Extreme couponing is not a new phenomenon. For as long as stores have offered discount vouchers, savvy consumers have taken to it as a lifestyle choice. It makes sense, given the financial climate. Coupons are a great way to ease the monetary burden of Christmas if we’re being topical. Smart shoppers, however, recognize the potential for couponing to dictate your purchasing habits.
The most recent emergence in these trends is the online discount code. There are hundreds of websites popping up that inform consumers of discounts available from an all manner of shops. People are using this to their advantage. And if you’re smart, you will too.
Couponing isn’t just for those that find themselves strapped for cash. They are equally applicable for those just looking to save a little more each month. There was once a fear that extreme couponing would devalue the voucher, but they are, up to now, unsubstantiated. Coupon enthusiasts have something of a bad reputation thanks to shows like TLC’s Extreme Couponing. I, however, have yet to see anything wrong with utilizing it as a means to save money.
If you’re new to the world of discount codes and vouchers, getting your head around it isn’t as difficult as it may seem at first glance. While there are a lot of resources out there (and just as many codes to find), tracking them down is as simple as figuring out what you need them for. Here are a few of the ways that embracing the coupon could have a dramatic effect on your monthly outgoings.
Christmas Shopping
Sticking to the theme (given it is December, after all), many shoppers are choosing to brace their bank balances this winter. Christmas is perhaps the most expensive time of the year. There’s not only the abundance of gifts to worry about. You’ve also got to account for all the food that’ll be consumed, and isn’t there an awful lot of it? And that display of illuminations outside your home? Your energy bill isn’t going to pay for itself.
It makes sense, then, that shoppers would look for all the loopholes they can find. You’re not cheating anybody out of anything; you’re simply using a service that is being offered to you. I don’t see the harm in that, do you? Couponing can make a radical difference to your overall Christmas bill. There are many stores that are set to make a boatload of money in the holiday season. So, they’re looking for ways to entice you.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, offering discounts is, at a basic level, a marketing ploy. We’re suckers for sales, aren’t we? And the hope is that once our eyes have glazed over at the big ‘SALE’ signs in the windows, we’ll run amok in store. The theory behind coupons and vouchers is simply an extension of that. This holiday season, you’ll be able to find a whole host of vouchers online for food, drinks, and toys. Make use of them, and you’ll soften the financial blow of Christmas.
Everyday Purchases
There are an increasing number of people that are seeing the value in utilizing coupons in their everyday spending habits. You’ll find plenty that happily oblige to the coupons they run across actually dictating their purchases. The emergence of online voucher sites has made people aware of the possibilities available to them.
Is your back feeling a little tight? Get online and find a discount code for a local massage therapist. Fancy a weekend spa retreat? You can be sure to find offers plastered all over the web. It’s just a matter of getting into the habit of looking around before you commit to any purchase. That is if you want to find the best deal.
You can even – in some circumstances – find reward schemes for using coupons. For example, you can get yourself a Kohls free shipping MVC membership card. If you look around, you can find all kinds of loyalty bonuses from other brands. Not only will you be saving money thanks to the coupons, but you’ll nap yourself additional discounts in the process. This can greatly reduce costs and make luxuries and necessities alike much more affordable.
Food and Groceries
This is where things can start to seem a little extreme, but if you take a closer look, it actually makes total financial sense. If you’ve got any experience in the couponing world, you likely have your websites and paper clippings of choice. The local ones that never fail you. You simply take a look at which stores are offering which deals and go from there.
This can be a means to an end for those without a wealth of cash to fall back on. If you’re struggling to make ends meet each month, it can massively improve your financial circumstances. It does mean a little compromise, though. You won’t necessarily get the luxury of deciding what’s for dinner. You’re more likely to be rustling something up depending on what groceries you can find on offer. That’s a small price to pay for a massively reduced shopping bill, though, isn’t it?
You might even find online codes for take out services. For those occasions – after a long and hard day’s work – when you can’t bring yourself to get into the kitchen. Of course, having food delivered can get expensive. Cutting costs by using coupons is just the smart thing to do.
If the art of couponing is starting to sound like the right choice for you, I strongly urge you to check out my Beginners Guide to Saving Money with Coupons. It’s filled with smart tips for getting you started on the road of cutting bills. You’ll learn the very best places to find coupons (both online and off) and how to yield maximum savings by shopping at the right time.
When it comes down to it, we’re all just trying to get by as best we can. For some people, that means saving money at every possible opportunity. Couponing can help you achieve that if you get to grips with some good habits.
