Couponing: Do's and Don'ts

I could probably write a million couponing posts. But first things first--the do's and the don'ts.

 

Couponing Do's:

DO coupon! Because if you don't you're wasting money, and wasting money makes me very sad.

DO use manufacturer coupons and store coupons together! You can use two coupons on one items as long as one is a manufacturer offer and the other is specific to the store you're in. Usually the store coupon will have the store logo on it or it will say the store's name at the top.

DO look online and in the newspaper. You can preview what will be in the Sunday paper by visiting sundaycouponpreview.com. That way you can decide before you buy a paper whether there is anything in there worth your time and money. Then visit coupons.com and print out manufacturer coupons! You will need to install their coupon printer app, but it's easy peasy. Also check the store website you frequent--they usually have their own set of coupons.

DO organize your coupons and your list before you shop. You can definitely do your shopping on the fly, but you're risking losing out on a good deal. If you have your items and coupons organized before you go, you will know exactly what to get and what to expect. This is even more important when you get to the register. If you're like me, you're going to lose your focus watching the price rise. Then you will forget how much something was supposed to cost or forget a coupon. And that just sucks. So have it written out and your coupons clipped together so you can easily refer to them!

DO read the fine print! That will tell you how many products you have to buy, what size it works for, and if there are any other exclusions. Few things suck more than not being able to get a deal you expected because you failed to read the rules.

Couponing Don'ts:

DON'T print out every coupon just because its there. You don't need Depends just because they're on sale. Or maybe you do. That's none of my business.

DON'T print a coupon that requires you to buy 3 perishable items if you won't use them. It's not a good deal if the majority of your items are going to expire before you have a chance to use them. If you will definitely use them, great! But don't get suckered in just because you'll save a buck!

DON'T buy stuff you "think" you'll use. Because you probably won't. I have been known to buy lotion or body wash in a scent I don't really like just because it was cheap with a coupon. I convince myself that I can get used to the smell. Well, I can't. I bought a coco scented lotion that made me feel like a walking fudgesicle. I didn't like it. I wasted money for sure. It's also still in my cabinet, so if smelling like chocolate is your thing it's all yours.

DON'T use the coupon the first chance you get. More often than not you will end up with a better deal if you just wait. Some coupons expire quickly, so it's better to use them as soon as you can. But others may not expire for several weeks. Wait and scope out deals. You might find that the product went on sale in addition to having your coupon! I sure love when that happens!

And, Never, Never, NEVER let someone tell you that your coupon is no good. If that sucker is not expired and matches the product you have, get a manager to override the register. Sometimes their systems will have issues with coupons--that's not your problem. If you ask nicely, they will usually just manually enter it in. After all, it's the company that will pay the coupon price, not them. To keep you happy, they will usually make it work.

I will do more posts on couponing soon. But here are some basics to get you started!