Super Couponing: The Art of Acquiring Coupons

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm starting to "super-coupon." This idea of combining coupons plus sales to buy items at a much lower cost isn't new and isn't rocket science (thank goodness!), but it does take a little getting used to, especially if you've been a casual or occasional coupon user like myself. We've already discussed exactly what super couponing is, so now we'll take a look at where you can get those neat little squares of savings.

The Usual Suspects

When you think about where to get coupons, what's the first thing that comes to mind? I'll bet many of you are thinking of the Sunday paper. No doubt: it usually contains inserts from Smart Source, Red Plum and sometimes P&G that are full of clip-able savings, and it's a reliable and low-cost way to stock up on coupons.

If you don't get the Sunday paper, find out who does and see if they'd be willing to give you any unused coupons. My guess is you have a friend, family member or coworker who routinely tosses out the savings and would be happy to set them aside for you.

Even if you do receive the paper, it doesn't hurt to ask around for spare coupon inserts since they sometimes have some truly nice savings.

The Not-So-Usual Suspects

Also, take a look at stores' circulars since they often contain coupons for products to be used in that specific store. Additionally, these store coupons are often "stackable" with manufacturer coupons, offering you some excellent additional savings.

Another place to grab some coupon savings is in the grocery and drug stores. You've probably seen the little boxes (sometimes complete with a little blinking light) that spit out coupons for savings. Watch for them in the aisles as you're shopping.

As a bonus, keep in mind that these "pull and save" boxes usually contain manufacturer coupons that can be used at any store. You don't necessarily have to use the coupon in the store where you found it.

Printables

Your home pc and printer are also great sources of savings. Printable coupons abound out here in cyberspace, and you can look for them on specific store websites. Target, for example, has a ton of printable coupons just ready to be printed off and used in their stores. Many other websites will also direct you to printables.

A Kind Word

Companies love to hear feedback from consumers about their products, and personally taking a few minutes to give your opinion about a brand might encourage the company to send you some valuable coupons.

Does this sound a little time consuming? Don't fret: the internet makes contacting companies as simple as point, click, write. For example, I recently wrote a company about the pre-washed and bagged salads that I buy pretty regularly. It took me less than five minutes to jot down a short, complimentary message. In less than a week, I received a nice letter in the mail thanking me for my time...plus two coupons for the products I had mentioned!

Other Coupon-Nabbing Ideas

Two other ways to get coupons include social media and the library. Companies are beginning to set up cyber-shop on the social media outlets frequented by consumers. "Liking" a company on Facebook, for example, may give you access to coupons (and even free samples!).

Also, check and see if there are extra coupons at your library. My local library has a small bin that's usually overflowing with extra coupons, sitting there for the taking. It's also a nice place to drop off any coupons that you know you won't be using, to share the wealth with others.

Super-couponing can save you a lot of dough on products you buy regularly. Look for our continued posts about the super savings of our super-couponing series!

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