In these hard economic times, everyone is looking to save a little money whenever possible. However, the answer may be right in front of us. It can be found online and in local papers. The answer is paper coupons. Coupons are usually printed and distributed weekly in newspapers.
Cutting paper coupons takes time and depends on many factors. However, I have a confession to make. I’m a coupon clipper, I’m college student, and I clip coupons out of the paper almost every week. I’m not your stereotypical coupon clipper and honestly I have no idea why I started clipping coupons. I like the feeling I get when I see the amount saved at the bottom of my receipt. However, I believe I clip coupons as a way to avoid homework on Sunday afternoons.
I’m not sure why coupons have a bad reputation. After using coupons, I feel really proud of my purchase, especially if I saved quite a bit of money. I usually clip coupons out of the Sunday paper and print e-coupons.
I also recently signed up for Groupon, which is a website that offers coupons for a variety of different items in your area. One day it may offer $20 worth of gas for only $10 and the next day it could be $10 off a local spa. I have yet to purchase any of the specials; however, the discounts are usually worth your time. The deals are hit or miss, but if your favorite store or restaurant is featured, you can save a lot of money.
Some stores are now catering to people who would like to use coupons but simply don’t have the time. Some grocery stores, such as Kroger, have saving cards you use every time you purchase. Kroger now allows Kroger Plus card members to load coupons onto their cards electronically. This saves people the hassle of cutting out coupons and gives people who may be embarrassed or don’t have the time, the chance to use coupons inconspicuously and in a time-efficient manner. If you don’t have a Kroger in your area, ask to see if your local store offers a similar program.
However, I do not believe all coupons are created equal. Sometimes coupons aren’t worth the time it takes to cut them out of the paper, especially if it’s 20 cents off your purchase of six items. Many coupons are made to encourage consumers to purchase products in bulk in order to get the small discount. However, this can be misleading and can oftentimes lead to waste.
Often our busy lifestyles don’t allow us the time to clip paper coupons. Coupon clipping is not for everyone. However, I suggest if you have a little free time to give coupon clipping a shot to see if it’s worth your time. You may be surprised. If done effectively, paper coupons could help save a little extra money each week. The savings could possibly help offset the rising price of gas.
Check out this YouTube video titled\”Chicago Coupon Queen Saves Thousands–How She Does It\”
