Lesson 3 - How to Use Your Coupons

Congratulations if you reached this part of your coupon journey :)   At this point, you have done the following:

1. You have coupons (both printed and e-coupons). CLICK HERE TO PRINT COUPONS. 

2. You have signed up on SAVING STAR. If you haven't CLICK HERE.

3. If you have a smartphone, you have downloaded apps like Ibotta, Snap, and Checkout 51.

If all of the above sounds foreign to you...please read COUPON 101 post before continuing.

Let us hit the store!  You have a shopping list and you have your coupons --- what's next?

Make sure the store you are going to accepts coupons. If not sure, call them or check their website. Fredys, Safeway, Bi-Mart, RiteAid, Walmart, Albertsons accepts coupons :)

Grab your items. Read your coupons carefully. Make sure of the following things:

1. Check that the item your are purchasing is EXACTLY what is in the coupon. The coupon will exactly say what size, what flavor, what variety, what brand and quantity needed to be bought for each coupon.

Don't be scared. Let me go thru this one by one.

Size - In the coupon it will say what size. Not valid for sample size - means you cannot use it for the mini versions. It will tell you the weight or volume of the item.

Flavor - For example cereals, it will state that it is only for the frosted one or honey flavor. Make sure you get the correct flavor.

Quantity - Some coupons will say $1 off for one item or $1/1 is the short cut for that. That means, you get $1 off when you purchase one of that item.

Some coupon is $1 off two items or $1/2. You have to buy two of the same items and you will get a $1 off.  Sometimes this is even $1 for 4 items. So check that and get the correct number of items.

2. Generally, stores will only accept 4 of the same coupons. You can check stores coupon guidelines for this. What this means is, if you see your toothpaste on sale and you have a bunch of coupons for that -- you can only use 4 at a time. Of course, you can ask your friends or family to get in line for you and pay for the purchase.

3. EXPIRATION - very important. Check your coupons expiration date. It is a good practice to go thru your coupons every month or so to dispose of expired coupons.

4. Depends on the cashier, some wants to have them before they start scanning your items. Others want it at the end. But a good practice is to hand them your coupons in a nice pile. Like not crumpled, all facing up, no stapled.

At the end of your purchase, the machine may give your more coupons with your receipt. File and use on your next shopping adventure.

And NO, this is not the end of learning how to coupon. There is more!  More fun, more savings!

Lesson 4 - Types of Coupons