How To Use Your Coupons

Using coupons to really maximize your savings means that you will have to actually do some work.  Read on to learn how to really get the most out of your coupons.

MATCH UP COUPONS WITH SALES:   It can seem like a poker game sometime in knowing when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em. In the coupon “game”, playing your coupon at the right time can really save you money. If you match up an item on sale with a coupon, you can really increase your savings — sometimes even getting free products!

This can take some time, so that is where I come in. I do the hard work for you each week. I match-up Price Chopper, Hy-Vee, Hen House, Target, Walmart (when available), CVS and Walgreens each week so you know which coupons to use. So, now that you know how to read and use your coupons, you probably want to know how to find them. Stay tuned and we’ll cover that next week!

COUPON STACKING:  Stacking is when you stack two or more coupons together to save even more.  This is allowed when you have both store coupons and manufacturer’s coupons.  Target is a great example of this.  Target has access to many store coupon right from it’s website.  When you match these up with manufacturer’s coupons, you can save even more.

Be sure to pay attention to quantities on coupons when stacking.  For example, if Target has a store coupon for $1.00/1 Juicy Juice and you have a manufacturer’s coupon for $1.00/2 Juicy Juice Products, then you can actually use TWO Target coupons, resulting in $3.00/2 Juicy Juice Products.
  

PRESENT YOUR COUPONS IN THE RIGHT ORDER: If you have a coupon that reads (for example) $5.00 off of a $25.00 purchase — always hand that one over first and then give any store and manufacturer coupons. That way, you can really tack on the savings. Otherwise, if you use the coupons, you could fall below the required purchase amount and then not be able to use this coupon.

For example, if your purchase total is $28.00 and you have $4.00 in coupons and a $5.00 off of a $25.00 purchase, you would want the $5.00 to come off first.  Then, they would reduce your purchase by an additional $4.00, making your final amount due $19.00.  However, if you give the $4.00 in coupons first, then your total is now $24.00 and the $5.00 off of a $25.00 purchase is no longer applicable.

The only caution with this is to read the lingo on the $5.00 off of a $25.00 coupon – it may state that this coupon can be used only after all coupons are deducted.  So be sure to read the fine print.

BUY ONE GET ONE STORE SALE +  COUPONS:  When a store runs a B1G1 Free promotion, you can purchase two items and use two coupons – one for each.   After all, you are still purchasing two items, so you should get the discount on both. So, if your item you are purchasing as B1G1 Free retails for $4.00 and you have two coupons for $0.50/1, you will actually get two items for only $3.00 (One is free and then $0.50*2=$1.00).

The only caution I have to cashing in on store B1G1 is if you have a coupon for B1G1. When this occurs, you will need to check with the store’s coupon policy to see how this works. This would be handled one of two ways:

Option 1 – Both items will be free.  The store gives you one free (which is considered to be the one you paid for) and then the coupon gives you the other one for free.

Option 2 -  You would need to purchase 4 items.  Two of them would be free due to the store’s promotion, one would be free as a result of your coupon and you would pay for the last item.  So, this is like getting 4 products for the price of one.

It can be tricky to learn how to use your coupons.  You will make some mistakes that might result in you paying a little more than you should have.  However, with time and patience, you will learn exactly how to play the crazy coupon game like a pro!