Using Coupons the Proper Way

I hear a lot of people say that they don't bother wasting their time using coupons.   "It's just not worth it to save 15 cents."


I tell those people, "Well, I just got paid $15.00 to take this stuff out of that store!"


You see, most people don't realize that there is a proper and improper way to use coupons. 


I can hear you now, "How can that be?  You just clip it and use it!"


If you are just using coupons because you have them, then you really aren't saving any money.  As a matter of fact, you are probably spending more than you would have if you wouldn't have used the coupon.


For example:  Heinz ketchup at the regular price = $3.99
You add in a man. Q to get $1.00 off
Your OOP (out-of-pocket) = $2.99
(You could have picked up a generic brand for less than that!)


Most manufacturer coupons aren't going to save you money if you use them outside of a sale. (There are exceptions, but we will talk about that at a later point.)


So, what's the trick?


The first thing you want to be sure and do is to match up the coupons you have to the stores' sales that week.


For example: Heinz ketchup at the regular price = $3.99
The store has it on sale for - $2.49
You add in a man. Q to get $1.00 off
Your OOP (out-of-pocket) = $1.49


Hey, now we are starting to see the savings that we want; right?


Let's not forget to check out the store's sales paper.


Even if a store has a value card, they will still put coupons in their sales papers.


If you don't clip the Q, then you won't get the sale!


Many stores allow stacking.  (Stacking is when you use a man. Q and a store Q on one item.)


For example: Heinz ketchup at the regular price = $3.99
The store has it on sale for - $2.49
You add in a man. Q to get $1.00 off
Add in the store Q to get an additional 50 cents off
Your OOP (out-of-pocket) = $.99


Wow, much better than when we started!  I love to save; don't you?


But, we can do better than 99 cents!


If you are shopping at a store the offers Register Rewards, then you can actually be paid to buy that ketchup!


(Register Rewards are coupons that are given back after you pay for your purchase.  You can use those coupons to buy most things in that particular store.)




For example: Heinz ketchup at the regular price = $3.99
The store has it on sale for - $2.49
You add in a man. Q to get $1.00 off
Add in the store Q to get an additional 50 cents off
Your OOP (out-of-pocket) = $.99
Register Rewards paid back to you = $2.00


So, even though you did have to pay the 99 cents up front, you were given back $2.00, so you were actually paid $1.01 to by it.

Throw in some rebates, and you will really be making some money!