Every week, millions of people simply toss their Sunday newspapers in the trash along with hundreds of dollars in savings.
Jeanetta Roberts
– Photo & Online Editor –
Imagine walking out of the grocery store with 128 rolls of toilet paper and spending only little more than $2 for all of them. Impossible, right? Wrong.
Every week, millions of people simply toss their Sunday newspapers in the trash along with hundreds of dollars in savings. What these people don’t realize is how each coupon they throw away is like throwing away real money. With only a few minutes each day, one can learn to find big savings on everyday items that could not only save hundreds of dollars, but maybe even make money.
Collecting coupons is the first step in saving. While coupons can be found anywhere, the best place to start is with the local Sunday newspapers.
Papers can be purchased almost everywhere, but perhaps the most inexpensive place is The Dollar Tree, a dollar store where a Sunday paper costs as little as $1, versus $1.50 at most other retailers or newspaper stands.
Another great place to find money saving coupons is on the internet by checking out http://coupons.com or http://redplum.com, or in many different magazines such as “All You” or “Parents.” Some extreme coupon collectors buy multiple papers each week or even order coupons online from different coupon clipping websites, such as http://thecouponclippers.com, for a small handling fee.
An important thing to know when collecting coupons is that there are two different types of coupons: store and manufacturer. Store coupons are released by a specific store and can only be used at that store (unless accepted by a competitor). Manufacturer coupons are released by the company who produces the specific item. When shopping, it is okay to use both a store and manufacturer coupon per item.
Once the coupons are collected, it is extremely important to keep them organized. Many money-saving offers surface unexpectedly and last a short amount of time. In times like these, being able to find coupons quickly is key to scoring the deal. One time-saving option to coupon organization is to file the shopper’s favorite coupons in coupon-sized file accordions. These are fairly inexpensive and can be customized with labels for easy organization. They can also be carried either by hand or in a purse or book bag so they are always on hand.
Frequent coupon collectors can’t stand the thought of throwing away a single coupon for fear of missing out on any deals that may come along. To avoid throwing away expired coupons, these collectors might use a more elaborate form of organization: the coupon binder. Binders like these usually contain baseball card inserts that hold every coupon.
After gathering and organizing the coupons, the collector can start searching for deals. This process usually begins by gathering store ads and matching coupons that can be used on sale items. If someone does not have the time to do this on their own, there are many websites that can assist him or her, such as http://hotcouponworld.com and http://thegrocerygame.com.
Some stores offer rewards programs for smart shoppers. These can range from CVS’s “Extra Care Bucks” to Walgreens’s “Register Rewards.” Some grocery stores offer items called “Catalinas” and can be either money off of the shopper’s next transaction, or even just another coupon off a certain item to be used during the next shopping trip. These rewards usually surface on certain deals in specific stores, sometimes unadvertised, and can help a smart shopper make money on their transactions.
For example, during the week of March 8, Target has Sobe Life water for $1 each. Pair this sale with an online coupon from http://coupons.com worth 50 cents off one and a buy-one-get-one-free Target coupon from http://target.com for two free bottles.
While some people use coupons as a way to make ends meet between paychecks, others actually make it a hobby. No matter what the reason is, the money that can be saved (and made) is well worth the time and effort. So this Sunday, look at those papers in a new light. Instead of tossing those coupons, start collecting them. Wallets everywhere are begging to be fed.
