Can you really save money with coupon sites?

To fully understand this, you need to know how coupon sites make money. In the form of discounts or cash back, these websites really are a platform that gives you a reason to buy from a certain website. You accept the incentive if you think it is good enough to make you buy and buy more.

Let's say you were going to buy a cell phone from a top e-commerce site. You had decided on the model and colour, and you were sure that the price listed on the site was the best you could get. Also, if you find out that a certain coupon website gives you an extra incentive (like a discount or cash back), it is obviously good for you.

Let's say you want to buy a cell phone, but all you know is the model you want. You look online to see who has the best deal and come across a coupon website that sends you to an e-commerce site that gives you a reason to buy from them. But it's not clear that you will get the best deal. There may be e-commerce sites that sell the same item for less money but don't offer any discounts. So, the benefit to you might or might not be there.

You were looking online and found a website with a discount on a mobile phone you don't need right now but are tempted to buy because of the discount or cashback. Again, it's hard to say if you're getting the best deal. It could be that the phone model is being phased out because a new one is coming out, or it could be for any other reason. If you look at the three examples above, you'll see that the first one is the most helpful, while the other two are just ways to get new customers.

What's the point of a coupon for a store?

In reality, stores don't give out coupons to help customers save money. The point of coupons is to get you to spend your money. And because many of us have linked our phones and email addresses to the stores we shop at, stores can tell when you haven't been in for a while. A store may send you a coupon or discount code to get you to come back.

Companies want you to shop in their stores or online so you can spend more money. Even if the item is free, the store may be hoping that you will help them get rid of some extra stock or buy other things while using a coupon.

Don't just cut coupons

There are still coupons in local stores, magazines, and newspapers, but there are now a lot more choices online. Some of our favourite coupon sites are CouponsABC and Askmeoffers. You'll find recipes, ideas, and tips for saving even more money, as well as coupons like Oyo Coupons and Aliexpress promo codes. Some manufacturer websites also have coupons and deals, so don't forget to check out the websites of your favourite brands.

When something is on sale, buy a lot of it

When you find a coupon for a product you like and can combine it with a sale and/or double or triple coupon days (more on that in a moment), you can save even more by buying as many units as possible. Remember that many coupons have limits on how many items you can buy, and don't buy things that will go bad if you don't use them. People who use coupons to save the most money just don't buy things that aren't on sale. They wait for a better deal and then buy a lot of something.

Don't become too attached to one brand

Sure, you have a favourite brand of toothpaste, but most of them do a pretty good job of cleaning your teeth and making your breath smell better. Many other hygiene and cleaning products are also on sale, so try a new brand if you have a coupon. You might even like it better than the one you are using now. (It's also worth trying the generic brand, which is sometimes just as good as the name brand but costs less.)

Find out how the store deals with coupons

Many store employees and even managers don't know how coupons work, so having a copy on hand can help if you're turned down for a certain discount. (Most chains' policies are posted on their websites, so you don't have to carry around a lot of paper.) The policy can be looked up on your phone.

Coupons from stores can be added for even more savings

Some stores offer a certain amount of savings when you spend more than a certain amount of money. For example, you could get $5 off any purchase of $50 or more, which is a great deal if you were already planning to buy a lot.

Go as far as you can

There is something called "extreme couponing," and it requires a lot of work up front, but the savings can be, well, extreme. The strategy is to use each of the tips above for every purchase you make. That can be too much for people who are just starting out, so learn a few tricks at one store before going to more.

Start a group to share and swap coupons

One way to make it easier to find the coupons you need is to trade them with friends and family. Have you got any coupons for things you don't really need or want? Maybe your next-door neighbour would like them too. The old-fashioned way of saving money is easier and even a little more fun if everyone finds coupons and gives them to everyone else.