Top 10 coupon tips
Tina Crane and Alana Doucette love to save money by using coupons, and are active members of the Facebook groups Newfoundland Coupon Queen Traders and Coupon Queens of Newfoundland.
“I love couponing,” said Doucette, a new mom who saves on everything from diapers, baby formula and wipes to food and household items. “I quickly got hooked when I saw how much money I can save.
“It has actually acted like a supplement income for me. When I was off on maternity leave, I was able to grab any local deals, so it would literally save us hundreds a month. Now that I’m back to work, it still saves us a couple of hundred, which is still awesome.
“I think everyone should be doing it.”
To get the most out of couponing, Crane and Doucette offer a few tips:
1. Know where to find coupons. Here are some common places:
In the store: tear pads (found near the product); peelies (attached to the product); hang tags (hung on the product).
Print coupons from the internet on various sites — pgeveryday.ca, smartsource.ca, advil.ca, etc. Ensure redemption address is for Canadian stores.
In-the-mail coupons: available on sites that can mail to your
door, such as save.ca.
Company mail-outs: email companies directly, let them know you enjoy their product and request coupons. Many
companies, such as Dove, Chapmans and Tetley, are more than happy to send them.
2. Get a printer: start printing any coupons from online and keep them in a special folder or album.
3. Price-matching helps: use newspaper flyers or electronic versions on your phone to get the same deal on a product at a store that’s advertised at another store.
4. Download apps to your smartphone:
• Cashback apps — such as Checkout51, Zweet, Caddle and Save.ca — give you money back for buying items and submitting proof (usually photos of receipts or barcodes).
5. Combine your coupons with in-store specials to get the best savings.
6. Check flyers and store websites to compare the best deals.
7. Use loyalty/points programs: collecting from one or two can get you the best bang for your buck. Some programs are PC Optimum, Air Miles, Aeroplan, Scene points, Subway rewards and Canadian Tire money.
8. Join social media groups, such as Coupon Queens of Newfoundland and Newfoundland Coupon Queen Traders; members often post deals that they spot and offer advice.
9. Never photocopy a coupon. Just as it’s illegal to photocopy a $20 bill, it’s also against the law to photocopy a coupon.
10. Stay organized and have fun seeing all the money you save.