Saving $1 on deodorant can be difficult. After finding the coupon in the Sunday paper, you have to locate that elusive pair of scissors that always seems to get lost in the house, clip out the coupon and then remember to take that small piece of paper to the store on your next shopping trip. For one measly dollar, it hardly seems worth it.
But consider this: coupons saved Americans almost $3 billion dollars last year. That equates to about $1,000 a year for the average shopper. That seemingly insignificant dollar now seems much more important, doesn’t it?
According to the Promotion Marketing Association Coupon Council, an advocacy group providing education to coupon clippers, the average coupon is worth about $1 in savings, but when used effectively the impact of coupons can be huge
Here are some coupon clipping tips to help you get started:
Don’t just look in the Sunday paper.
Though 90 percent of grocery coupons are found in Sunday newspaper inserts, be sure to look in magazines, direct mailings, grocery store shelves and, increasingly, the internet for extra savings.
Richard Booth, who operates coupon portal www.findsavings.com, suggests using the internet to find better savings than traditional coupons offer. “The advantage to finding an online only coupon [is that there are] usually better discounts than at the local stores due to lower overhead for merchants to sell goods online,” he said. Personal finance writer Jeffrey Strain at www.savingadvice.com said to use the internet to target items you already purchase. “The Internet allows you to be proactive and seek out the coupons for products that you already use and like,” he said. With over $300 billion worth of manufactures coupons out there, you’re bound to find savings that work for you.
Organize.
Find a way to organize your coupons by type, expiration date and importance to your shopping list. This can range from buying an organizer to putting envelopes in an old shoe box. It is often helpful to arrange coupon types in the order that you shop at the grocery store for quicker savings. Whatever way works best for you, have those coupons ready for your next shopping trip.
Have a plan.
The website www.grocerycoupon-guide.com suggests creating a shopping list of items you normally buy and search out coupons for those items. Check flyers from different grocery stores to see if the item is cheaper at a store you don’t usually shop at. The savings is often well worth making a trip to more than one store. Picking the perfect shopping day can save money, as well. Strain said to base your shopping day on your particular store. “If your store offers double coupon days, that is the day,” he said. “Otherwise, it is more important to go when it isn’t crowded so you can get in and out.”
Involve the children.
In addition to providing excellent savings, coupons can also be used as a learning tool for children. Teaching children to clip and organize coupons not only provides bonding time for families, it teaches children math and number skills, how to set goals and the importance of budgeting, not to mention the value of a dollar. In the end you’ll get savings you can use and create smart shoppers as you go.
So keep those scissors handy and don’t forget to click around the internet coupon sites. Just a few minutes of your time can be worth big savings.
-David Rogers
