It seems like every day the products and services we need are becoming more and more expensive. This can be a huge problem if your family is, at the same time, getting larger. Families now have to do more than just shop smart; they have to search out additional savings.
There are many sites that will teach you how to be an extreme couponer, but what if you are just starting out? You can’t jump right into the double, triple and more discount math equations that extreme couponing requires. You have to start somewhere.
Coupons for Beginners
The first step in saving with coupons is knowing where to find them and how to get them with the least amount of stress as possible. The most widely known and used way to find coupons is your local Sunday paper insert. It is, in most cases, packed with terrific brand name coupons and retailer promotions. But what if you don’t have time to clip coupons or, honestly, just don’t like doing it? You can still become a pro couponer in no time.
Online Coupon Sources
To avoid wasting time looking for coupons page by page it is easy to register at coupon and voucher codes sites online. Not only will you receive email notices informing you about what the papers will be featuring in the coming weeks, but you’ll also have instant online access to coupons that may not be available elsewhere.
These are definitely an awesome source for brand coupons that you can print and redeem just like those you find in the paper. Most sites also allow you to set up search filters which means you can narrow your results to just your local or favorite stores; resulting in the most savings for your specific needs. Take into account that many of them enforce a limit on how many of the same coupon you are allowed to print out. Some have a time limit (xx amount of coupons in 24 hours) or a total limit (only xx amount for this sale ever).
Coupons and discount codes can also be found directly on brand and retailer websites. Unfortunately, this can often be even more time consuming than flipping through your Sunday insert. It can come in handy when you are already shopping a website, but luckily most of the online coupon websites will already have these same savings listed for their members.
In Store Shopper Rewards
Most stores and retailers now offer a customer rewards membership card. Among the typical sale price and discount benefits, many also put you on their own private mailing list so that you are notified of sales that are only available to card holding customers. Some of the more modern stores have also introduced instant coupons for card holders. You can seelct the type or brand of coupon your interested in and the discount is added to your customer card automatically as soon as it’s available. The next time you take a shopping trip the discount is applied to qualifying items you’ve purchased when you swipe your reward card.
How did you get started with couponing?
What is your favorite source for finding the best deals?
