Couponing 101: Tips of the Trade (Part 2)

In order to be a fantastic coupon shopper, you will need a few tips to help you get the best savings you can.

When an item is on sale for Buy 1 Get 1 Free, it is actually very common for you to be able to use two coupons. One for each item which makes for a much greater savings! Be sure to check with your local store for their policy on this because, as always, each store is different. This is the best deal at a store that rings up two items are half price instead of one item full price and one item free.

If you have a coupon that says "off any size," the smartest thing to do is purchase the smallest size item. Most travel size items are $1.00 or less so this is a great place to stock up on items you use all the time like deodorant. For a long time there were baby wipes coupons out for $.50/1 that did not specify a size. A few years ago the travel packs were $1.

If the have your coupons in hand and you walk up to the shelf and SURPRISE, the shelf is wiped clean, do the smart thing: GET A RAIN CHECK! Make sure you check the policy on your stores policy for this. Some expire in 30 days and some never expire. If your coupons expire that day see my next tip...

If you go to the store to use your coupons on the day they expire and you find that they are sold out, take your coupons to Customer Service with you when your getting that Rain Check and ask for the manager. SOMETIMES the manager will initial your coupon for you to you at a later date with your RC when the item is in stock again. I have been successful with this on many occasions but again, this is not guaranteed. It will depend on your manager but it?s worth trying!

Last, make sure you always look to see if there is a rebate you can use on top of your savings!