Thrifty Thinking: Coupon Basics (Guest Post)

Become a Coupon Guru Instantly!

Coupons are not difficult to get but in order to stick to your monthly budget it is important that you understand how they work. On one hand, coupons enable you to have more for less, however; on the other a coupon may just be a trick for you to spend more particularly on products that you do not need otherwise. The key to being a successful couponer is to understand what goes behind these coupons. Next time you find a coupon, use the following points to know whether the coupon code is worth the use or not.

Manufacturer and Store Coupons

Coupons are generally of two types. Before going further, it is important to know the difference between the two therefore a distinction is drawn below: Manufacturer Coupons as the name suggests are issued by the manufacturer and can be used at any store which accepts them. Such coupons enable you to enjoy a discount as provided to you by the manufacturer who has prior agreement with the store regarding its reimbursement once you make your purchase. On the contrary, store coupons like ShopBop coupon codes, are issued by a single store and acceptable at the same store. Since the store is giving you the discount, it cannot be used elsewhere.

The Fine Print

Once you have identified your coupon type, the next thing is to understand what the coupon allows you to do. Manufacturer coupons, for instance, are used per product only. If you have a coupon which says, ìSave $1 on a pack of popcornî, this means if you have four such coupons, you will save $4 on 4 packs of popcorn. Some coupons are also printed with limits such as, ìLimit one per customerî or ìLimit 1 per checkoutî. In order to understand what these mean, it is always advised to read the fine print carefully.

Specified Items

Use the coupon for the product it allows. Before using the coupon, inquire about the list of products that are eligible for purchase using the coupon. However, if a coupon is particularly designed for a block of mozzarella cheese you cannot use it to purchase cheddar cheese instead. In addition to this, also pay attention to the ANY statement which means you will be allowed to use the coupon for any item of a given product.

Copied or Expired Coupons

Most people copy a printable coupon and try to redeem it several times, refrain from such unethical acts. Also, do not present to the store a coupon that has expired months ago. When inquired about such means, the most heard complain is that the customer failed to understand the coupon and therefore had no idea on how to use it. However the best way about it is to shoot an email to your store stating the query so that your problem can be resolved and you will save an embarrassment too! Coupon codes are great for they keep your month undisturbed and do not upset your savings either but failure in understanding how they are to be used may lead you to spend more therefore use a coupon carefully!