Did you know that there are billions upon billions of coupons issued every year while just a very small percentage of them are ever used? The best stats on that that I could find were from the year 2002. In 2002 there were 336 Billion dollars worth of coupons issued while only 3.8 billion dollars worth were redeemed. Now that 3.8 billion dollars accounted for a savings of billions of course but think how much more could have been saved if more consumers took advantage of the coupon savings?
So why don’t more consumers take advantage of the coupon savings? Well, some people don’t believe it is worth the time it takes. Sometimes we find we can get a better price on generics or store brands and sometimes it’s just a matter of organization.
How can you use a coupon if you can’t find it?
In this case I can only tell you what works for me. I’ve tried many different ways to organize myself for using coupons and some things worked and some things just made it more difficult. I tried to use a recipe box arranged alphabetically. No, that didn’t work at all. I tried to arrange the coupons by expiration date. No, that didn’t work either. I tried carrying them in my wallet but I always forgot they were there.
The thing that finally worked for me as far as organizing my coupons was not necessarily organizing my coupons per se but rather “organizing my shopping”.
Yes, I search the ads to find the sales, I then plan my menu’s and I make a strict shopping list. I then search out my coupons to see what I have and I’m off to the store.
I do not deviate from my list and I end up taking advantage of tons of coupons. I’m averaging a 47% savings right now and I’m working on increasing that.
I found that it really helps to be organized.
Because, it all adds up!
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