Online Class: Couponing 101

Courses Frequently Bought Together:

Interior Decorating Made Easy

Course Motivation

Coupons are simply pieces of paper offering sale prices on various products. There are many types of coupons including standard product coupons, store coupons, manufacturer's coupons, and rebates. Each has specific instructions and restrictions such as the amount and size of a product purchased or an expiration date. For example, a coupon may offer $1.00 off on your favorite cereal. However, the cereal must be the 12 oz. box, not the 16 oz. box or family size. You may only buy 3 boxes per order (each time you are in the store). There may be an expiration date on the coupon, noting the end of the sale.  

Seems simple right? It certainly can be…or it can be an art form as demonstrated by some of the "extreme couponers" that devote many hours and a great deal of space in their homes to store the products they have received for little or no money. 

Why use coupons?  

The answer to this question is simple. People use coupons to save money. Obviously, everyone wants to save money and coupons are the easiest way to do that. If you use coupons correctly, you can purchase items for a fraction of the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), even if you shop at a discount store. 

There are some people that devote their time solely to rebates. Many claim to be able to make money mailing in rebates. However, one should be realistic and not quit his day job thinking that mailing in the occasional rebate is going to pay the mortgage. 

Some people are hesitant to use coupons because they don't want to seem cheap or feel guilty for taking advantage of a store by asking for a lower price than what is generally advertised. Using coupons does not mean you are cheap – rather, it shows that you are smart by not paying retail prices when necessary. Secondly, stores actually make money off of coupons, so don't feel bad for getting your piece of the pie.