How To Make Coupons = Cash, Not Clutter!
By Amy Bergin, Fri Dec 9th

Today most everyone clips or saves a from time to time.Who can resist? When you know you can save more than the nextguy just by having a piece of paper or code, it’s a greatfeeling. However the drawback of coupons is that they can becomejust good intentions and not real savings when you forget themor let them expire. Also, if you have ever cut out the grocerycoupons from the Sunday paper; you quickly realize that you windup with piles of paper that clutter your kitchen desk. Then thatpile that takes time to manage in order to achieve measurablesavings at the grocery store and this is where most people giveup.

Did you know that 336 BILLION dollars in coupons weredistributed in 2002 and 3.8 BILLION coupons were redeemed for atotal savings to consumers of $3 BILLION? This is according tothe Promotion Marketing Association’s (PMA) Council.According to the PMA, 79% of consumers use coupons. So, gone isthe image that coupons make you look cheap. Coupons havechanged; using coupons is smart and anyone can learn to get inon these savings.

Listed below are a few things you can do to create a new routinethat sets you up for successful savings.

-Treat coupons like cash. Most everyone has a wallet to organizetheir cash and credit cards; it would be silly not to returnyour cash and coins to the same place time and time again. Thesame is true with coupons.

-Have the right tools for organizing, storing and accessingcoupons. Any job is easier when you have the right tool for thejob and let’s face it, coupons can be kind of a job. The way youmake the job pay off is in the tools.

-Success is in planning. Impulse

purchasing whether it is at thegrocery store or the Mall can kill any attempts to build upsavings. When you take time to create, carry out and reap therewards of a plan, you are more motivated to continue doing itand get better results as time goes by.

-Use online resources to scout out deals before you shop. If youwait to get in the store to look at the deals, you open yourselfup to veering off your shopping plan.

-Use online sources to achieve additional savings. Somegrocery stores link their shopper card with a paperless couponsystem where you select items you might purchase online. Thenthat information is uploaded to your shopper card and when youpurchase these items and your shopper card is swipped, youreceived additional savings. Web Bucks are also available onlinethrough www.valupage.com. These are coupons that print out to beused on your next shopping trip.

-When the price is right, stock up. Many times grocery items goon sale or are Buy One Get One Free and this is the time tocombine your with the store savings for maximum savings.Many times an item can end up being FREE!

Keeping the household stocked with food and supplies is anongoing challenge that has to be done. Staying on a budget is acontinual process that requires sharp spending skills. Afterall, spending is a skill, not a pastime.

About the author:Written by – Amy Bergin, mother of three, who developed THECOUPONIZER®. An honored recipient of an iParenting Media Awardfor “2004 Hottest Products” in the Gift category. Her system oftools designed to make clipping and shopping with coupons fast,easy and worth the pay off. A must have for any family whostrives to make the most of their hard earned money. To find outmore visit her website www.thecouponizer.com.