Easy Ways to Cut Costs with Coupons

Make a Shopping List

The reason manufacturers and stores put out coupons to entice you to buy their product. Using coupons can be counterproductive if you find coupons for things you wouldn't normally buy and then buy them just because you have a coupon. Keep yourself focused by making a list of the things you need before you search for coupons. Then, when you find coupons, make sure the cost of a brand name product with a coupon is not higher than the cost of the brand you normally buy.

Organize Coupons

Clipping coupons is a waste of time if you don't remember to use them. When you cut coupons out of the Pennysaver or other advertisements, place them in a binder or folder in the order of their expiration dates. Before you go shopping, make sure you don't have any coupons that are about to expire before you use them. If you have a lot of coupons, you may find it helpful to organize by category as well.

Read Sale Papers

You can save more money with coupons if you combine coupon discounts with sale prices. For example, $.50 a box for macaroni and cheese is already a good deal on sale, but if you have a coupon for $1 off two boxes, you can get that macaroni and cheese for free. Remember that even though you need to use your coupons before the expiration date, you don't have to use them immediately after you find them. Save your coupons and keep an eye out for good deals where it would make sense to use them.

Print Online Coupons

Online coupons are a good deal because of the lack of hassle. Instead of flipping through sales papers, you can search keywords of products you need and print them out. Some stores are even starting to allow shoppers to use coupons right from their smart phones, rather than printing them to paper. To protect your privacy, set up a separate email address for online coupon sites that require emails or registrations. Good online coupon sites include Retail Me Not, Fat Wallet and Any Coupons.

Shop Around

One store might have good deals on milk and cheese, but high prices on dry goods. Another might sell fruits and vegetables for cheap, but is 20 minutes out of your way. You can save more money with coupons if you keep track of the prices in multiple stores, rather than always going to the same place. Break up your shopping trips to take advantage of the best sales and in-store coupons. Be careful to include travel time and gas costs in your price calculations, however. If you have to drive an hour to save $.50 on something you could buy next door, you won't save money.