hobby an easy and successful experience for all who choose to practice it.

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