How to Be Smart Using Coupons
Clipping coupons can easily have you spending more money than you intended -- whether because you ended up buying products you didn't really need or because you didn't read the fine print and meet the coupon requirements. Smart coupon users are organized and alert shoppers. Paying attention to sales and timing your shopping to use coupons smartly can help you lower your grocery costs dramatically.
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Instructions
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Do not spend money to buy coupons. There are several websites that offer free store coupons, but be aware of others that sell them or charge a fee to register for and use their sites. Why spend money to save money?
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Make a list of items you purchase regularly to keep you focused when you're clipping coupons, noting specific brands when you prefer them. Save other brand coupons to swap with friends and family. When you trade or swap, you are not spending any additional money.
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Do not use a coupon for a food item before calculating the value of the total sale. A coupon that requires you to buy two of a product when you just need one, for example, could cost you more when a similar item of a different brand has a lower price on the single item you need. Only use the coupons that are to your advantage.
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Read the fine print. Some coupons have purchase requirements or restrictions -- such as a specific flavor variety, quantity or even store where you make your purchase.
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Keep your coupons near your shopping list, and mind their expiration dates. Try to hold onto your coupons until the item is on sale in the store, but be sure to use them before they expire.
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Go shopping on days when your store offers doubling or tripling of coupons. You can get twice or three times the face value of coupons, usually up to $1 in value, which sometimes gets you items for free.
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Tips & Warnings
Print out coupons you find online on the blank side of recycled school papers or junk mail paper to save printer paper.
References
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