Thursday, January 26, 2012

Helpful Couponing Tips Can Save Money For Smart Bargain Hunters

By Brandi Rosini


Learning the secrets of couponing is like finding a hoard of buried treasure. The search requires planning and effort, but the reward is well worth the effort. For some shoppers, the search for the ultimate discount has become nearly a full-time job, and goes beyond simply checking for weekly supermarket discounts. While getting started may seem complicated, couponing tips for beginners makes the process easier.

Understanding how it works is important. People who clip a few coupons from the weekly shopping flier may save a little money, but those amounts are comparatively small, nowhere near the 60 to 70% savings that dedicated bargain-hunters routinely enjoy. To capitalize on the potential in coupons, toss out your old shopping concepts, and be prepared to commit to new ideas and methods that can save you a bundle over time.

Most trips to the grocery store happen when the refrigerator is nearly empty, and any discounts usually apply to the items needed to run a household for only a short period of time. To maximize couponing, shoppers should concentrate on specifically discounted items, even when they are not necessarily on the list. Although this method may defy your ingrained shopping instincts, the savings will soon become obvious.

Finding and taking advantage of these bargains means locking in your own reliable sources of coupons. Most areas receive a weekly shopping flier, but that is only a beginning. It pays to subscribe to the Sunday edition of your local paper, and know where to pick up extra copies when multiple offers are available. If there is more than one paper, specifically compare them to see who is printing the most coupons.

The internet also plays a major role. Shopping websites aimed at couponers routinely feature printable copies. Because of the large numbers of visitors, most have limits on the number of copies that may be printed per device, and having more than one computer is an advantage. Color reproduction is not important, and an inexpensive black-and-white printer will save considerable money on color cartridges.

Even with excellent coupon sources, disorganization is the enemy. Bundles of unsorted paper create a mess at the checkout stand, wasting valuable time and energy. Serious shoppers usually put together their own filing system, often consisting of a portable filing folder, or an easy-to-carry binder with plastic page inserts that make finding and using individual coupons easier.

Some question whether it really makes financial sense to buy multiple items that you do not really need, even at bargain prices. The answer lies in the long-term advantages, and whether or not you have the space to reasonably store extra items until needed. While it may be tempting to buy an item at great savings, it if will never be used or donated, the money is not wisely spent.

Chain stores regularly advertise double and triple-coupon price discounts, as well as honoring manufacturer's coupons. The weekly advertising cycles soon become familiar, allowing shoppers to take full advantage of couponing tips. Although this type of bargain-hunting may not be suitable for everyone, those who do pursue it soon begin to enjoy the considerable savings that these special offers make possible.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment