How to Use Coupons Correctly
Money may not grow on trees, but your Sunday newspaper offers a wealth of savings in the form of coupons. And since a penny saved is one earned, you have nothing to lose by clipping them -- so long as you use them correctly. In certain circumstances, such as when purchasing brand-name products, you may actually spend more money while using coupons. Follow a few general rules to get the most out of your coupon collection and save money on groceries each week.
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Instructions
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Gather a collection of coupons from sources like the Sunday newspaper, home mailers and websites that offer printable manufacturer's coupons. Depending on the store, you may even find coupons printed on the backs of your store receipts or on items themselves. Additionally, check the websites of the stores you frequent; they may offer special deals with printable coupons.
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Organize your coupons into categories. If you do not have a lot of coupons, divide them into coupons for food items and those for nonfood items. If you have a large coupon collection, organize them into categories like canned goods, frozen foods, pet food and similar groups. If you have store coupons, separate these from the manufacturer's coupons. Place each category of coupon into its own envelope or plastic bag.
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Sort through your coupon files as you write your grocery list. If you have coupons that are about to expire, try to plan your meals to include those items. If you shop at multiple stores, separate the store coupons from the manufacturer's coupons. Place coupons for each store in a labeled envelope.
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Check store circulars as you write your grocery list and collect the coupons you will use for that shopping trip. Try to match coupons with sales at your store. If your favorite cereal is on sale for buy two for $5, using a coupon for $1 off that cereal will save you even more money.
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Read each store's policy on coupons before you use them. Some stores may allow you to use a manufacturer's coupon and a store coupon on the same item for extra savings. Most stores do not allow using two manufacturer's coupons for the same item. So if you clip two coupons for $1 off a four-pack of toilet paper, you would have to buy two of these items to use both coupons.
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Read the rules on each coupon before using it. The coupon will state exactly what you must buy to receive the discount. This includes the number of items and the brand. For example, you may need to buy three bags of potato chips to use a $1 coupon.
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Check different brands, including the generic brand, of the same item before purchasing. Sometimes, you may save more money by buying the generic item, even if you can only use a coupon with a specific brand. For example, if you have a coupon for $1 off a brand-name coffee that normally costs $13, purchasing a generic brand for $10 will save you more money despite not using a coupon.
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Tips & Warnings
Store coupons are those that a particular store offers and you may only use them to purchase items in that store. Redeem manufacturer's coupons in any store that accepts them.
Go to your local library and ask them what they do with the coupons from their Sunday newspapers. Some library clerks might be willing to set aside coupons for patrons.
Start a coupon exchange group with your friends. Clip coupons that you do not plan to use and set them aside. Periodically, get together with your friends and exchange coupons.
Stockpile nonperishable items that you commonly use. If you have a coupon for toilet paper, but you do not need any just yet, buy the item anyway so that the coupon does not expire. You will save money in the long run.
Buy brand-name items selectively. If you have a coupon, it may be worth it to buy a brand name item instead of a generic item when it is already on sale, when it is a brand you would buy anyway or if it is a new item you might like to try.
Keep an eye on your coupons' expiration dates. Do not try to use an expired coupon.
Avoid using coupons to buy something you ordinarily would not purchase.
References
- University of Illinois Extension; Save Money With Manufacturers' Coupons; Barbara Dahl
- University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension; Couponing 101; Audrey Myers et al.; June 2010
- Iowa State University Extension; The Coupon Clinic; Betty Truong
- Alabama Cooperative Extension System; 101+ Ways to Save Food Dollars; Barbara Struempler; May 2008
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
