The Most Overpriced Items That People Regularly Buy

No one likes the feeling of being ripped off. But there are some things that people willingly part with their hard-earned cash for even if they are paying massively over the odds for them. Well, in this article, we are going to shine a light on some of these to encourage you to think twice before making these purchases. With many consumers feeling more cash-strapped than ever before, it is worth asking the question: can you live without these things?

Movie Theatre Popcorn

When the drinks and snacks at the movies cost more than the ticket, you know something is going wrong. Movie theatres will purchase their popcorn in bulk and then hit you with a markup that it often as much as 1275%! And the rip-off doesn’t stop there with soda and bags of candy costing way over the odds. When you think that you could buy a good meal for what you are paying in movie snacks, it may be worth reconsidering your choices.

Greetings Cards

So many events during the year encourage you to buy greetings cards, and just think how much you are spending on those overpriced pieces of paper! $3 is standard and you will be paying even more for branded greetings cards. When you think that you could make a card on your own for just a few cents, getting a little creative seems like the sensible choice every time!

Books

Paying full-price for books seems a little crazy in this day and age, especially with so many second-hand retailers out there offering significant discounts. After all, if you can read the words on the page, there shouldn’t really be too much of a problem! Also, making the switch to reading books electronically can save you significant sums of money and you can even get many titles for free.

Bottled Water

In developed countries, water is one of the most abundant resources available for free from water fountains and taps pretty much anywhere you go. Nevertheless, many consumers are willing to work out a few dollars just to get their hands on it. A big percentage of bottled water comes from municipal taps and may not even undergo additional filtering. Hopefully, this fact alone encourages you to carry a refillable bottle around with you at all times.

Branded Clothing

The fashion industry is a clever one, dictating what is in style and then charging you a huge sum of money to get your hands on it. Next season, the style inevitably changes and you will have to fork out again. Simply waiting until the end of the season or using coupon sites like DontPayFull can save you a significant amount of cash. And avoiding the big brands can really pay, as the markup is often as much as 500 to 1000%.

So, hopefully, this article has encouraged you to think again before making any of these purchases. The little habits that you change all really add up in the long run, helping you to live a more financially secure life.

Save Money In Unexpected Ways

Living sensibly and learning where to save yourself some cash is a skill. It can take years to truly be able to manage your finances effectively. However, there are a few ways that you can start saving up some money in unexpected ways and it will add money to your pocket without too much extra effort on your part.

Make your own food and snacks

Although eating out all the time is great; it saves you the time cooking and it’s convenient; it is also a very expensive way to live. If you struggle in the kitchen, the best way to tackle this is to stay home and begin learning some basic techniques. If you can learn how to cook pasta and rice, you have a world of opportunities opened up to you and your family food wise. To save even more money on your food shop, opt for easy one-pot recipes which you can make a batch of and use throughout the week. It will save you time on busy work nights and save you washing up loads of dishes!

Use Supermarket Coupons

Whenever you visit a supermarket and spend a certain amount of money, you will likely get a voucher to use on your next shop. Ost of the time, you may end up ignoring the offer or losing it in your purse, but using the voucher you have will help to save you money- so use it! If you get a voucher for something like beans, you could plan your meals around them. Make up a big batch of chilli for your family using the beans and saving yourself a little money along the way.

Write Down What You Spend

If you struggle to keep tabs on what money you have, you may need to start writing it down. It will make you see what you are really spending your money on and may encourage you to refrain from buying that takeaway on Friday night. This is also a great way to track your expenses alongside your bank account so that you are able to identify any unknown transactions from your account.

Utilise Offers and Cashback

Did you know that if you took the time to switch your bank account you could get a welcoming bonus of over $100? Also, you can get 1% cashback when you buy a mortgage with particular lenders- you can find out more here. Shopping around for deals is nothing to be ashamed of, and you could save yourself a tonne of money by switching your bank, energy providers and mortgage lender.

Pay With Cash

Many of us don’t take cash out and about anymore, because it is much more convenient to pay for everything on your debit or credit card instead. The only problem with this is that spending money is so much easier when you can’t see what you spend. Next time you are out and about, take cash and you’ll see how much more reluctant you are to splash the cash.

Keeping Finances Simple As A Student

Keeping your finances in a good condition is a hard thing to do as a student. You’ve got everything to pay for like an adult would, your rent, your utility bills and you’re going to have to go on dreaded shopping trips which you’ll soon realise are very expensive! However, there are a few ways that you can live frugally and keep on top of everything, so read on to find out about the different methods!

Use Online Coupon Sites

We all know how useful coupons can be; when you get a good one, you can save lots of money on a shop, or you can get loads more for your money! As a student, you’re going to be wanting to grab as many of these as you can. But, the problem with them is that you’re only given them normally after you’ve spent a lot of money, so how do you get around this? Online coupon sites like groupon.com have hundreds of different coupons and other types of deals ready for you to use, for free! The only drawback here is that these coupons only last for a limited time, so you’re going to have to keep your eyes wide open to catch the good ones as they won’t last very long!

Keep A Well Stocked Savings Account

This is something that you’re going to need to do before you start, and it will help you hugely in the long run! This relies on you having a part time job, and that’s about it. Savings accounts can be opened with companies like bank of america, and they’re an excellent way of getting money together. They give you an interest rate on what you have in the account which means that you do get a bit of extra cash from them, but the main reason why they are good is that they allow a temptation free way to save your money! You can’t access it through your card unless you transfer the money over to your main account so if you pay into it every month for a while you’re going to forget about the money and be able to use it on a rainy day!

Consolidation Loan

Like the savings account is done before you start studying, a consolidation loan is done after. As a student, you’re going to have a lot of debt on your head by the time you’ve finished your studies; but this is normal. The problem is with paying back this debt is that it goes to different companies which means that it can be hard to keep track of all your payments which is usually where things start to go wrong. However, websites like consolidatestudent.loan offer a loan that can pay back all of your debts in one go, and then you repay that loan in easy, monthly installments so you know exactly how much money you’ve got for the month ahead!

Doing all of these things is going to greatly help your life as a student, you’ll have a bit of money stashed away in a savings account to help you out when you need it, be making the most out of online coupons to reduce the living costs and after it’s all done you can pay it all back through one easy payment per month.

Living the Thrifty Life: Squeezing Every Penny

Most people try to save money in a few different ways. Some people, however, want to take saving more seriously than others. If you're trying to save as much as possible, whether it's for a specific purpose or just because, there are so many different ways you can make extra savings every day. Even saving small amounts in lots of ways can mean that the money adds up to bigger savings. Some people might see some of the methods you can use to save as being a little too extreme. However, if you're determined to make some great savings, it's worth sacrificing a few things to reach your goals.

Know How Much You're Spending

If you want to live a thriftier lifestyle, you need to be aware of how much you spend. Some people aren't even sure of how much they spend on food each week or their other regular expenses. It's essential to be familiar with what different things cost you, whether it's necessities such as bills or things you buy yourself as a treat. By taking a good look at where your money goes, you can identify the things that are draining your account. You might not realize how much you spend on chocolate or how much difference it makes to turn your thermostat up a little.

Ditch Your Brand Loyalty

One of the biggest mistakes people make when they shop is to go for the same brands again and again. It's easy to get attached to a brand when you try it and have a good experience. You might try another brand or even something off-brand, but you're sure it's not as good. Sometimes, that might be true. A more expensive brand might last longer or taste better. However, there are many times when that's not the case. Try out some different brands to see if you can really see any difference, and maybe even get someone to help you out with a blind test. Sometimes, seeing a particular label or price makes us believe something is better, even when it's not. Another thing to remember is that things don't always need to be the best. Does it matter if a cheaper pack of cookies has fewer chocolate chips?

Make Purchases Go Further

When you do make purchases, you should try to make them go as far as possible. Measuring things out carefully is one way you can do this with products you use more than once. This could work for foods like pasta, rice or cheese, as well as for household products like laundry detergent or toiletries such as shampoo. Some things are easy to measure out using various containers and measuring devices. For example, laundry detergents tend to come with a cup or scoop for measuring. It's also worth considering how much you really need to use. How much pasta does each person really need to eat? What can you use to bulk it out that's cheaper?

Other things might not be so easy to measure. Controlling how much shampoo you use in the shower can be tough. You might have to use some discipline and get used to judging how much you use by eye. Or you can consider putting things in different containers. For example, using a pump bottle could help you limit how much shampoo you use.

Look for the Discounts

Being able to spot a good deal on something is a particular skill that not everyone possesses. Some people have a keen eye for savings and always have one eye looking for the latest discounts. When you want to make savings on your purchases, you can look for a few different types of offer. The first is simply something that has been marked down in the store. It might have a certain amount off, be a 2-for-1 offer, or maybe a multiples offer at a lower price.

You can also look for coupons and discount codes. You used to have to look through newspapers and other publications to find them. But now you can use sites like CouponSherpa.com to find the online. You might also get coupons through direct mail or perhaps as inserts in magazines or leaflets. Or you can pick them up in some stores too. Another type of coupon deal you can find online is the sort of thing you find on sites like Coupon. This gets you activities and products at lower prices.

Recognize That a Special Offer Isn't Always a Saving

It's important to remember that just because something is discounted, or appears to be, it doesn't mean that buying it is a great saving. For one thing, if you're buying something you didn't already intend to buy, it's not a saving. You're spending more than you meant to, even if the product costs less than usual. It's not a saving if you're buying something you don't need.

Another thing to keep in mind is that not everything that says it's discounted was ever genuinely the original price in the first place. You might be able to find it at that price, but it doesn't mean the retailer expects people to pay that amount. Take sites like Groupon where you might find something like a discounted piece of jewelry. See if you can find that exact piece of jewelry elsewhere by doing a reverse image search. How much does it cost on other sites? Take a good look at what it is you're buying and compare it to similar products. Is the original price really representative of its worth? Or is it really a much cheaper product?

Cut Out Unnecessary Expenses

Another great reason to be familiar with your expenses is so that you can cut out things that aren't necessary. You should take a good look at what you spend and think about what you need and what you can get rid of. Some of these costs are pretty easy to cut out. For example, maybe you have a subscription to a snack box company that sends you snacks every week. They might be tasty and convenient, but you can choose and buy your own snacks for a lot less. Maybe you eat out a bit more often than you should, or you're paying for insurance you don't need.

Do Things At Home for Less

When you want to save money, doing things yourself is one of the best ways to do it. It also gives you something to do, which is great if you're trying to avoid spending money. Cooking and making food is one thing that's nearly always cheaper to do at home, especially if you have the resources to buy and make things in bulk. Whether you like a good coffee or a delicious pizza, making your own can give you something that's better quality and cheaper than buying something pre-made or eating out. You can easily find good recipes on allrecipes.com and other sites. There are other things you could apply this to, as well. If you're brave enough to try cutting your own hair, it could cost you only a small amount for a decent pair of scissors that will last, instead of having to pay for an expensive salon experience.

Research Every Purchase

You can waste a lot of money by jumping into a purchase without considering it properly and looking at all your options. For example, perhaps you've decided you want to book a family vacation. Booking your travel and accommodation together seems like the best idea, but what if it's cheaper to book them separately? You can make some huge savings if you're willing to go to a bit more effort. Before you buy something, search online or look in other stores in person to see if you can find more affordable options. Find resources where you can get advice on making savings and find out how other people have saved on the same purchases.

Use a Savings Account

If you're saving your money, don't let it just sit in your normal bank account. It's worth using a bank account, so you can make sure your savings are collecting interest as you put them away. A savings account is a financial product, so before you open one, you should make sure you compare what's available to you. Some might have better interest rates or different rules about how you can use them. Some accounts have limits on how much you can withdraw or terms concerning when and how you can withdraw money.

Save Your Change

It might give you flashbacks to your childhood, but putting your change away can be a surprisingly good way to save. Get a piggy bank, or just use any old container, to save your smaller coins and maybe notes too. It can help you avoid spending it on things you don't need, like coffee or candy. Small amounts of cash can quickly add up. You could take the money you save to the bank or use it to treat yourself.

If you make an effort, you can get your money to go further. Lifting the thrifty life is worth it if you're trying to afford something big.

5 Clothing Hacks that Help You Save Even More

The saving savvy trendsetter prides herself on finding a good bargain. She always spends under her budget while maintaining a unique style and look. You want to reach the same level of saving success. You already know the basics of thrift store shopping and sales hunting, so now you want to elevate your bargain quest to the next level.

The following shopping hacks will help you stock your wardrobe with classic, durable, and beautiful basic and statement pieces. 

1. Clearance Rack

Wait before shopping the clearance aisle: you save even more when you wait until the second round of clearance markdowns. Also try waiting for a Buy One Get One Free sale, because it often increases clearance savings by more than half. 

Avoid buying last year’s major trend, unless you already frequently wear that style of clothing. Otherwise avoid any trendy items because they usually fade and lose their appeal in a few years. Instead, stock up on the timeless basics like jeans, shirts, tank tops, and cardigans.

Clearance items often vary by store. Therefore, remember to check the online clearance section of your favorite stores and their physical counterparts.

2. Daily Deal Sites

Groupon is just one of the many daily deal sites that retailers and brands use to quickly sell some of their items. These sites offer everything from dresses to bras. Fitness wear and accessories are one of the most popular clothing items on these sites. 

Subscribe to receive daily emails. Read them at least once a day. Also visit the website at least once a day to check out the complete list of items offered in the clothing and accessories sections.

3. Shop Out of Season

Shop for your winter wardrobe in spring, and your summer one in fall. The previous season’s leftover stock gets a huge markdown right at the start of a new season. The discount becomes even greater if the new season starts right around a holiday.

Plan at least two out of season shopping trips every season. Visit a store a week or two after a new season begins, and a few weeks before it ends. A shopping trip at the beginning of a season allows you to get the best of the leftover stock. Shopping at the end of a season lets you get even better deals off the remaining stock, and you also find some of the newly clearanced items from the current season.

4. Grab the Lookbook

Do a little research to find out if your favorite stores distribute a lookbook about their current collection. Many major retailers make these booklets but vary on which customers get them. Some retailers give them to anyone who signs up for the mailing or emailing list, but others only give them to customers who previously purchased from their store. 

These lookbooks are valuable because they provide deals and coupons. These deals may include things like a free item with purchase or a coupon that lets you take off $50 for every $100 that you spend.

Sometimes even if you cannot get these lookbooks, sites such as Groupon, provide the same coupon codes that you find in these booklets.

In general, always check Groupon coupon section before shopping at your favorite clothing retailers, especially more expensive ones like Harry and David. 

Additional Tips

● Shop quality not quantity 

● A well-made item is an investment

● Wash your clothes less to preserve and increase longevity

● Avoid polyester, instead go for natural fibers and blends.

The Secrets to Living a Financially Comfortable Life

Life can be a pain sometimes. Whether it’s accidents that could’ve been avoided, natural disasters that were unavoidable, or industry shifts that have caused damage to your job security, life can be unpredictable. However, it can also be good to us as well. Perhaps you have a stroke of luck that propels you into a new career path, or maybe you get lucky and manage to catch the last train home on a busy evening.

Whatever happens, life is what we make of it. For all the horrible things that affect our lives, we also get an equal amount of positive things. As such, we need to make the most of each situation in order to live a comfortable life. So be it misfortune or fortune, here are a couple of secrets that will help you live a comfortable and stress-free life.

Save money, but within reason

We’ve all heard about opening a savings account and storing all of our money inside. In fact, we may even think about investing our money in something like stocks and shares, businesses or even another house. While these are definitely good options, it’s always good to have a plan when you save money.

For instance, perhaps you want to save up enough money for an emergency fund. Emergency funds are useful because if you ever lose your job, have a period of no work, or simply need an injection of cash to repair your home, then an emergency fund will get you out of a sticky situation. Set a limit to how much you want to save for your fund, and then once you reach it, you can stop putting money into it and you can invest your money into something else. You might also have plans to save for a house. Use an online mortgage calculator and work out how much you need to pay for the initial deposit, and once you reach that amount, you can start to put your plan into action and take out a mortgage on a house.

If you don’t set a goal for your spending, then you’ll just save money for no reason. Money needs to be spent in order to make use of it. There’s no use saving for a goal that is far into the future. Many people worry too much about their retirement fund when they’re still in their 30s, and while it’s an admirable goal to think about the future, it’s also rather foolish. Instead of worrying about money you can spend in 30 to 40 years time, worry about spending money on things that are in the present.

In short, remember to spend money on things that will improve your life in the present and don’t think too far into the future. Set yourself a budget and contribute monthly payments towards savings goals such as an emergency fund or a future mortgage.

Learn the value of everything around you

No, this doesn’t mean to attach a price tag to everything you own. What this actually means is to find the monetary value in everything you do. For instance, consider the implications of a night out. You’ll need to pay for travel fees, you have to pay for drinks and food, and you might even spend money on accommodation if you’re far away from home. This all adds up in the end and it takes some time to recuperate those costs, but you need to decide for yourself if it’s worth the money to visit your friends and have a fun night out with them. Knowing this, you have alternatives. For instance, you could have a night in with your friends instead of going out. You might not meet new people, but you’ll still have fun, it’s cheaper, and it opens up more simple pleasures such as playing a board game or watching a film.

It’s also worth noting that you can learn the value of your misfortunes too. For instance, if you have an accident, you need to consider the costs of medical fees, how much money you lose (if any) for being off work, and how much money it will cost to live with an injury. If you’re having trouble with these costs, then it’s recommended you get a lawyer and make a personal injury claim. The trick to dealing with misfortune is to find a way to turn it into a positive, and in most cases, this means making a claim.

You should also try and learn the value of the items you’ve bought. People often get carried away because they buy far too many items and leave them to rot, but you’d be surprised at how much money you can get for a device which is only a year old, even if it’s been heavily used. For instance, if you upgrade your computer or phone on a regular basis, don’t keep around your parts for spares and instead, sell them to someone else on Gumtree or eBay. Take good care of your items so they retain a good sale value, and always declutter your home by getting rid of unneeded items. It’s a fantastic way to make a bit of extra money and ultimately pay less for your favourite stuff.

Don’t let other people influence your financial situation

Something that a lot of people miss out on is benefits and welfare payments. For instance, you might get help because you’re unemployed or because you are having trouble paying rent. While these welfare payments don’t exist everywhere, many people miss out on them because they refuse to be labelled someone who lives off welfare. It’s this kind of stubbornness that can seriously reduce your quality of life. In general, you should always be trying to look for all the benefits you can and ignore what other people say about your situation. Those payments are there to help you for a reason, so why not take it?

Another place where people can save money is to buy second-hand or refurbished goods. The latest technology is always breaking because of hardware issues, which is why many companies specialise in refurbishing old units in order to get more use out of them. A Macbook Pro refurbished could be up to 20% cheaper, and it still performs just as well if not better than a new Macbook. This is because a refurbished computer will have its internals replaced with new parts and all the problems will be worked out and remedied. This makes it much more stable and reliable. However, stubbornness and peer pressure usually prevent you from taking the plunge and buying refurbished. In general, don’t let other people affect how you feel about your purchases, decide for yourself if something is worth it and be frugal when possible.

Live within your means

There are a couple of rules to living a financially comfortable life, and that involves setting yourself a limit and not going over it. Whether you’re rich or on a low income, you have to live within your means. The best way to do this is to set up a budget so that you know how much money you’re spending. You can use some software such as a budgeting app to help you do this, but the best way to get started with budgeting is to simply look at how much money is coming in. Write this number down and then subtract your living costs, such as your rent, utility bill payments and groceries. Whatever money you have left over is counted as your disposable income, and you’ll be able to save it or spend it however you feel like.

However, if that amount is in the negative, then you’re probably overestimating some of your living costs. For starters, check out your grocery list and see if you can make any cuts there. You might be buying food that is far too expensive to eat on a regular basis, or maybe you’re eating out too often and should cut down. Perhaps you’re spending a lot on your electricity bill because you leave your lights and computers on 24/7, or maybe you’re powering an expensive home cinema setup despite being on a low income.

It’s not the most pleasant feeling, but you need to understand what your costs of living are and how you can cut down. There are many people who spend a lot of money but always have no money before their next paycheck because they live beyond their means. If you’re one of these people, then you’ll just have to accept that you need to cut down on expenses and live more frugally. If you don’t, you could end up in serious debt. Neglecting your financial responsibilities is a path that is hard to recover from, so focus on improving your situation as quickly as possible.

To summarise, living a financially comfortable life is done by being truthful with your spending. Don’t lie to yourself about what you can and can’t afford, don’t save money needlessly, and always value the possessions you have and understand how money flows in and out your of life under different situations.

A Guide To Coping With The Cost Of Christmas

Christmas is a time for giving – for those that don’t have much in our accounts to give this can be a problem. You may have been scraping through the year just fine, but now Christmas is here and it feels like a year’s spending in one month. There are gifts to get for everyone, masses of food for the day, decorations to put up – all on top of the regular bills and spending. No-one should have to be financially crippled by Christmas, but similarly no-one should have to skip this event just get to by. If you’re short of pocket, here are ways to save money this year and survive Christmas!

Spread your Christmas spendings throughout the year

It’s a little late to do this now, but worth taking into account for next year. You can either put aside some money each month for December spending, or you can buy gifts throughout the year. For decorations, take advantage of the January sales. Prices plummet as nobody has any use for Christmas decs any more – why not prepare for the next year instead? Spreading out some of the spendings can soften the blow when it finally reaches December. Obviously certain things such as food will have to be bought nearer the time as these expire (although some may be able to be frozen).

Tell people your situation

Everyone knows that Christmas is expensive. Let people know the situation that you’re in, and they’ll understand if you can’t buy them huge gifts. There’s a lot of generosity around Christmas – if feeding people for dinner is a problem, a family member or friend may invite you around theirs. If you feel like you really have no-one to turn to, look into charities that might work specifically with families in need at Christmas. Telling people that you’re skint may not be easy to do, but so long as you don’t beg for money from people, most people will be understanding.

Take out a loan

If December is the one month that you struggle with, why not take out a loan and slowly pay it back over the next year. There are loan companies that offer relatively small amounts, but have a high approval rate. Application is much easier than going into a bank (you can learn about it at Cigno Loans). Of course, you should always budget exactly how much you are able to pay back over the coming months. And you should never pay off a loan with another loan. Be careful and it can be a lifesaving Christmas strategy. Many people do it.

Make cuts to food and presents

The way to save on any occasion is to make cuts. With gifts, there are countless ways to make trimmings to your budget.

The first is to consider joint presents. Instead of sending a separate present to two nieces or two members of a couple, give them a shared gift that they can both enjoy. Similarly, you can team up with your partner or a sibling to cut the costs on certain gifts.

You then have to decide who really needs a present or a card. If someone hasn’t bothered to send you a gift or message in a few years, cut them off. Save money on postage to distant relatives and friends with a digital Christmas card. Also consider sentiment instead of financial value. A photo album might have more of an impact than a piece of jewellery. Put thought into your presents instead of money – consider private joke items instead of generic cheap tat such as socks and toiletries. For hobbies, buy guide books, t-shirts and mugs instead of actual equipment – sometimes the more practical objects are better chosen by the person with that hobby.

When it comes to food, cut down on treats on the lead up to Christmas – it will make it all the more worthwhile. Remember that the Christmas meal will provide leftovers that you can use for a week after the day. You may not need to do a full weekly shop on top of a Christmas meal. If finances are really a problem, look into eating out at a pub. Budget how much cooking your own Christmas dinner would cost compared to dining out. Not only may it save you money, it will also save you the kitchen stress.

Consider handmade decorations

For whatever reason, most of us keeping buying new Christmas decoration every year. If you already have a load from last year, including a tree, and you’ve hit hard times, don’t bother buying new items – use what you’ve got.

However, if for whatever reason you’ve lost most of last year’s decs, or this is your first Christmas in your own property, using last year’s adornments may not be possible. If this is the case, it’s time to get creative. Buy some glitter and paper and start making your own decorations – including paper chains and paper snowflakes. If you have kids, you can get them involved. This will work out a lot cheaper than tinsel and baubels and feel all the more personalised.

Sell gifts you don’t need after Christmas

Everyone gets gifts at Christmas that they don’t need. Either it’s a piece of clothing you’ll never wear, or an object you already have. Whilst it’s rude to admit it to the person giving you the present at the time, you shouldn’t have to cling onto it afterwards out of guilt. Sell these unnecessary items and make some money back.

Similarly, Christmas may clutter things up around the home. January may be a great time to declutter and get rid of all the things you don’t need. Of course, you shouldn’t just bin these surplus items. If you can make money out of any of it, do so. There are many online stores that take second-hand clothes and books – even damaged ones.

7 tips to save on using coupons

There are several tips that a person can use in order to have the most money on their groceries by using coupons.

1. Organize your coupons

The first tip is to organize all of your coupons. This means that a person is going to need to have a system set up before they even start clipping coupons. This is going to make all of the coupons easy to find when you are looking for a certain one. The most important thing for a person to remember is that not every system is going to work for you so try not to get discouraged. If the first one that you use does not work the way you wanted it to, a second one may work much better!

2. Don't just buy brand names

The second tip on saving money with coupons is to try not to just buy the brand names on groceries. Most of the time, the store brands are going to be just as good as the store brand food items. But if the name brand is on sale for a lower price then the store brand, then of course buy that one especially if you have a coupon for it. This means that it is always a good idea to look for grocery stores that will double or triple the amount that is on the coupon. This will allow you to get the most out of the coupon.

3. Make a collection out of coupons

The third tip is to make a collection out of all of your coupons. This is so that if there is a sale on certain products going on, you will have the coupons that are going to save you even more money. A person can also request some coupons from the manufacturers if they use a certain product a lot.

4. Make a clear plan when going to the grocery store!

The fourth tip is to have a clear plan when you are going to the grocery store. This is so that you can figure out all of the coupons that you have and what is on sale. Therefore, you will be able to match the coupons up with the sales at the store. This method will allow a person to save more money than they could ever even imagined saving. Plus a person is going to be able to see whether or not they need to stock up on other coupons for the grocery trip.

5. Make a list after you make a plan...

The fifth tip is to go in the grocery store with a list of all of the groceries that you need. Therefore, you will be a lot less likely to spend money on things that you do not need. This means that a person is going to need to check the pantry and refrigerator for everything that they are out of so they will know what to add to the grocery list.
6. Plan ahead with your meals

The sixth tip is to make a menu of all of the meals that you are planning on having during the week. This is help you to make a proper list of all of the groceries that you need at home. Every once in awhile, you can allow yourself to have a treat. But it is very important that a person does not overdo themselves when it comes to treating themselves. You do not want to waste any of the money that you are using the coupons to try to save.

7. Check more than one coupon site

The seventh tip is to shop around the different coupon websites to get all of the coupons that you possibly can. You can also check the local newspapers and some of your friends to see if they were able to get different coupons than you. A person needs to remember that the most coupons that they have, the more money that the person is going to save on their grocery bill.

Constanze Morris is a stay at home mom who clips coupons to save while her husband is going back to school to get his Bachelor's degree! She took in savings on over $400 in the past month alone! Savings doesn't end with groceries though. When she need a lower health insurance rate, she checked out healthinsurancequotes.org for the best deal!