Every day consumers are faced with rising prices across the board from groceries to gasoline. In this difficult economy, it has become more important than ever to save money wherever possible. Because of this need, couponing has become increasingly popular with the general public. Couponing simply means using available coupons offered in newspapers, magazines, and online which advertise discounts on commonly used items such as things one finds in the grocery store.
There are many different kinds of coupons including buy one get one free, volume discounts such as 2/$5, or a specific percentage or dollar amount off an item or the total bill at the time of check out. Coupons may also consist of rebates which can be collected by mail when included with a store receipt for a specific item. While some savings may seem to be relatively small, there are methods by which a consumer can save a great deal of money per purchase or accumulate even more savings over time.
While manufacturers and stores are keen to offer benefits to their customers, it should be noted that these coupons have special requirements and restrictions. Therefore, it is important that the consumer be aware of each store or online retailer's policies before attempting to redeem a coupon.
By using coupons found in magazines, circulars and through online sources, consumers have been known to save thousands of dollars on every day items, and in some cases, receive items for free.
Coupons are simply pieces of paper offering sale prices on various products. There are many types of coupons including standard product coupons, store coupons, manufacturer's coupons, and rebates. Each has specific instructions and restrictions such as the amount and size of a product purchased or an expiration date. For example, a coupon may offer $1.00 off on your favorite cereal. However, the cereal must be the 12 oz. box, not the 16 oz. box or family size. You may only buy 3 boxes per order (each time you are in the store). There may be an expiration date on the coupon, noting the end of the sale.
Seems simple right? It certainly can be... or it can be an art form as demonstrated by some of the "extreme couponers" that devote many hours and a great deal of space in their homes to store the products they have received for little or no money.
The answer to this question is simple. People use coupons to save money. Obviously, everyone wants to save money and coupons are the easiest way to do that. If you use coupons correctly, you can purchase items for a fraction of the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), even if you shop at a discount store.
Some people are hesitant to use coupons because they don't want to seem cheap or feel guilty for taking advantage of a store by asking for a lower price than what is generally advertised. Using coupons does not mean you are cheap – rather, it shows that you are smart by not paying retail prices when necessary. Secondly, stores actually make money off of coupons, so don't feel bad for getting your piece of the pie.
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