It seems like extreme coupon user are everywhere. They are on TV shows, on websites and in the news, all proclaiming how they save hundreds of dollars and get get hundreds of free products. They make it sound so lucrative but there is more to coupons than

· 3 min read
It seems like extreme coupon user are everywhere. They are on TV shows, on websites and in the news, all proclaiming how they save hundreds of dollars and get get hundreds of free products. They make it sound so lucrative but there is more to coupons than

When using coupons, be sure it's actually the best deal out there. Even with a coupon, name brands are often more expensive than generic brands. Do not assume that the coupon gives you the best deal.

Put coupons to use when a store has a purchase one, get one for free deal. You can get the other item free, and you are also getting a discount on what you have to pay. Often you will pay less than a quarter of the original price.

Look for ways to double up sales with coupons. Sometimes, this means that you will have to hang onto a coupon for a couple of weeks instead of using it on your next shopping trip. This may require you to stop more often during your trip, but this will pay off significantly in the long run.

Before beginning any coupon strategy find and print a copy of the store's coupon policy. Many stores limit the number of coupons that can be used on each transaction, while other stores may not accept internet coupons. It is therefore, important that you print a copy of your store's coupon policy.

When you are clipping coupons always make sure you look on the front and back of each sheet of paper to make sure you are not going to cut into another coupon on accident. Often times the papers make sure that this will not happen by offsetting the coupons, but you will want to double check.

A good tip when clipping out coupons is to place them in a pouch or somewhere you can easily keep track of them. This will prevent you from creating a mess and you'll have your coupons readily available when you need them so you won't have to dig around to find them.

Use the coupons that will save you the most money. Sometimes a company will offer many different coupons. The may have a $1 off coupon or a $2 off coupon. Consider what coupon is the best one to use, but you should take along both coupons to be used at two different times.

Keep in mind that you can't double the coupons you receive upon checking out. However, you can usually stack them with manufacturers coupons to save the most money.

Try contacting the manufacturer directly. If there is a product that you love, but don't often find coupons for, try contacting the company directly. Express your enthusiasm for their products and ask if they have any coupons available. Who knows? You may score some great  deals  on a brand you really love!

Invest in a printer, or use your local library's resources to print out valuable coupons. Although the newspaper is usually full of coupons, you have many more options when you look on line for the specific items your household uses. Make sure you have an efficient way to store all your coupons until you get the opportunity to use them!

You don't have to waste costly color ink printing coupons on your home printer. If you have an inkjet printer, you can set your preferences to print in black and white or simply remove the color cartridge. This way, everything will print in black and white. Retail establishments will still accept these non-colored coupons.

If you like a product, look on the package and see if there is a 1-800 number you can call. Often these numbers are used for complaints, but you can call them and they might send you coupons. If you want to search on Facebook as well, many companies offer coupons for their Facebook subscribers only.

As you already know, extreme savings and lucrative bargains can be found by using coupons but there is more to it than just clipping a coupon and saving hundreds of dollars and getting tons of free stuff. The advice and tips from the above article can help you find and use the coupons that will bring you the most saving and turn you into a coupon success story.