Saving Money With Coupons

"A penny saved is a penny earned." ~ Benjamin Franklin

Using coupons, for some people it is a hobby, for some it is an after-thought, and for others it is a way of life. Which category do you fall under? Did you know that you can easily save hundreds of dollars on things that you never even imagined? From groceries, to toys, to vacations, etc… You can save on all of these things.

Manufacturers send out coupons to get you to buy their product. Generally, consumers will buy a product if it is cheaper than its competitor. This is why so many people would rather buy the store brand of a product, rather than spend the extra $2.00 on the brand name. What if you could get the brand name for less, all while saving enough money to pay off extra bills? Why not try it out? If it doesn't work, then it is easy to just stop clipping, but if it does, then you will feel a sense of accomplishment.

Saving money takes less time than it does to watch a movie that you didn't want to watch anyway, but you put it on simply because there was "nothing else on." Are you interested yet? If your answer is yes, then get up, go get some scissors, and start clipping your coupons!

If you match everything right, and truly put effort into it, instead of spending $400 on a grocery bill, you can split that in half, and put that other $200 toward bills, or into a savings account to use for emergencies or a vacation, or something that you would enjoy, rather than being stuck at home watching that awful movie because you don't have the money to get out of your house.

First thing's first, get your store's ad, get your coupons (printed, or from the paper), and take a deep breath. For beginners it may be frustrating because it can be time consuming, but that time will pay off. Separate your coupons into different stacks, cleaner, hygiene, paper products, etc., and then go through your store's weekly circular. Match your coupons to the ad, and voila! You have extra money. It sounds too good to be true, but it's not. The best suggestion, though, is don't go overboard. Don't buy a product just because you have a coupon. If you don't eat peanut butter, but you have a $2 off coupon, don't buy it unless you plan on giving it to someone else, like a food bank. You don't want to waste your time on products that you won't use, because you would spend money that you don't need to spend.

The truth is, using coupons can be addicting. You will get a rush when you see your final total drop from $300 to $150, but don't let that rush get to you, or you will be spending your saved money at the store the next day buying more stuff.

Make a plan for yourself, for example, that you will go to the store once a week. Set a budget of what you want to stay under for that time. Make a list of items that you need, like milk, laundry detergent, tooth paste, etc., those products don't have to be written down by the brand, but having a list will help you stick to your budget and your store trip plan. Be sure to take your coupon holder with you when you go, because you may very well have something written on your list that wasn't in the store's circular as being on sale, but when you go you may find that it is, in fact, on sale.

When it comes time to check-out, be friendly to the cashier. They are the ones that will truly make your experience either good, or bad. Talk to them, smile, be happy, and if they look at you with an "oh no" look, just laugh and say "oh, yeah, I'm one of those couponers!" They will laugh and it will start a conversation with them, which will make the check-out process go a little faster. Give the cashier any free, buy one get one free, rain checks, or specialized coupons before they start ringing you up, save the store's Catalinas (in store, printed coupons) for last. The cashier will appreciate the extra help, it will make their job just a little easier, and your check-out will be a lot more pleasant.

Using coupons may seem like a tedious task that isn't worth the time, but it truly is. All you need to do is be patient, and have set goals of what you want to do. This doesn't just apply to going to the grocery store. If you know where to look, you can use coupons at toy stores, department stores, and restaurants.

At the end of the day, any amount is a success, whether you save $10 or $100, you are taking a huge step in the right direction.

This article was contributed by Joy Rudy, a stay at home mom who has become obsessed with saving money by couponing. Spending a few hours a week, she has found an easy way to help save hundreds of dollars a month for her family allowing further flexibility with budgeting.