Tip #1: Sunday Savings
Sunday newspapers always include coupon inserts, and some people subscribe to their local paper only on weekends, just to get their hands on those coupons. By spending a little time going through Sunday’s coupons, you can save a lot of money on your weekly groceries. It’s easy to organize coupons, e.g., by category or expiration date. And make coupon clipping a family affair – kids can play a part in planning meals that are based on coupon offers, and this can also be an easy way to teach them about budgeting basics.
Don’t toss expired coupons you haven’t used: you can send them (along with other coupons you don’t need) to US military families stationed overseas, who can use coupons up to six months past their expiration date at a base commissary. For more information, go to www.ocpnet.org.
Tip #2: In-Store Strategies
If there’s a store in your area that doubles or triples coupon values, check it out to see if their regular prices and merchandise fit your shopping needs. Some stores only offer double coupons once a week, so try to schedule your shopping for that day, especially if there’s a sale on items you’ve got coupons for. (But don’t drive miles and miles to a store just to use one coupon, since this could use up too much time and gas money for a small return.)
Sign up for loyal shopper programs at all your local supermarkets, which allows further savings on many items. As soon as you get into the store, look at the weekly circular (if you haven’t already received it in the mail or newspaper) to see if what’s on sale matches any of your coupons – and to check for special coupons printed inside. Also, ask your neighborhood supermarket if they’ll honor coupons and sales offers from other stores.
Tip #3: Be Pro-Active
If there’s a particular brand or item that you really like, contact the company (via their website or toll-free number) and ask for a coupon; many will respond favorably to a loyal customer. (Bonus hint: this often works for larger purchases, like electronics, as well.) Stores and manufacturers also sometimes offer exclusive coupons and savings to customers who sign up for online member programs, so register on reward sites at your favorite places and local supermarkets. There are also a number of online coupon sites where you can search for coupons and other discounts by ZIP code or keyword and get email alerts on special promotions. Once you sign up, you’re going to be bombarded with offers, so you might want to set up a separate email account for these memberships, to avoid overcrowding your personal mailbox.
Tip #4: Travel Savings
Planning a vacation? You can find lots of money-saving travel hints and cyber-coupons online. Hotels, restaurants and attractions often feature discount coupons on their own websites. Or go to a search engine and type in the city or area you’re planning to travel to and “coupon” or “coupons.” Check out some of the many choices that come up – you might even discover an exciting destination or activity you hadn’t thought of before!
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