Mammoth AwardsOn the surface, coupons seem simple. They tell you how much the discount is, what it’s for, where you can use the coupon, and when it expires. But unless you pay close attention to the coupon’s details, you may miss out on some serious savings. Hopefully, these tips will prevent that from happening so you can buy what you need while keeping more money in your pocket.
Ignore the Expiration Date
If you think that the expiration date for a coupon is set in stone, think again. In fact, many manufacturers are nice enough to give customers a grace period of a day, week, month, or more that extends the coupon’s life.
Of course, you won’t be able to find out if there’s a grace period if you toss the coupon in the trash, so hold on to it, regardless of the expiration date. Bring it to the store and ask a cashier to ring it up. The barcode’s information will let everyone know if it’s still good or not.
On the flip side, store coupons are even easier to extend. So if you go into your favorite store with a coupon that’s a week old, don’t feel bad asking them to honor it. They probably will to keep you happy, so you continue to buy from them in the future.
Don’t Put Too Much Stock Into Pictures
It’s easy to overlook a coupon if you pay too much attention to the pictures. Yes, a manufacturer may show just one item in a coupon’s picture, but that doesn’t mean the discount can’t apply to other products in the line.
To see all of the products a coupon covers, read the fine print. Even though you may see one cereal pictured, the manufacturer may offer a discount on all of the cereals in its line. But unless you read the fine print, you’d never know that.
Discover All the Stores Where It’s Redeemable
How many times have you tossed out a coupon simply because you saw a specific store name or logo on it? Had you read the fine print, you may have discovered that the coupon was good at other stores as well.
Pay close attention to the wording on a coupon. If it says “redeemable at” or “available at,” don’t think you’re limited to just one store. As long as it doesn’t say “redeemable only at,” you can probably use it at various stores.
Sometimes manufacturers like to advertise one store on their coupons to build trust or snag attention. That doesn’t mean that the coupon is only good at that one store, however, so take a closer look at the coupon for confirmation.
Know Each Store’s Coupon Policy
Some stores won’t let you apply coupons to items that are already on sale. Others, however, such as Target and Family Dollar, do allow it.
To avoid skipping out on savings, be clear on coupon policies for each store. They all differ, and some are a lot more generous than others to the point that you could get some items for free. You may even get overages at places like Walmart and Dollar General, where the coupon exceeds the product’s price.
