A coupon is a ticket that can be exchanged for a financial discount or rebate when purchasing products. Coupons are issued by product manufacturers or sometimes retailers, for the purpose of increasing business in general or to promote certain products. If you know how to be an extreme couponer, you will realize significant savings at the checkout stand.
These little money savers are found in newspapers and magazines, the Internet, directly from the retailer and distributed in value packs. Coupons can also be found in the grocery store attached to certain products and in the coupon holders next to a product. Grocery stores often have advertisements at the front door with select in store sales. Clipping and printing coupons is the consumer national pastime and thousands of shoppers ascend on the stores every day with coupons in hand to save a few dollars.
How To Become An Extreme Couponer
There are consumers that have turned couponing into a science. In today’s economy, where every penny counts, coupons are really an easy way to save money, even for those who are casual couponers. Those who know how to be an extreme couponer are always on a mission when it comes to clipping and printing coupons.
The first order of business for those who know how to be an extreme couponer is to get organized. A filing system is a must to keep track of the coupons. Some use a plastic container outfitted with dividers and others find the three ring binder system with pockets the best way to store coupons. Whatever method you use, remember to go through your coupons once in a while and discard the expired ones.
Extreme Couponing Tips
When using coupons, look for sales. Sometimes, coupons are not allowed on sale items, but that is the exception rather than the rule. For example, if soup is on sale for $1 per can, and the regular price is $1.50, using a $0.25 coupon will save a total of $0.75 per can. If you have 5 coupons, and buy 5 cans of soup that is a savings of $3.75. That may not seem like much in savings, but if that same logic is applied throughout the grocery order, the savings will be substantial in the end, and you will have an extra inventory of food.
Buy one get one free is also a great time to use coupons. Using a coupon for each item will return twice the savings. An example is if a box of cereal is $4 and it’s a 2 for 1 sale, using a $0.50 off coupon for each box will save you the cost of 1 box of cereal plus a dollar off. You bought $8 worth of cereal for $3.
Extreme Couponing 101
Step 1. Gathering
1. Sunday Newspaper
The best place to start is your Sunday newspaper. I always buy 5 or 6 newspapers so I can get mulitiple coupons.
2. Online Printable Coupons
Just do a search on the Internet and you will be suprised at just how many printable coupons you can find.
3. Grocery Stores
When you first walk into the grocery store there is a rack with a two or three page circular with coupons. The aisles of many stores now have that blink and take a coupon.
5. Neighbors
All of my neighbors and friends now know to bring me all of their coupons that they don’t use. The ones that never use coupons just bring me the coupon insert out of their Sundays paper
Step 2. Organizing
1. Coupon Binder
You will need a binder, you can get a cheap one at Walmart or can get a real nice one online at http://www.couponorganizerpro.com.
2. Choose how you will organize your coupons.
3. Now just file your coupons in the appropriate categories.
Step 3. Grocery Shopping
1. Check Out The Sales Adverts
Take a look at your grocery store’s regular advert to find out what is at a discounted price today.
2. Established Individual Limits
The first thing that you have to is determine if the ultimate price makes it worth while to you personally.
3. Check Store Policies
Every now and then look at your stores coupon policies. Just about every grocery store chain differs in precisely how their coupon policy operates.
4. Know Your Store
Know how your store’s savings programs work, for example sales, promotions, double coupons and combine them to save even more money.
When buying extra items, always keep in mind the shelf life of the item. Saving money will seem pointless if the item overstays its welcome in the pantry. Knowing how to be an extreme couponer is an exercise in economics. A little thought and some planning will help the extreme couponer save money.