5 tips for reducing the cost of things you buy every day. 

As prices soar for nearly everything we eat, use and do, coupons make more sense than ever. Discover these five tips for reducing your costs on the things you buy every day.

Loyalty goes both ways

Signing up for loyalty programs at businesses you regularly visit can pay off in several ways. Stores often offer welcome savings just for signing up, then provide special sale prices and/or points that can be used toward rewards later.

Sign up for loyalty incentives from your favorite grocery store, gas station, as well as hotels, airlines and restaurants. Typically, savings will be applied whenever you make a purchase with your loyalty number or card—no coupon clipping required.

There’s an app for that

Scan receipts with your smartphone and get money back. Yes, it really is that simple! Rebate and cash-back apps like Ibotta, Fetch, and Checkout 51 can help folks save by giving users cash back or rebates in exchange for showing proof of purchase.

Match coupons to on-sale items

When you do a matchup you peruse a store’s weekly and, identify the sale items you want to buy, then find digital or printable coupons for those items. Online coupon databases like SouthernSavers.com, Coupons.com and TheKrazyCouponLady.com make it easy to browse coupons by category.

Also, you can find printed coupons in most Sunday newspaper inserts. The savings gained through coupons may offset subscription costs.

Stack coupons

Often, shoppers can use both a manufacturer’s coupon and a store’s coupon for the same item in a tactic called stacking. For example, using a $3 manufacturer’s coupon for Pampers stacked with a $2 coupon from the retail store keeps $5 in your pocket.

The more you stack, the more you save. A coupon’s fine print will let you know whether an offer can’t be stacked with another one.

Learn the lingo

For those new to couponing, the acronyms can be confusing. Here are some common ones that will help you take advantage of special offers:

• BOGO: Buy one get one free
• B2G1: Buy two get one free
• OYNO: On your next order
• MFC, MC or MQ: Manufacturers coupon
• MIR: Mail-in rebate

Decide what to do with the savings

While you can simply enjoy the savings, you could also use couponing as a way to build savings. Collect your receipts and tally the discounts each week, then deposit that amount in your Consumers savings account.

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