The immense popularity of couponing these days has a lot to do with the economic downturn experienced by so many. It is important to note, however, that without a good knowledge of how coupons work and how to extract the most value from them, coupons may simply end up at the bottom of your purse or wallet, never to be used. Review the advice below to make sure you get real value from the coupons you clip.

A good tip when clipping out coupons is to place them in a pouch or somewhere you can easily keep track of them. This will prevent you from creating a mess and you’ll have your coupons readily available when you need them so you won’t have to dig around to find them.

Don’t rely on just one paper or website to get coupons from. Try subscribing to several sources if you can. You can even ask friends and family for their unused papers. The more sources you have in your arsenal, the more deals you have access to so that you can save money.

When you go shopping, leave the children at home. Children will get you off your shopping and coupon list and try to get you to buy impulse items for them. They are a distraction and difficult to keep entertained while shopping. If you can leave them at home with your partner, that is your best choice.

Make sure you understand and print off coupon policies for your local stores. Walmart, for example, has a printable coupon policy. Keep them in your coupon organizer for handy usage. On occasion, a cashier may not know the corporate policies for their stores, and having the policy may help you get the leg up in a disagreement.

Do not buy something just because you have a coupon for it. Many extreme couponers will only buy an item because they have a coupon for it; this can make you waste tons of money. Instead, hold onto the coupon and when the item is on sale, use it then.

You should match coupons with your store ads before you go shopping. Maybe a quick stop at a couple of different stores can equal big savings.

To get the most possible value out of the coupons you clip, it is important to shop at the right stores. Do a bit of research to find out which stores in your local area are willing to double and sometimes triple your coupons. Taking advantage of such offers in conjunction with in-stores sales can lead to huge savings on every shopping trip.

If you carry a loyalty card for a particular store, check the store’s website for coupons. Many retailers offer manufacturer’s coupons on their website and allow you to download them to your card. Your stored coupons are automatically deducted when the cashier swipes your card at the cash register.

Search for coupons online prior to making any type of online purchase. In the search engine box, type in the store you are shopping at and add the word “coupon”. Any current deals will show up as codes you can use at checkout. The code could be for a percentage off your total purchase or for free shipping.

If you are looking for a great way to collect coupons for items, you use regularly, find the website for that item and sign up on their mailing list. Many companies send out exclusive coupons to those on their mailing list, and those coupons often offer great savings. This is a terrific way to save on the brands you are most loyal to.

Purchase a good-quality binder for all of your coupons. You will need to purchase several sheet protectors to hold your coupons. In addition to sheet protectors, you will also need dividers to organize your binder. Use these dividers for each type of coupon or each aisle in your grocery store.

Look for like-minded individuals to help you share in saving money with coupons. Sometimes a friend might have a coupon for an item that you really want, and you can trade them for something you may have that interests them. This makes saving money on the things you want much easier.

Look for a deal website that has an online coupon collection. This will help save you time instead of spending hours searching and comparing them.

Keep your eyes peeled for peelies! When wandering through your local store, be on the lookout for coupons stuck to the outside of products or hanging around the necks of bottles. These are called peelies and hangtags in coupon lingo, and can save you big bucks! Also look for coupon dispensers in aisles to save even more.

The first thing you’re going to need when approaching using coupons for shopping is to build yourself a coupon binder. This binder will help you stay organized and have an ongoing supply of coupons for each visit. You can stock up on coupons that don’t expire for awhile, and you can also stock up on coupons that you use consistently.

Try and find any hidden costs that maybe associated when using a coupon. A coupon for $5 off some Chinese food for example may seem like a good deal until you discover that there is a delivery charge you have to pay, not to mention the fact that you must also pay a tip.

Coupons are extremely popular nowadays, and they really can produce serious savings for those committed to using them regularly. The best way to maximize the impact of coupons on your grocery bill is to gain a good understanding of strategic couponing. Apply the ideas in the piece above whenever you shop, and you will be on the road to big savings.