Am I using my coupons correctly?
Am I getting the best deal with my coupons?
After a few reader comments, I realized that there are some coupon basic Do’s and Don’ts that should be addressed. Coupons can save you a large percentage of your grocery bill, but we need to make sure we are using them correctly to get the best deal, and to be fair to the companies that issue them, as well as the stores that take them.
If you are new to using coupons, please read Couponing 101, but then come back here to go over some basic do’s and don’ts that should help you save even more at the store.
Do
Watch expiration dates. Don’t cut them off, try to “erase” them, or any other way to hide them. More coupons will come out, I promise! Deals tend to run in cycles, so if you miss one, you can get it the next time it hits rock bottom price.
Read the coupon carefully. Make sure you have the right product (might be different than what is pictured) and that you have the right quantity. If a coupon is for $1 off 2 items, make sure you have both items.
Use a coupon per item in your transaction. One coupon per purchase does not mean one coupon per transaction. If you have 3 bags of chips, then you can use 3 coupons. If the cashier refuses, even after you have explained this, ask to do separate transactions.
Watch the cashier to make sure all your coupons are used. Everyone makes mistakes, and the cashier is no exception. If you notice a discrepancy, speak up. This is your money!
Get to know your store(s) policies. Do they double? Do they take competitor and/or printable coupons? Do they have a shopper’s card? Do they ever triple or quadruple coupons? If you don’t know a policy, just ask: Call customer service at your local store, talk to the manager, and check your resources. And of course, I am here to help you as much as I can!
Don’t:
Don’t copy coupons. It is illegal. There are plenty of legal ways to get extra coupons to get those deals, so don’t copy coupons. For some tips, check out 10 Tips to Increase Your Coupon Stash.
Don’t use more than 1 coupon on 1 item. You can’t use 5 $1 off coupons on 1 item. However, you can use a manufacturer and one store coupon on an item (good example are Target printables that can be combined with manufacturer coupons)
Don’t buy a product just because you have a coupon. Wait until it is on sale if you want it, but remember, you don’t have to buy something just because it is a great deal.
Don’t clear out the shelves. Stock piling with a sale can save you, but taking 20 boxes of peanut butter just because it is on sale isn’t a good use of your resources (money). Why not take 2 or 3 and leave the rest for the next person looking for that great deal?
Don’t be ashamed. Be proud of the savings you are getting with your coupons and ignore those that want to snicker when you carry in your giant coupon binder, huff and puff when you hand over 50 coupons to the cashier, or roll their eyes when you need to put an item back. You are saving your family money and stretching the family budget which is nothing to be hesitant about!
I hope this list can help, I know some of these things are very basic, but when you are first starting to use coupons, it is hard to know what you can and can’t do all the time.
Do you have a Do or a Don’t tip to share? I’d love to hear them, and I’m sure others would, too!
Don’t forget to Download the Saving Cents with Sense Toolbar. Have a smart phone – Get the iPhone App or Android App to keep all the deals at your fingertips!
