Now that you have your coupons in some type of order, it is time to learn how to put them to use. Let the fun begin!
Before we get into the technicalities of using your coupons, I would like to reiterate a few things. First of all, you should know that the couponing shows you see on television are not realistic. Although the bargains shown seem amazing, they are not the norm. Seriously, who has room in their house for stockpiles that large? Don't misunderstand, couponing will allow you to keep your kitchen fully stocked for a lot less money. However, acquiring a stockpile large enough that you must use your bathtub for storage may be out of the question. Again, at Simple Savvy Savers we are about realistic couponing, not extreme.
Alright, let's get started. Personally, I prefer to look at couponing as a game or challenge. I like to see just how much money I can save each shopping trip. It makes me so happy to see that I have saved more than I spent!
Your first step toward saving money is to shop the sales ads. Sales ads for retail stores (Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, etc.) are released on Sunday. These sales run Sunday through Saturday each week. Make sure to have your coupons nearby as you look through the ads to make your shopping list. This allows you to see if you have a coupon for the items on sale. Retail stores, especially CVS and Walgreens, will often put their own store coupons in their ads. You may combine one of their store coupons with a manufacturer's coupon for extra savings!
In case you are not already aware, CVS has a savings card. Be sure to obtain one of these cards. They are a great way to save. When your card is entered at checkout many of you purchases earn "extra bucks". They are similar to an instant rebate. These bucks can be applied to your next purchase! If you frequently shop at CVS, rolling your "extra bucks" can add up to substantial savings.
Since I really do not want to completely bombard you, we will stop here. In our next lesson we will cover grocery stores!
Check out the CVS ad for the week (newspaper or online) and compare to your coupons. Let us know what kind of bargains you find!
No comments:
Post a Comment