Coupon Sources

I would like to take a few minutes to address frugal ways to obtain coupons. We happen to be fortunate in my area that our newspaper costs .50 cents per paper on Sundays. It is obvious that the BEST source for coupons is your local Sunday newspaper. Many people from cities other than my own have mentioned that their newspapers run $2.00 or more each on Sundays. That is quite a hefty price--especially when you consider how quickly that adds up when purchasing multiple papers. So with that in consideration, I am going to discuss some strategies to lower your out of pocket cost for newspapers each week. If you need further explanation as to why in the world you would want multiple newspapers each week, please take the time to read my post, Couponing 101. It will fill you in on basic couponing strategy, including the purchase of multiple newspapers.

Frugal Coupon Strategies:

-Call your local newspaper. Find out if they will cut you a deal on delivering multiple copies of your Sunday paper each week. Business is down for everyone, and you never know the deal you may get if you order papers in bulk. If your paper is $2.00, and you're spending $8.00 on Sundays buying 4 papers, you may save tremendously by purchasing in bulk. Even if your paper is more affordable, it is a good idea to call your paper and inquire about bulk delivery on Sundays. Your budget may just thank you.

-Talk to your friends. Do you have coworkers, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, etc that get the paper delivered on Sundays and do not use the coupons? Ask them to save the inserts for you. Send an email out to friends, coworkers, family members, etc asking them for their inserts. You never know who may be happy to give them to you.

-Recycling Bins: Many people discard their coupons in Recycling Bins and place them on their curb. Go out before the Recycling Truck arrives and see if you can find some. This is time consuming, but does prove to be rewarding for some. Just be sure it's not illegal in your community.

-Curbside Newspaper Sales: In many communities, there are vendors on the streets in the mornings selling the paper. I see them frequently on the way to church on Sundays. You can offer the vendor a deal. For example, in my situation, 10 papers cost $5.00 on Sunday. I could offer the vendor $4 for the papers. In other words, haggle and see what kind of deal you can strike.

Always remember that if you are saving tremendously more than you are spending on newspapers each week, then you are getting a good return on your investment. However, if you are purchasing the papers and aren't using the coupons, then you are wasting your money. Be frugal. Think through how you purchase the papers, how many you are purchasing and consider if you are spending your money wisely. Happy Savings!