Couponing for Dummies - For Finance Sake (2024)

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Understanding the fundamentals of couponing for dummies is a useful skill. There are lots of bargains that are just sitting around waiting for people to take advantage of them.

Some people are paying a lot of money for everything from groceries to household repairs without even knowing it, which is completely unnecessary.

Some of these people might feel that hunting down good bargains for most of their purchases is too much of a time commitment.

However, once people understand couponing for dummies, they really will be able to find great bargains in a way that is not too time-consuming.

The Right Coupon Sites

For many people, couponing for dummies is at least partly a matter of finding the right websites.

There are lots of coupon websites, but some of them offer minor deals and some of them offer major deals.

People shouldn’t spend hours and hours searching for coupons that at best are going to give them thirty cents off of a few groceries.

They need to look for the coupon deals that are going to save hundreds and hundreds of dollars over the course of a month and thousands of dollars over the course of a year.

There are lots of coupon websites that really do offer huge savings like these for their members.

Many of the best coupon websites, the ones that offer excellent deals, require membership fees.

For a lot of people, this might seem like a deal-breaker.

However, people who plan on using coupon websites very frequently should be aware that they really can make back the membership fee as long as they take advantage of enough deals from the websites in question.

Naturally, they’re going to need to get bargains on the products that they already use.

Some people will end up spending more money after they join coupon websites, since they will hear about products that they never knew about before, and might feel the urge to buy something new if there’s a coupon attached.

However, those who are really planning on saving money are going to need to find coupons that will help them save on items that they already use and buy very frequently.

It is a good idea to resist the urge to change spending patterns when starting to use coupons.

People who are savvy enough in their coupon selections will manage to compensate for the membership fees of the coupon websites after only a couple of coupons.

However, those who aren’t going to be using fee-paying websites all that often should consider the costs and benefits associated with using them.

If the total fees of the websites are more than what most people are going to save in coupons in the first place, then it is not worth registering for them.

Print Coupons and Online Coupons

People who still receive the newspaper or junk mail should look at what is available in many of those supplements.

In some cases, one should at least be able to find a few basic coupons that will manage to help save on groceries. People tend to focus only on online coupons these days, and one does definitely find some of the best deals online.

However, there are still worthwhile deals in print media these days, as some people prefer print and some companies benefit from print advertising.

It’s no secret that print advertising is in trouble. Companies that use print advertising might be more willing to give out coupon deals, as they’re often in a somewhat tricky financial position.

There are lots of transitions going on right now in the media world, and people who are able to benefit from them in any way should seize the opportunity.

Some companies might even be hoping that no one will ever use the print coupons they offer, as most people are more online-orientated in their deal-finding movements.

Now that the rest of the world uses online coupons, the people who make time to find print coupons could enjoy something of an advantage in the coupon collecting game.

The Variety of Coupons

It is important not to underestimate the sheer number of coupons available online. One can also get coupons for nearly anything.

Home repair, tools, facials, restaurant meals, and almost everything else that one can think of may have some sort of a coupon deal online.

The more expensive the item, the larger the coupon deal will be in many cases and the more worthwhile it is to search for it.

People should try to search for bargains that they want rather than just looking through lists of bargains in order to find something that they like.

One should not shop around for a bargain, but should rather seek out specific ones. For instance, someone trying to save money on a brand of soap should only search for coupons for that brand of soap.

They should not spend a lot of time pouring through catalogs of coupons in order to find one that deals with the brand of soap they want.

They might not find anything, and are going to spend a lot of time on a quest that might leave them empty-handed.

The Time Value of Money

People who are going to spend a lot of time on couponing need to find a way to balance their time and their searches.

People can spend hours and hours searching for coupons online.

Individuals who could have spent those hours earning money rather than clipping coupons are going to lose money if they take their productivity into account.

Coupon clippers need to take their financial situation into account before spending time that could be used to earn money on trawling coupon sites.

If one has free time available, searching for coupons can save money, but it shouldn’t be focused on if there are bills to pay.

Couponing for Dummies - For Finance Sake (2024)

FAQs

How do beginners start couponing? ›

From finding a coupon database to making a shopping list, here's how to save money with coupons.
  1. 'Stack' store and manufacturer's coupons. ...
  2. Find a coupon database or a browser extension. ...
  3. Read the fine print. ...
  4. Learn your store's coupon policy. ...
  5. Make a shopping list and use apps for more savings. ...
  6. Use coupons strategically.
Oct 17, 2023

What is the secret to extreme couponing? ›

Match up your coupons with store circulars.

In order to maximize your savings, you need to combine sales, promotions, and coupons. For instance, if Target is having a special sale of a particular brand of yogurt for $2 and it is normally $3, you can use your two $1 off coupons and get it for free.

Why is couponing illegal? ›

It involves deliberately modifying and/or using a coupon in a way not allowed by its terms and conditions for undue financial or material gain. This is almost always a violation of federal and regional laws in the US and other countries and can result in charges such as theft, larceny, and counterfeiting.

How do extreme couponers get so many coupons? ›

Newspaper coupon inserts (or their digital equivalents) from local retailers and major brands make it easy to start collecting coupons. The more copies you get, the better your savings will be. Some extreme couponers invest in multiple newspaper subscriptions to get more coupons.

Do couponers actually save money? ›

Couponing can save you money while shopping, but might cause you to spend more money, especially if you have trouble finding coupons for items you would normally buy or lose out on better deals from cheaper store brands.

What is the easiest way to get coupons? ›

Here's how to get coupons, in both paper and digital form.
  1. Shop at stores with rewards programs. ...
  2. Ask for manufacturer coupons. ...
  3. Visit retailer websites and apps. ...
  4. Check the Sunday newspaper. ...
  5. Pick up weekly ads at the store. ...
  6. Look at the product packaging. ...
  7. Browse store aisles. ...
  8. Check your receipts.
Sep 25, 2023

Can you go to jail for couponing? ›

Additionally, coupon fraud can actually lead to some pretty significant fines and even jail time, depending on how extreme it is.

What is a disadvantage of couponing? ›

The biggest con of using coupons is that they cost businesses money and may lead to lower profit for that sale. Another drawback is when existing customers wait for coupons, cannibalizing existing revenue before the coupon program.

What does glitter mean in couponing? ›

Coupon Glittering, also known as 'glittering', is a term used in the cybersecurity world to refer to the act of using digital coupons in a manner that is not intended by the issuer. This practice, although seemingly harmless at first glance, can have serious implications for businesses and consumers alike.

What are 2 cons of extreme super couponing? ›

If you're thinking about starting up extreme couponing, there are a few things you need to know before you jump in.
  • It can take a lot of time to plan your shopping and find the best deals. ...
  • You'll have to shop at multiple stores to get the best deals. ...
  • You may have to buy stuff you wouldn't necessarily want.
Sep 5, 2023

Is extreme couponing still possible in 2024? ›

So, while you can try out extreme couponing to get certain items at no cost, you can't count on it to be a consistent, effective way to lower your grocery bill in 2024.

Do grocery stores lose money on extreme couponing? ›

No, extreme couponing is not stealing, but it's not uncommon for stores to resent it if a shopper brings in a stack of coupons and spends very little money in the end.

How do extreme couponing get things for free? ›

Combining deals to score items for free or for pennies on the dollar. The key to extreme couponing is not to take advantage of just one deal but to take advantage of multiple deals at the same time. By stacking the deals available to you, you can get great prices on items.

What is the first coupon? ›

Retailers have Coca-Cola to thank for the coupon's invention. In 1887, Asa Candler devised an innovative marketing strategy: offer hand-written vouchers to the public entitling them to a free glass of Coca-Cola, then retailing at 5 cents. The goal was to get people to try the product — and it worked like a dream.

How to get coupons mailed to you for free? ›

If you love a company, email them directly through the contact form on their website. Give them a genuine compliment and ask them if they ever give out coupons for products. This works almost every time I call – give it a shot!

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Lilliana Bartoletti

Last Updated:

Views: 6080

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (73 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Lilliana Bartoletti

Birthday: 1999-11-18

Address: 58866 Tricia Spurs, North Melvinberg, HI 91346-3774

Phone: +50616620367928

Job: Real-Estate Liaison

Hobby: Graffiti, Astronomy, Handball, Magic, Origami, Fashion, Foreign language learning

Introduction: My name is Lilliana Bartoletti, I am a adventurous, pleasant, shiny, beautiful, handsome, zealous, tasty person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.