Do You Love Clipping Coupons? MMMM Very Good!

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

Before Clipping Coupons, Check the Facts

With cable television shows featuring people who get piles of groceries for little or no cash, shopping with coupons has become almost a competitive sport. Coupons are available in the mail, newspapers, magazines as well as online for thousands of different products. Most of us can find ways to save heaps by clipping coupons, with a little time and organization.

According to a survey conducted by Experian Simmons Research, sixty-eight percent of USA adults now use print coupons. The survey also found that 22 percent of these adults also use digital coupons obtained from email or the internet.

Warren King, President of the Better Business Bureau of Western PA, says “While clipping coupons can be a simple and effective way to save money on every day expenses, it is important to purchase products that you or your family plan to use within a reasonable period of time, otherwise, the products could end up being a waste of money and storage space.”

We need to focus on meeting our own needs and understanding store or company policies for the best results from coupon shopping. To avoid disappointment, make sure you check the expiry date before trying to redeem a coupon.

Tips to Follow when Clipping Coupons

• Be careful with offers that pop up from web pages. Especially if they require you to immediately click to redeem. Clicking on the ad may automatically sign you up for services you are not interested in receiving, perhaps causing you to be billed every month.
• Ask a store if it will price match. To save you the time and trouble of visiting several stores, find out if the store you’re in will honor a competitor’s price on items that you have coupons for.
• Read the fine print carefully. Check out the terms and conditions for the use of the coupon. Look for the expiration date, limitations of use and whether it is an online coupon for online purchases only or if it can also be redeemed at the store location.
• Look for who is offering the coupon. You should check to see if the coupon is being offered directly by the store or if it is being offered by a third-party such as a partner or affiliate. If it is via a third-party, they might ask for additional information or require you to sign up for services to redeem the coupon.
• Don’t be tricked by fake coupons via email. Many phony coupons have been getting delivered via email and just because it may come from a friend or family member, don’t assume the coupon is legitimate.
• Prepare and make a list. Maintain coupons in files or envelopes that can be easily carried into a store. Consider grouping them by category or expiration date and only clip on products that you use or want to try. Make a list of all your needed items that have coupons prior to going shopping.

If you end up with more products than you can use after your clipping coupons is done, consider donating some of the items.

Is Clipping Coupons Popular?

It sure is! This is according to Coupons.com, a firm that tracks coupons online and monitors couponing trends. Further growth was expected for 2011 and 2012.

 Top 15 Most Popular Coupon Websites | October 2012