Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

With so many families struggling with money issues, coupons can be a great way to stretch a budget. While it may be easy to understand why coupons are great, it's not always that easy to know how to use them. Here you will discover methods used in smart couponing. Read on to find out all you have to know in order to start saving.

Coupons come in many different forms as you can find them in a variety of places. Sunday's paper typically includes several circulars that contain coupons. Also, find them in grocery store circulars, magazines and coupon mailings. There are actually websites that let you print out coupons.

Combine coupons with sales to maximize your savings. This means not using it the next time you shop, but holding on to your coupon to wait for a sale. You might also need to stop at additional stores, but the payoff makes it worthwhile.

Devote one morning or afternoon per week to exclusively search, clip, and print coupons. You'll be able to work with coupons more efficiently this way. Use this day to go through your local paper and surf the net for upcoming deals.

Look at your coupon's expiration date. Some coupons expire within a matter of days. Some may be good for 30 days. Each week, look over your coupons to find the expired ones. Always take a peek at what coupons are near expiration. This allows you to use all of your coupons without missing valuable opportunities to save.

Try to use your coupons when your grocery store has a sale on those items. You'll save the most amount of money if you do this. Generally, coupons will not expire before the item goes on sale at a store near you. Using coupons on sale items can produce huge savings.

Some stores will double (or even triple) your coupons. If you happen to be a coupon novice, just make a few inquiries about which local stores offer such deals. Friends, family and neighbors might know where these stores are.

Some of the more avid coupons collectors go to websites where they pay for certain coupons. You never know what you can get for super cheap or for free. You could get an insane amount of discounts of you try and use coupons all of the time.

Become familiar with the terminology utilized on coupons. An example would be the 'BOGO', which means buy one and get one free or discounted. Or that 'MIR' refers to a mail in rebate? Understanding these acronyms is critical to becoming a savvy shopper. By learning the acronyms you can maximize your savings.

"Like" a business on Facebook to receive discounts that they offer throughout the day. If you like a brand, you may be subject to extra deals and coupons. Being a loyal customer is rewarding, so don't neglect to create a Facebook account and to like those different brands out there.

It's great to figure out how to start using coupons effectively so you can start saving money all the time. Now you should have a good understanding on how to start using coupons and save money. Enjoy saving money on your next shopping trip.