Anytime you can save money when buying something, you should go for it! A dollar here or there might not seem like a lot, but those savings can add up over time, netting you quite a bit of money.

The world of couponing is definitely unique, and at some times, even overwhelming. There are always those intense stories about couponers getting their weekly groceries for a nickel or even getting money back, but that requires hundreds of coupons and hoops to jump through to get those deals. 

If you don't want to reach that level of couponing, you don't have to, but we’ve got some tips if you want to save a few bucks.
 

Clip Coupons For Stuff You Use

A major draw to coupons is the ability to save money on stuff you were already going to buy. Need to replace your toothpaste? There’s a coupon to save you a dollar on that tube of minty goo. Buying chicken for dinner tonight? There's a coupon to give you a few dollars off the pack of frozen chicken breasts.

A great place to start couponing is looking for discounts on stuff you already buy. Pull up your grocery list and then cross reference with any coupons you come across. If you have a match, use it and save some money. 

Depending on how much you buy every week can impact how much you save, but generally, using coupons regularly can save you around $5 to $10 a week. It might not seem like much at first, but overtime, this kind of saving can add up!
 

Finding the Right Coupons

Gone are the days of every household getting a newspaper filled with coupons to clip. Now, it’s a little different to find those coupons to save money, but it does make everything simpler.

While there are still physical coupons to clip in newspapers, both local and large, many coupons are now found online. Some stores want you to print out the coupons and give it to the cashier, while others save the coupon to your account and you use your smartphone to redeem the coupon at checkout. When shopping at a store, know which is required to redeem coupons.

To find many of these ads if you don’t get a newspaper is looking up a local store’s weekly ad online. Major retailers like Walmart, Target, and others put their weekly ads on their website for your local store. You can also sign up for the weekly ad to be emailed to you for most stores.

Additionally, there is a thing called manufacturer’s coupons. This is a coupon that isn’t from the store but rather a product’s maker. These coupons can usually be redeemed at any store that sells the product. There are quite a few services that provide manufacturer coupons, with apps that can scan products and see if there are any active coupons you can use.
 

Don’t Buy What You Don’t Use

If you’ve ever seen an extreme couponer at work, you know that sometimes, the hunt for the deal overshadows actually saving money. There is rarely a need for over a dozen bottles of ketchup or a pantry stocked with more toothpaste than a person can use in a lifetime, yet some people go for it.

It’s easy to get swallowed up in the idea of “if I don’t take advantage of this deal, I’m losing money,” but fight against it. If you start buying things you won’t use, you aren’t saving money, you’re just spending a little bit less money on something you don’t need.

Now, this doesn’t mean to not stock up on items. If there is a deal on something you regularly use, and you can use it before it expires (for food items), then go ahead and use that deal. Buy the deal bulk items and you can go a long time before needing to buy more at a higher price.
 

Online Shopping Has Coupons Too

You don’t need to be in the store to take advantage of coupons. Most online stores accept coupons and discount codes to save money. Some codes are provided only to people signed up for emails, while others can include manufacturer coupons or just general promotions. 

When shopping online, take a minute to make a quick search for any coupons for items you are buying. There are many browser add-ons and apps, like Honey, that can easily search discount codes and coupons online and apply the best one to your purchase.

Also, if you are utilizing a store’s curbside pickup or delivery service, many still allow you to use coupons. Be sure to apply any valid ones before checking out to save money. If it’s a physical coupon, it might have a code number on it to redeem online. 
 

Are Coupons Worth It to Save Money?

In general, yes, coupons are worth using to save money, as long as it doesn’t take up too much time. A quick look through some weekly ads or using an app to scan products for potential discounts can end up saving you around $520 a year on average. Not bad for taking a few minutes out of your weekly shopping to hunt for some discounts.

A study done in 2017 showed that if households utilized every coupon available to them, especially online coupons, they could save a potential of $1,465 a year. Now, this might require a little bit more time investment to find the deals, but that amount of savings is worth it!

Especially for online shopping, around 40% of all online purchases can easily be matched up with a discount coupon using a couponing service. From small grocery purchases to major expenses like electronics, you can save money pretty easily by using coupons, an average of 17% savings per purchase.
 

Saving Extra Money on Purchases
 

Coupons aren’t the only ways to save money while shopping. Keeping a close eye on deals and trends can help save you money too. For example, if you are looking to buy a new phone, wait till a month before the newest model comes out. Many phone retailers are looking to unload their inventory to make space for the new phone and will sell these phones at a large discount. 

Another way is signing up for reward programs that give points or cash back when making purchases. You aren’t “saving” money when making purchases, but taking steps to earn money for the future, which is almost the same thing. Pioneer’s VISA credit card earns 1 Rewards! point for every dollar spent, and by redeeming enough points, you can get a free $100 gift card.

Also, get a checking account that matches your spending habits. Not all checking accounts are equal and they're more than just an account that pays your debit card. Many checking accounts now come with specific perks to give back to you! An example of this is Pioneer’s "WOW" checking account, designed for online shoppers. Each month, if you spend $10 shopping on Amazon, iTunes or Google Play, we’ll give you $10 back! 

Open a "WOW" Checking Account Today