Electronic Coupons and Rebates
At times, the price of buying a product or service can be so high that even finding a way to save some money can seem unrealistic. However, there are ways to cut back on your spending and still benefit from these services. One of the most practical methods is through coupons and rewards programs either offered by an individual business or via websites such as RetailMeNot.com. Coupons are typically found in magazines, newspapers, and through phone calls from businesses offering them. You can also download coupons directly from coupon codes sites such as Save.com .
Coupons can be useful for saving money on products that you regularly buy, but know that the manufacturer or service provider does not offer a discount on the particular item. The idea behind coupons is to make these products and services more affordable to consumers so they will ultimately choose them over the alternatives. This is why most stores keep a box of coupons for their customers to use when buying from them in person or online. Coupons are also often available for services that are offered and may not be offered by an individual business at all. Even if you don't use coupons to save money, signing up for a retailer's rewards program can result in coupons for future purchases or special offers.
Coupons are often limited to small discounts on individual products and sometimes require that you spend a certain dollar amount or that you have an account at the retailer. In some cases, there is no limit to the amount of coupons received and these can be combinable with other savings methods such as sales, rebates, or other forms of discounts. In order to save money using coupons and rewards programs online, it is also necessary to pay careful attention to the details of your account. Many companies are willing to make mistakes on your account information so long as they are not malicious in nature. As long as you are patient, you can get the money back from any coupons or rewards credits that are voided. [ARTICLE END]
I personally don't like using coupons much but I do keep a few in the kitchen and outside for when I go to wash my car etc. They are so convenient, but not only that, they help me stay on budget when I go shopping. I have tried many times to get a reward card and never have been able to qualify for one because of their requirements and limits. When it comes down to it, there's no way I'm gonna spend $150 a year just to get a discount of $5 here or there... So, I'm not gonna get a reward card. I use coupons for buying stuff like bread or milk. As long as I don't have to use my rewards card on anything that could make me spend over $150 a month, I'm good. Why am I so adamant about this? Well, because of some really dumb people that want you to use a credit card to buy things and then they will give you a coupon. I refuse to do it because the price difference is usually negligible and the cards are more expensive in the long run than using just coupons. Yes, its true, you can spend around $100 on groceries with a rewards card. Yes, you will get $50 back in coupons (that's a net loss of $50). Yes, you have to be willing to buy stuff you don't really need just to try and get the most out of the card. What if you could spend that same $100 on groceries and use an old fashioned coupon? You now save $300 instead! Another thing I dislike about reward cards is that they are only good at certain stores. So, if I want to shop somewhere else with my reward card, I can't do it. I don't mind going to the grocery store that's around the corner from my house, but I really don't want to go to Walmart just because it's on the "good" side of town. Coupons are everywhere. They come in your paper, online or printed out when you're shopping. They're even in magazines (and usually free). [EDIT: I've since realized that magazines are not a way for me to save money at all. ] So how do I get the most money for my coupons? As much as possible! Keep an eye out for advertisements and keep a record of what they are offering because some companies offer them on different days of the week/month/year. Also, look back at previous ads and see what they are giving out for the week. If they are similar to ones you've already seen, go ahead and apply! Some people have posted about having a bad experience with certain companies because they didn't get something that was advertised. Such as: I recently found this coupon on my favorite national grocery chain (the one with 48 different pasta varieties in the freezer section). I had a regular coupon from them that I planned on using, but then there was also this one. I applied the cash back offer to my cart and got a $5 off coupon. It was a good deal, but it was not the one I had came to see. I'm very upset because I could have purchased more than I originally thought, but now I'll have to go back tomorrow and try and find another one. To me, that's not even worth getting upset about... A lot of people hound you about their coupons on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc. They also post them on their blogs. What do they do? they stop reading or start ignoring your comments. Why? Because its free advertising for them! You don't have a reward card yet or you're pissed about all the ads out there... No sweat... Just stick with the good old fashioned coupons (printable or paper) and look around for a low price AND/OR a coupon. If there is one without the other, you might have to wait a little longer, but you will save money. And if you really don't want to wait, there's always the option of going somewhere else to buy that item. I'm more than certain that store down the street would love your business as much as the next person's! If your store has an app, download a coupon app like Ibotta. What's that? It's a cash back app for grocery stores. You can also use it when you're out shopping. The thing I really love about it is that you are kept up to date on the deals! I don't care what store or brand or manufacturer, if I'm shopping at my usual store and they have a coupon, I can usually find the same coupon (or very similar one) for Ibotta. This app is awesome because you continue to save money as long as you are checking every week and saving money on your purchases. Some stores even offer gift cards with certain rewards programs.
Conclusion:
I think there is very little sense to having a reward card when you can just use coupons. It may be more convenient for the company, but who cares? I don't have the time nor patience to check and see if the special offer I want the most is actually still available. If you have an extra $50 or $100, use it to buy a gift card and go find another store that has a coupon and they will give you money back in return! Do I like reward cards? No. Do I hate them? Yes.