When Money Boils Down To Money, Are Coupons Worth The Hassle?

By Jose Bank

Are coupons worth the hassle? There seems to be significant noise over the potential for savings made by the store of redemption as well as the manufacturer. It takes time to find, cut, arrange, store, and carry the necessary coupons that it takes to really save money.

Coupons come in our Sunday papers. Some are mailed to us or given to us after we have finished stopping at a store. It is only a scrap of paper really. But some people feel that coupons are actually money and will hold onto them until they can redeem them. Others may feel that they are a nuisance and just something else that is time consuming and a responsibility.

Food products are quite common and can be found in just about any paper and any circular. You can usually even pick them up on the way into the store. These are almost always everyday, prepared foods that offer special savings for the right purchase. You may need to buy two in order to get the second for half off, but if it's something your family will eat anyway why not take advantage of it? If you find it difficult to gather the coupons that you would regularly use, why not join a coupon swap and give away those you don't need in exchange for those you will use every time?

The most sought after coupons are the ones that save significant funds on the everyday, non food items. Cleaners, laundry detergents, and household products can be costly. A coupon can drop the price down to a more manageable figure. With the demand for cleaning products and personal products, these coupons are usually the first to be clipped and carried.

One way to determine are coupons worth the hassle is to examine your shopping habits. There are some stores and chains that offer valuable coupons on a regular basis. If you frequent these stores then the likelihood of saving money is much higher. If you only visit the store every now and then, chances are you won't have your coupons with you for that store when you stop.

Coupons are somewhat restrictive. They state the size of the product, and often other qualities of the product, that you need to purchase in order to redeem the coupon. You might find that a 7 ounce bottle can be used in your house faster than the 14 ounce bottle, which makes the purchase almost redundant. If your family drinks orange juice by the gallon, buying smaller to save a quarter might not put you ahead of the game when you're buying more two days later.

There is money that can be saved one everything from everyday food items to getting your car washed and your oil changed. For those who can easily translate the redemption of coupons into money in the pocket, then the hassle doesn't seem like much. For those who can't seem to save or who never find they have the right coupon for the moment, there is questionable value. Are coupons worth the hassle? The answer comes down to your preferred shopping and saving habits. - 30445

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