How to Use Coupons Effectively

Using $1 coupons will only get you so far, but if you’re aiming for bigger savings you need to learn how to use coupons more effectively.

The trick is to get double discounts on the same item by matching the items already on sale with your coupons.

Example:
Say that you have a $1 coupon for a bottle of moisturizer that usually sells for $3.99. Using the coupon will get you the bottle for $2.99. Nice, but not enough…

If however you hang on to the coupon and wait patiently until that bottle of moisturizer goes on sale for $2.49 – now you get that same bottle for only $1.49. That’s more than 60% discount!



How it works
Large companies usually promote certain products in two waves: Initially – they’ll put out coupons to start bumping up sales. Later on (any time between 3-4 weeks later) they’ll move onto sale prices.

The reason large companies promote products that way is because they prefer a steady and long boost in sells rather than a spike, and studies have shown that people who bought a product with coupons and liked it would buy it again next month if it’s on sale.

You can take advantage of this and beat the companies at their own game simply by being patient and hanging on to the coupons until the products come on sale. Only then use the coupons on top of the already-reduced price items.

How to match coupons with sales

• Once a week clip coupons from the Sunday paper inserts & your favorite store’s magazine for all of the products you usually buy.
• Organize the coupons according to product type.
• When you go shopping, pick up the store’s magazine and look for some more interesting coupons and sales. Additionally, look for sales throughout the store and try to match them with your coupons.
  
  Magically, most of the 3-4 week old coupons will sync up very well with stuff that’s already on sale on the shelves.