People who are really into coupons regularly save hefty sums of money. However, when you’re new to the process or don’t know how it’s done, coupons can cause you stress. Use these suggestions to get the most from your couponing efforts.

TIP! Don’t purchase something solely because you’ve got the coupon. It’s very easy for people to actually spend more money shopping with coupons because they end up buying items they don’t actually need.

Always double check to ensure that you are scoring the best deal possible with every coupon. Often, there will be a store brand or generic of the same product that will cost even less than the product that has the coupon. Never assume that a coupon is your ticket to maximizing your savings.

Consider utilizing your coupons during BOGO sales at your grocery store. You get the bonus item for nothing, and you also get a cheaper price on the item you bought to get the freebie. Normally, it will come out to you saving upwards of 75% off the original price.

TIP! Figure out what the policy is on using coupons at stores you’re going to. Will the store double your coupons, accept competitor coupons, and accept coupons printed from the Internet? Knowing the policy will let you know if you can save with the coupons at the store.

Always take the time to search product websites for coupons and deals before committing to an online purchase. Many times, a code helps you get a discount from the store you’re being month.

You should set aside one day per week where you really focus on your couponing efforts. This an efficient method for finding time to put your coupon collection together. The rest of the week it is fine to clip a coupon you happen to come upon, but having a designated day for coupon searching is the best strategy.

TIP! When your store has a buy one, get one free sale, take advantage of this by using coupons. Not only are you able to get a free item out of the deal, but you’re also getting the first item at a fraction of the cost! Many times, you’ll pay under 25 cents on the dollar.

If you’re getting an item with a coupon and that item is going on sale soon, try coupon clipping services so you can get a bunch of that coupon. Many of these services advertise on the plethora of coupon websites, saving you some money from not having to buy lots of newspapers.

‘Dollar’ stores can save you big money on some items. A coupon can often be used for items at the nearby dollar store. These stores usually have overstocked products. This pays you in the end as you can take the coupon off the deeply discounted price.

TIP! Gone are the days when newspapers were the place for finding coupons. Smart shoppers know to go online for the best coupon savings, these days You can find coupons for food, clothing, electronics and more.

If you need more coupons, look in the neighbor’s garbage. This does not mean you have to dive into the garbage; simply put on a pair of gloves and search through papers to find what you are looking for. You may be shocked to learn how many people simply toss their coupons out with the garbage.

Search for coupons online prior to making any type of online purchase. Choose a search engine and type in the name of the retailer along with the word “coupon.” Coupon codes may be available for your purchase. Perhaps you can get discounted shipping or a percentage off the total price if you enter a valid coupon code online.

TIP! Be certain that your coupons properly scan on checkout. It is surprisingly common for coupons to fail to scan, either because of a problem with the coupon itself or because of a problem on the store’s end.

Purchase items in bulk. Use coupons for necessary items. Coupons have an expiration date. Many products you will purchase will last a long time. Coupon doubles can also yield a significant amount of savings. Over time, you will start to see a huge saving.

Familiarize yourself with coupon acronyms. For example, the word “BOGO” means buy 1, get 1 free. Another acronym used often is “MIR” which stands for mail-in rebate. You will find various acronyms associated with coupons. If you do not know them, you could be letting deals slip by you that can increase your coupon’s discount.

TIP! You can save lots of money on certain items by shopping at dollar stores. They might have an item that you have a coupon for.

There is no argument that people who use coupons diligently can potentially save a lot of money. To get the most savings from coupons, it is important to learn the best coupon strategies. If you keep these tips in mind, you’ll turn into a coupon expert in no time.