Super-Couponing: Know Before You Go

Whether you've watched the newest reality show dedicated solely to the topic of extreme couponing or not, there's no doubt couponing is a hot topic (as well as a hot button). I have to admit, I am fascinated by those multiple carts full of products worth hundreds of dollars and the extreme couponers who nab the stuff for next to nothing.

Everything I've read and watched suggests that anyone (yes, even me!) can save tons of money simply by learning the art of couponing. Getting to this point, however, will take some homework and know-how. As we continue our series about super-couponing, here are some things you might want to know before you head to the stores.

Policies

Before I started really getting into this whole couponing thing, I'm sure I was at least dimly aware that each store had its own policy regarding coupons. With that being said, I could not have told you what that policy was even if my life depended on it. So here's something to consider before you grab your pile of coupons and a cart: know the policy.

More specifically, read up on the coupon policies of the stores you regularly visit or plan to visit. You might even want to take a minute to print them out; you never know which employee might or might not be familiar with the policy.

Knowing your store's policy will also help you maximize savings. First, it will let you know if your store doubles the value of coupons and how many coupons the store will honor in a single transaction. Next, the policy should let you know if the store will take coupons printed out from the internet. Another policy to look for is the stacking policy; if the store will let you stack an in-store or specific company coupon with a manufacturer coupon.

One last thought about policies (thanks to the reality show for this valuable lesson!): stores can change their policies at any time, so make sure you have the latest info before you head out, which can help save you from check-out grief.

Splitting Up

Once you have a handle on the individual stores' policies, the next thing to think about is how to get more bang for your coupon bucks. One way to do this is to divide your order into more than one transaction. Why would someone need to do this, you ask?

Well here's a potential scenario: let's say you frequent a grocery store that will double the face value of a coupon if it is ninety-nine cents or less, but it will only double three of them per transaction. There's a hot sale on your family's favorite brand of cereal: one yummy box of sugary goodness for $1.99. You want to buy five boxes at this price, and you have acquired five coupons that initially give $.75 off each box. When the coupon is doubled, it will take $1.50 off each box. This means you can nab the cereal for the unbelievable price of $0.49 each!

The dilemma? You've done your homework and know the store will only double the first three coupons you use. This is where splitting up the order might come in handy. What you can do is buy three boxes and use three coupons in your first transaction, and then buy the next two boxes with your other two coupons as a separate order. Yes, it might take a bit more time, but if you can save over $4.00, isn't a bit of planning and extra time worth it?

As I've said before, saving with coupons is nothing new. Taking coupon-using to the next level (the super level) is something that will require some homework, extra time and even changing up your shopping methods a bit, but it is something that can help stretch your budget. Saving a dollar here and now might just help you better invest in your future.

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