Enjoy Bigger Savings By Couponing

My Mom does amazing things with coupons. She has a lot more patience than I do. She’ll only buy things with a coupon, and generally she’ll only buy those when the items are on sale. I’m definitely no extreme coupon pro, so I don’t have much advice to offer. But, I do have some tips that have been shared with me by Stacy.

Couponing isn’t just popular because of TLC’s popular show. So many people are collecting and redeeming coupons because it allows them to save a lot of money and still shop for the things they need—and more.
According to a report by Coupons.org, Americans were able to save $3.7 billion in 2011 by redeeming coupons in different establishments. The report also showed a 63% increase in coupon use in that year. Furthermore, it showed that there were 100 million more coupons used from 2009. These figures only prove how immensely popular couponing has become.
Benefits of couponing
Obviously, people collect coupons to save money. In a tough economy, it can be difficult to stretch your dollars especially when there are so many things to spend on. A trip to the grocery is more fun with coupons because you can get as many items as you like. With the right strategy, you can drive home with loads of hauls (groceries purchased at steep discounts) without burning a hole in your pockets.
Aside from that, couponing allows you to try new products you normally wouldn’t buy because of the price. Coupons slash the price of expensive items like detergents, soaps, even food items. Additionally, couponing makes it possible to buy items in bulk and stockpile items that your family can use for a long time; you can even use your stock to donate to charity.
How to make the most out of your coupons
About.com shares effective tips on how to start couponing and make the most out of it:
–  Know where to find coupons. Newspapers, magazines, packaging of items found in the store, junk mail, coupon sites and manufacturers’ sites.
–  Devise a plan to organizing your coupons.  Clip all coupons you find and then choose which ones you intend to use and arrange them so that you use the ones who are near the expiration dates first.
–  Store coupons in any container and label them appropriately.
–  Regularly purge your coupons to identify those that are already expired.
–  To maximize the amount of money saved, buy from stores that double coupons.
–  Make sure that you have your coupons with you at all times because you’ll never know when a great deal comes up. This is why you should use a folder because it’s easier to bring.
It’s wise to get to know the store’s coupon policy. That way, you can make the most of your coupons. This is also advisable because there are some establishments today that are starting to change their coupon policies. Matching coupons to sales will also help you get the most bang for your buck. There are sites that will help you do this.
More creative ways to coupon
Getting more savings means being more creative with your coupons. Here are some tips you can use:
–  Get more than 1 copy of newspapers where you get most coupons. It makes sense to spend a little extra when you can multiply the value of your coupons.
–  Use competitors’ coupons.
–  Combine coupons for more savings. You can use a manufacturer and store coupon for one item for bigger discounts. Others basically spend nothing by using coupons along with rebates.
–  Wait for clearance sales and use coupons to get enormous discounts.
–  Frequently visit coupon sites because you can always find tips on great deals. You can always find discounts from different sites, like this one http://www.berries.com/coupon-codes.aspx.
Successful couponing depends on resourcefulness and dedication. It does take a lot of time but all your efforts will pay off. For example, did you know that 1 hour of couponing will save you $100???