We’ve all seen the tv show Extreme Couponing, but you don’t have to take it quite that far to start saving yourself some money here and there which over time will surely add up.
We’re going to be taking you through a few tips and hints of the trade when it comes to using coupons to save so you are always left feeling like you have received the best deal possible.
Do your research
Long gone are the days where you had to scour the back of magazines and food packaging for coupons that could be worth next to nothing, nowadays coupons are easily found online too.
Conduct your research before purchasing things, for example, if you are looking to purchase a new sofa for the house, check if there are any national holidays coming up that businesses may utilize as an opportunity to provide their customers with discount codes or sales and hold off on your purchase until then.
Just a simple search on google will also provide you with a wide range of websites designated to provide you with coupons and discount codes that can be used nationwide, so spend some time to sit back with your laptop and hunt down the best deals, as your commitment could save you some serious money.
Join couponing clubs
Many take couponing very seriously, so online there are the likes of couponing clubs and groups on social media platforms such as Facebook.
These groups allow you to gain knowledge of where coupons are available and even trade your coupons for ones that may suit your needs more than others.
If you are not looking for anything in return for your coupons you could always donate them to someone that may find good use from them such as a neighbor or family member.
Save your coupons
Many stores offer a system that encourages you to save up coupons so that you can do what is known in the trade as ‘coupon stacking’. This allows you to double or even triple your coupons worth, saving you much more money.
Know your rights
Many stores aren’t familiar with their own terms and conditions when it comes to coupons, so it is handy to be able to pull them up on the company website to prove its worth if you are denied the use of a particular coupon.
Trick the system
Many online retailers offer deals such as a % off for new customers, but there are ways around still obtaining these deals if you have already shopped with them. Firstly, ask a friend or family member if they can provide their details to set up an account to purchase something for you so that you are still receiving the first time buyer deal.
Another way to still access first-time buyer deals is to use your own information, yet provide a different email address and you should still be able to access the deal. Some websites and companies have started to pick up on this trick so it may not always work, but it is certainly worth a try if it means you can save yourself some money.
Is the coupon actually helping you?
Although couponing can save you some serious amounts of money in the long term, it is important to assess whether you actually need the product you are planning to buy using a coupon and whether you would be likely to purchase it without that aid.
If you are purchasing things for the sole use of using coupons as you think it is a good deal, you may end up costing yourself more money than you are saving, so be careful you don’t pick up bad habits when it comes to cashing in the vouchers.
Summary
Like anything, couponing is all about balance and discipline. As discussed above, it is easy to fall into the trap of becoming addicted to using coupons for everything, so try and manage this into only using coupons for larger and more worthwhile purchases that you actually need.
With that being said, couponing is a great way to save yourself some odd bits of money here and there, so always be sure to check if there are any deals available such as buy one get one free and deals associated with upcoming holidays.
We hope that we have been able to provide you with a few handy tips and ways that you can introduce yourself to the world of couponing in a healthy way that will allow you and your family to save some extra money.
If you need any more helpful advice then check out crediful.com, filled full of financial guides to help steer your finances in the right direction.
Let us know down below if you have found this post helpful, or if you have come across any additional tricks of the trade that you think we have missed that others may also be able to use.