Coupons - Getting Organized
Anyone can benefit from the
use of coupons, but to maximize your success you'll need to be
organized.
Essentially, this means you'll need to be able to easily find the coupon you need within your coupon collection. At first you'll be tempted to cut out or print out every coupon you think you will need. But the best organizational strategy is to not cut or print a coupon until you need it, because you will probably only use a small percent of the coupons available at any point in time. Recommendations: 1. Buy or subscribe to two copies of your local Sunday newspaper. Remove the coupon inserts and write the date somewhere on each insert. Then file the inserts by date in a flexible folder. Cut the coupons when you need them. Periodically purge expired inserts from the folder. If you don't subscribe to your local newspaper, read the coupon insert previews (such as those at Southern Savers) to decide if it's worth the cost of the Sunday papers (usually about $2.00 each). If the value of the coupons you can use doesn't exceed the cost of the newspaper, don't bother buying it. 2. Search a printable coupon database like the one at Southern Savers to find printable coupons you can use. Note: You will likely be prompted to download a coupon-printing program; I have found these programs to be safe to use. Tip: Most Internet coupon sources allow you to print two of each coupon. But don't print the second coupon until you need it because the expiration dates on many coupons move forward as time progresses, giving you more time to use them. 3. Use sites that match up coupons with store sales like Southern Savers, which serves the Southeastern part of the country. Using a coupon in conjunction with a sale will maximize the value of the transaction. 4. Attach all applicable coupons to each shopping list you have created. Next: The Coupon Learning Curve |
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