How to save money with coupons

These simple, practical tips will help you save money with coupons.

On the reality television shows pro-level couponers hoard their coupons in specially designed wallets, apply them strategically and waltz out of most stores having paid 10 per cent of the usual purchase price on their loot, if that.

Even though coupons aren't quite as readily available in Canada as in the U.S., you can still apply some of these principles to help you save money with coupons.

The easiest places to find coupons are:

• In sales flyers (available in stores, newspapers and from sales websites)
• Tear-off coupons located in stores
• Printable coupons on the Internet
• Stick-on coupons that the manufacturers sometimes apply to their products

Sometimes, if you write to manufacturers, they'll send you coupons. Just remember that this is usually a one-time deal.

• Your coupons will go the furthest if you apply them to items that are already on sale.
• Stores put goods on sale for a number of reasons, ranging from seasonal changes in demand to special buys or rapidly approaching expiry dates.
• Household staples often go on sale every three months or so.
• The people who stock or manage a store's inventory should be your best friends because they can give you a heads-up about any upcoming sales.
• Stockpiling items when you do find them on sale makes it easy for you to wait until the next big sale before you buy again.

Buy what you need

Make sure you're buying items you'll actually use, that you have enough room to store them and that you can use up your stock before it expires.

• There is no need to go over the top like the extreme couponers on television; after all, those same items will probably be back on sale again within a few months.

Stacking coupons

Finally, "stacking" coupons, that is using a manufacturer's coupon and a store coupon on the same item, isn't as common in Canada as in the U.S., but some stores will allow it. Read the fine print on the coupons for details or when in doubt, ask.

There's no need to feel embarrassed about using coupons. They're there because the manufacturer or store wants you to buy their product. In fact, there are whole websites designed to facilitate couponing in Canada.