How to Save on Anything: Step Four - Is There a Coupon?

If you have followed this series from the beginning, you have already done steps one through three:

You have determined that you (1) need an item, (2) cannot make it or do it yourself and (3) you have considered some less expensive options.

No it is time to look for a coupon.

Some places to find coupons are mailings, flyers and paper inserts, in magazines and look for coupons at places that you frequent, sometimes they will have coupons for your next visit or a neighboring business. Many stores, restuarants, etc. will have email sign up lists that you can opt into and receive notices of promotions and coupons. Often, your receipt will have a coupon or offer a future discount for answering a short phone or internet survey about your experience.

For groceries and household items, I have had great success by clipping coupons and stocking up when I can match a coupon with a sale. To find coupons for groceries and household items, I simply get the Sunday paper each week and clip the coupons in the inserts. I just use those coupons, although sometimes my generous and wonderful mother give me her spare coupons from her paper and a lot of time I can use those coupons to stock up twice!

My grocery store (Cub Foods) takes coupons 3 month after they have expired, so that helps me save multiple coupons, as well.

For all the details on how I organize my coupons, see this post. For details on how you can use The Grocery Game to help you match up sales and coupons, click here. I know that others go to BeCentsable's Grocery Gathering, see that here.

For details on Target, Walmart and CVS deals, I regularly check theses sites: MoneySavingMom, The"Cent"sibleSawyer, and Freebies4Mom. Generally, MomIsBroke has Target deals, too. Find a site that posts about stores in your area to make the most of your couponing efforts.

For places like Target and Walmart, I don't go every week, but a lot of those deals are ongoing, so I keep a list and tuck it into my Target section of my coupon binder. If it is a killer deal, only good for one week, then I try to work that store into my errands that week. Often, I already have a list going and need to stop in eventually, anyway!

If you are shopping online or planning to go to a store, you can look online to find coupons and deals. Simply use a search engine (the most famous is Google) and type in what you are buying and "coupon", for example, if you are looking for something at Land's End, type in "Land's End coupon" and see what pops up. Usually if you are going to find something, it will be listed on the first page, so just do a quick search and see what you can turn up. Don't forget to sign up for your favorite stores' mailing lists - they will let you know of promotions and send coupons to your inbox!

One more option is to go to a price comparison site to see what online retailers have for pricing. Try NexTag, Price Grabber and BizRate. These sites will also calculate your shipping costs and sales tax after you enter your zip code, so you can compare the whole cost to you.

Another great option that I have just stumbled onto is EBATES - an online collection of stores that will offer a percentage of your purchase back into your Ebates account for shopping thorugh Ebates. So far, it has worked well for me! You can sign up here; if you choose to participate in the referral program, you can get $5 up front and so can the person that referred you! Great program, isn't it? If you would like to do the referral program with me, my email is rejuvenate (at) mac (dot) com.

Finally, credit cards often offer points reward systems - we have enjoyed gift cards to Blockbuster, TGIFridays, Applebees, and more just for using our card and paying it off each month. These gift cards can help ease your outlay of cash, or you can use them to give as gifts, saving you gift giving costs. The other day, I received an advertisement from Northwest Airlines offering to redeem my miles for magazines - I had no idea I even had miles; it has been so long since I purchased tickets! Just keep your eyes open, and you will be surprised at how many coupons you can come across.

Sometimes I get coupons in the mail for clothing stores, like Kohl's or The Children's Place. You might also get coupons for dining out, having fun (movies, bowling), etc. Those coupons I file in a smaller accordian folder that I keep in my van, so I have it when I need to find a coupon on the fly (especially if we suddenly find ourselves needing to eat out). It used to be that I would get a coupon to Kohl's - figure I did not need anything, toss the coupon and then 3 days later my son would say his shoes were tight. With the coupons on hand, I can be prepared for life's sudden purchase needs.

A lot of times when I get a coupon, I will go through my mental or physical list of upcoming purchases I am anticipating and see if I cannot get something that I know I will need later right now because I have a coupon and can save.

But, once again, I get ahead of myself! Tomorrow we will talk about waiting for a sale or using a sale to stock up in advance.