Couponing for Beginners: What You Need to Know to Save

Couponing for beginners may seem daunting.

Where do you find coupons? How can you best leverage them? Are there rules and limitations?

You don’t have to be a seasoned coupon-slinger to get the best deals. With the right know-how, you can enjoy those price cuts on your favorite products right from the beginning.

Here are some tips to get started.

Expert Insights in a Nutshell: Couponing for Beginners

Find Coupons

First things first – let’s find those coupons! There are many great sources for coupons, both in paper and online.

Sunday newspaper. When you subscribe to a Sunday newspaper, you will receive a packet of coupons rolled up in each paper.
Local stores. You can find hard copies of coupons in your local stores for products that are currently on sale.
Internet. The internet is another great source, with many brand websites posting coupons that you can either print out or download onto an app.
Family and friends. Ask your family and friends for their unused coupons; after all, one man’s trash is another’s treasure!

Organize Your Coupons

Throwing all your coupons into a pile is a rookie’s mistake. Don’t worry; we’ve all done it!

Couponing for beginners should start with organizing your collection. You can keep them inside an envelope, so they’re easily accessible when you’re at the register.

As your collection grows, you can also clip coupons and file them into a binder. This lets you effortlessly peruse which of them are still valid or have expired. Categorizing them by store and item-type also makes them easy to reference during checkout.

Know Your Store’s Coupon Policy

Individual stores may have different rules about using coupons, so be sure to do your research prior to a shopping trip.

Many stores offer a loyalty card, which lets you clip more digital coupons and get access to unique sale prices.

Some stores may or may not accept printable coupons, expired coupons, or their competitors’ coupons. Others may welcome these unique combinations! Be sure to ask ahead of time.

While you’re at it, evaluate the store’s policy on stacking coupons. Using more than one coupon on each item at a time can provide greater savings. However, not every store will allow this.

Learn How Coupons Work

The biggest challenge of couponing for beginners? Understanding the little-known rules and loop-holes behind coupons. Reading the fine print will help!

Some coupons offer a dollar-off deal, while others are percentage-off. Some coupons are issued by the store, while others are provided by the manufacturer.

Store coupons and manufacturer coupons can usually be stacked together! By double-checking that fine print, you’ll be aware of these advantages and can glean better savings.

Build Your Stockpile

When you start couponing, it can be tempting to cash in on multiple deals right away. We get it!

However, buying items you don’t need, just because they’re on sale, can result in you spending more money than necessary. That’s the opposite of the goal!

It’s wise to start out slow. Selective couponing can help you stock up on bulk necessities – such as cereal or shampoo – well in advance, while avoiding unnecessary purchases. Figure out what your bulk necessities are and watch out for those coupons!

If you do end up with more than you will use, consider donating the extra items to a shelter!

Why Sunday Coupon Inserts?

Coupon clipping services are a great tool when it comes to couponing for beginners! Sunday Coupon Inserts delivers coupons to your front door every week through their Weekly Subscriptions program, so you can have access to the precise deals you need.

You can choose how many coupon combo packs you want to receive, and start or stop your subscription at any time!