| This article outlines ten great ways to save | | | | "Target coupons". |
| money. | | | | 6. Get a deal after the item has sold out. What |
| Do you think you’re a smart shopper? | | | | happens when you have a store coupon for a |
| How many of the following money-saving tips did | | | | GREAT deal but when you get there, the store is |
| you know? | | | | out of the item? A little-known secret is you may |
| 1. Eat with the sales. We humans used to eat with | | | | still get the item for the coupon's price - simply |
| the seasons out of necessity. Whatever food | | | | ask the clerk for a "raincheck". A raincheck is a |
| was in abundance, we ate. It pays to eat with the | | | | little form that extends your coupon for a week. |
| sales now because when produce is "in season", it | | | | This only is a possibility with store coupons, not |
| usually is on sale. This means buying blueberries in | | | | manufacturer's coupons. Also, the original coupon |
| July and apples and cranberries in autumn. The | | | | can not say: "While supplies last". |
| key is to plan meals with seasonal recipes. | | | | 7. Pay cash whenever you can. Many of us carry |
| 2. Shop with the sales. Some items go on sale | | | | credit card debt, which only makes us poorer. |
| seasonally. Car dealers are motivated to sell this | | | | The benefits of paying with cash: 1. No interest 2. |
| year’s models in the last months of the | | | | Some companies offer a discount for cash. For |
| year. The week after Christmas is the time to | | | | example, a furniture store may offer a 2% |
| buy Christmas decorations. Winter clothes, towels | | | | discount for cash. When you are buying a |
| and linens go on sale in January. School supplies | | | | big-ticket item, ask if there's a discount for paying |
| are on sale in the weeks before school starts. | | | | with cash. |
| 3. Use coupons and make it fun. If your coupons | | | | 8. Combine savings. Did you know sometimes you |
| come in the Sunday paper, try to get ten times | | | | CAN combine savings? For example you may find |
| the value of the paper in coupons. For example, if | | | | products on sale AND use a coupon. Try that the |
| your Sunday paper costs $1.00, try to get $10.00 | | | | next time you go to the grocery store. Here's |
| in savings each week. Over a year, you'll save | | | | another example, a store runs a special where |
| more than $500 dollars. Another great source of | | | | they will pay the taxes PLUS you could pay cash |
| coupons is the Entertainment Coupon Book. This | | | | and get the cash discount. |
| coupon book is available in most major cities and | | | | 9. Try this last minute money saver. Before you |
| can save you money at local businesses, such as | | | | make any large purchase, ask the salesclerk this |
| restaurants and dry cleaners. You can get this | | | | question: Can you do better than that? |
| coupon book at | | | | This question can save you hundreds of dollars |
| 4. Automatically find out about deals. Get a | | | | each year. Just wait until the seller has told you |
| membership at Every week sends you a list of | | | | the price and say, "Can you do better than |
| companies who offer freebies, deals and bonuses. | | | | that? |
| Find out more at Another handy website that will | | | | 10. Get a deal AFTER you buy it. What if an item |
| point you to deals is CoolSavings. They will send | | | | goes on sale after you bought it? Did you know |
| you coupons for brand name products such as | | | | some stores have a policy that gives you the sale |
| Pampers and coupons to stores such as Petco. | | | | price even if you bought a week earlier? This can |
| Sign up at | | | | apply to big-ticket items such as cameras, TVs |
| 5. Before you buy online, do this. Are you | | | | and furniture. It's worth a phone call to the store |
| shopping at a well-known website? Serious online | | | | to find out if they'll refund the difference. |
| savers search for "companyname coupons". For | | | | With these money-saving tips, you can keep |
| example, go to and search "Gap coupons" or | | | | more of your hard earned money. |