Just what are coupons?
I'm glad you asked! A coupon is many things, but if you want the dictionary definition, here it is, courtesy of dictionary.com:
So there you have it. Coupons are a ... something. Really, though, for our purposes, a coupon is: money in your pocket. Everyone likes money, right? Right! So who wouldn't be able to keep some money when buying something, especially things that everyone has to buy, like food? One of the first lessons coupons taught me was that just because you don't have a lot of money doesn't mean you have to settle for less because you can't afford better. With coupons I'm able to buy the basics, but then also have money to have some "extras," or things you want rather than need. Because what's life without some self-indulgence every once in a while?nouncou·pon
[koo-pon, kyoo-]
1.
a portion of a certificate, ticket, label, advertisement, or the like, set off from the main body by dotted lines or the like to emphasize its separability, entitling the holder to something, as a gift or discount, or for use as an order blank, a contest entry form, etc.
But literally, a coupon is a piece of paper you can print out or cut out from another source that entitles you for a certain amount or percentage off of a service or product when you present that coupon at the time of the sale. There are many different types of coupons and not all places of business accept all coupons, so it's important to know ahead of time what coupons you can use for whatever you are shopping for. Which brings us to our next question:
Where can I use coupons?
Lots of places! It's great! But beware, different stores or places of business have different coupon/discount policies, so check ahead of time. For this part, Google is your best friend. Most stores will have a coupon policy, but it may be hard to find. Here are few of the most popular stores, though, and the stores I'll talk the most about for this blog:
- Target - I seem to be having some trouble finding a link to the coupon policy on Target's own website, but this website explains it nicely for you. My favorite thing about Target is that they allow one manufacturer coupon AND one Target coupon on the same item. More about that later, but that is a huge money saver and a huge reason I do the majority of my shopping at Target.
- Walmart - Pretty self-explanatory. They now accept competitor's coupons, but only if they specify a specific price on a specific item. They don't accept them for dollars/cents off an item.
- Hy-Vee (Midwest grocery store chain)- Hy-Vee also accepts one manufacturer coupon plus one store coupon per item, but they don't have nearly as many store coupons as Target. Most of their store coupons are found in their weekly ad.
- Kroger - Again, I'm having trouble with their website, but this site explains it nicely.
- Schnucks - Specific stores may double coupons! Check with your local store.
- Publix - Now I'm wishing I had a Publix nearby. Unlike every other store on this list thus far, Publix will accept competitor's coupons for a dollar amount off your total purchase, even coupons from competitors that want you to present a rewards card for that competitor. That's pretty nifty!
- Rainbow Foods - Again, from an outside source, but this tells you everything you need to know.
That list is of grocery stores (and Super Centers) that accept coupons, but did you know you can use coupons elsewhere as well, on more than just food? Going back to Target for a moment, they offer store coupons on a variety of items over the year, including clothing, electronics, movies, music, and much more. Go here to see for yourself! They have a lot of great coupons available with the Holiday season upon us.
But other types of stores accept and offer coupons as well. Bed, Bath, & Beyond usually offers 20% off any item coupons with their flyer in the weekend paper in most places, or you can get one when you sign up for their email offer program. Some shoe stores also offer percentage off coupons in the paper, or even from the Catalina machines that a lot of stores use now to print off coupons at the register when you check out. I also get oil change coupons for my car this way! There really are coupons for everything. You can also find hair cut coupons with relative ease, and then there's always sites like Groupon, which offer deals and discounts for various things in your area, like restaurants, shows, or other entertainment venues, plus much more.
Really, this day and age, if you want something, chances are there's a coupon for it! Again, Google is pretty much your best friend in that respect. If a coupon exists, chances are you can find it online, or at the very least someone has posted about it. You've just got to find it! Yes, using coupons does usually take some time, but the reward is great: more money for you! Who doesn't want that?
What can coupons do for me?
The main benefit is what I've said a few times at this point: MONEY. That's the big one. But there are other benefits to coupons. Is there a product you've always wanted to try, but don't want to spend a lot on it in case you don't like it? Use a coupon, get it at a deal, and then see how you feel about it without the guilt! Want to try a new experience? Try a website like Groupon and find something fun to do, but save money on it! Again, then you won't have to feel guilty for having some fun!
Are you living on a budget? Stick to it! Only use coupons for things you were going to buy already. Then what do you have? Some extra money! A good idea might be to then save that money in case of emergencies. You'd be surprised how fast it ads up. Have a $100 budget? Spend $100 but use coupons, and you could potentially spend only $80 or $90 of that (or less if you're really good). A couple weeks of that and you will see it start piling up. Then when you drive over a nail on the way home, it won't be the crisis it otherwise might be. Or you could put it away for a Holiday fund. Presents for everyone for all the different holidays can get expensive, so if you have money that you put away over the year that you'd otherwise be spending on food or other necessities, it can lighten the load considerably. Those are just some examples of ways to utilize your savings: it's up to you!
Coupons can also help you stick to your budget in other ways. If you're like me, once you get to the store you see all the delicious food and start thinking you can get a few extra things, but then those extra things start to pile up. If you tell yourself you won't buy anything "extra" you don't have a coupon for, it limits the extra money you might potentially spend on things you really don't need, or even wanted until you saw it. Once you get home, chances are you'll forget all about it, and you'll feel proud of all the money you've saved.
And there we have it, the basics of couponing. Or some of them, at least. We'll get more into detail in later entries. Try exploring some coupons on your own in the meantime if you're interested. Some websites I'll cover later that are good for coupons are: target.com, which I already linked to above, coupons.com, redplum.com, and I highly recommend signing up for both the Pillsbury and Betty Crocker websites as they always have awesome coupons, and again, that's something I'll go into more detail about later. Have fun, and stay awesome until next time!
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