How to Use Coupons and Get the Most Value

Use coupons to save money on food, cleaning products and other items.

Companies release coupons as an incentive for consumers to try new products or brands. Proper use of these coupons makes it possible to save a substantial amount of money on food, toiletries, household cleaning products and other items. Brett Arends of "The Wall Street Journal" reports an average savings of $1.44 per coupon redeemed in 2010, which translates into an hourly wage of $86.40 if it takes you one minute to clip each coupon you use.

Instructions

1. Purchase multiple copies of the Sunday newspaper, which contains coupon inserts produced by Procter & Gamble, SmartSource and RedPlum. Getting multiple inserts makes it possible to stock up on your favorite products when they go on sale.

2. Shop at grocery stores that double or triple the value of each coupon you redeem. If you have a 50-cent coupon, a store that doubles coupons will deduct $1 from your order total.

3. Stack manufacturer coupons and store coupons to increase your savings. If you use a $1 manufacturer coupon to buy a $4 item, you will pay $3 for the item. If you also have a $2 store coupon for that item, use both coupons to save a total of $3 and reduce your out-of-pocket cost to $1.

4. Use a coupon that exceeds the price of a product so you get that product for free. If you buy a package of razors priced at $2.88 and have a $3 coupon, you will pay nothing for the razors. Some stores, like Wal-Mart, also allow you to apply the overage to the rest of your order, reducing the amount of money you spend.

5. Match your coupons with sales at grocery stores and drugstores. If you use a $1 coupon on a $5 item, you still pay $4 for the item. If you wait until the item goes on sale for $3 and use the $1 coupon, you only pay $2 for the item, saving a total of 60 percent off the regular price.

6. Combine your coupons with register rewards promotions for additional savings. A register reward functions as an instant rebate when you purchase a certain product or spend a certain amount of money. After you complete your transaction, the register reward prints as a coupon good for use on your next purchase. If you use a $2 register reward and a $1 coupon on your next purchase, you will save a total of $3.

Tips & Warnings

• Sign up for the loyalty cards offered by stores in your area. These cards allow you to take advantage of special prices and store promotions.

• Look for websites that allow you to print coupons at home. TheKrazyCouponLady.com, RedPlum.com, CouponMom.com, SmartSource.com and Coupons.com have manufacturer coupons for groceries, toiletries, paper products and other items (see Resources).

References

• "The Wall Street Journal"; Doing the Math on Coupons; Brett Arends; February 2010

Resources

• The Krazy Coupon Lady; Extreme Couponing; Joanie Demer and Heather Wheeler
• CouponMom.com; Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half!; Stephanie Nelson
• University of Illinois Extension; Save Money With Manufacturers' Coupons; Barbara Dahl
• Iowa State University Extension; The Coupon Clinic; Betty Truong
• University of Buffalo: Coupon Codes: What They Are and How to Use Them
• New Mexico State University; Smart Shopping: Tips on Coupon Use for Grocery Shopping; Fahzy Abdul-Rahman; November 2010