T here’s nothing more terrifying than waking up one day and wondering why you spend so much on things like toilet paper. That’s when you know you’re officially an adult.
The scary part though is feeling lost at this time, especially when it comes to your finances. But don’t worry, no one told us either. That’s why we’ve come to your rescue with tips on how to begin couponing -- your first step to living on a budget.
Why Coupons, You Ask?
If you’re anything like us, you’ve found yourself thinking, “why am I spending so much on food?” while getting groceries. Of course, you know you have to plan and budget and spend carefully, but the best way to save money is to spend less -- and that’s where coupons come in!
Not only do they save money, but also they allow you to stockpile things you know you’re going to need later. There are coupons for everything, everywhere, all you have to do is keep your eyes open and collect the ones you need from dog food to clothes.
Where It All Begins
Now that you’ve decided to save money by using coupons, you need a list of places you can get them.
Newspapers and Magazines
The most common way to get your hands on coupons is to get them from newspapers and magazines, especially the Sunday ones. Newspapers are cheap to get and usually have multiple coupons in each issue.
If you’re not a newspaper person, don’t worry, ask your friends and neighbors. If they have a newspaper subscription and don’t care for the coupons, you can always take them off their hands.
Magazines and flyers are two other good sources of coupons, many stores and manufacturers put coupons on their advertisement material and ads. Some even print coupons on the cardboard boxes of their product (Like cereal). So get your scissor and cut away!
E-coupons and printable ones
All hail technology! Just when you thought it couldn’t get better than online shopping, it brings to you online couponing. Several manufacturers put up coupons on their websites, all you need to do is either print or scan them on certain apps, and you’re good to go.
On top of that, there are even couponing websites that have lists of all the different coupons you can avail of. Some allow you to print coupons, although only a few fixed times.
Similarly, your local stores or brands may just be putting out coupons that you never even knew about, so go through their websites and print out any coupons you think you can use!
Count your coupons!
Once you enter the exciting world of couponing and saving money, chances are you will end up piling a lot of coupons. Don’t go loco. Remember: if you don’t need the thing the coupon is for, let it go!
For all the useful coupons -- of which there will be plenty -- make a separate binder or folder. Keep your grocery coupons separate from the makeup ones. Also, sorting them by brand, store, and date of expiry will make it easier to find the ones you need before they expire.
Salvation (Read: Shopping)!
And now for the moment of truth….
You’ve saved up a nice little pile of coupons, and you’ve put off going shopping till this moment so you could see just how much couponing will save you.
But before you rush out that door for shopping galore, there are some things you have to remember:
Pick a Place
Instead of rushing to several different stores to purchase several different items, pick one store for one day. This will make the shopping experience a lot more fun and you’re less likely to splurge!
List Your Needs
Now that you’ve decided what store you’re going to, make a list of the things you may need from that store. These things should be ones you need regularly so don’t you go crazy. Once the list is made cross-check the items you need with the ones on sale. If you’re lucky you might find a bunch of things on sale that match your coupon. You know what that means: peak saving!
The ‘Coupon’ On Top!
Now that you’ve done your homework and have saved a nice sum of money. There’s just one last thing to do: Calculate!
The best way to make sure you’re on the right track is to keep tabs on all your spending and savings. Throw in some math on how much you would have spent without the coupons and which coupons would further lessen expenses.
After the successful saving, you’re going to be doing with our guide on how to begin couponing, you can bet we’ll be rooting for you to live your best adult life like a responsible adult!
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This post is tagged in:
- How To Begin Couponing
- coupons
- coupining
- discounts
