How Coupons Can Pay For Your Vacation

I haven't done a saving money post in a while.  Though I've mentioned it before, I haven't done an entire entry on coupons.

Everyone has heard the saying that a little bit can go a long way.  The same goes for money.  Except in this case I like to say a little bit of saving goes a long way.  The easiest way to save money: buy things when they are on sale and use coupons.  What do you do with the extra money?  It's up to you.  For me right now, it's paying off a credit card debt and paying off student loans.

So how does one get coupons in the first place?

The most commonly thought of place is the Sunday paper.  However, before buying the paper every week, it's a good idea to know how many coupons will be in it.  The Sunday paper here varies each week with which coupons (SmartSource, P&G, etc) will be in the paper.  If you use a lot of coupons from each, then it probably won't matter to you.  If you're like me and only typically use coupons from one that's not in there every week then you may want to skip buying the paper the weeks those coupons are not in there.

Another source is from stores.  Many stores, when you sign up for their email list they will occasionally send you coupons.  A recent one I received from NY and Company: Spend $200, get $100 off meaning if I bought $200 worth of stuff, I would only pay $100.  Good deal huh? I ended up doing their option of $25 of $50.  Also, one advantage of signing up for store cards is they will mail you offers every month or so.  Now, this also means you run the risk of debt from a store card.  Just make sure you pay off the full amount each month.

A surprising source is the products themselves.  You open up the product, and there sitting inside (or printed on the cardboard) is a coupon for your next purchase, or a rebate offer.

The last source (though there are more I'm sure) are magazines.  Some advertisers will include a coupon in their ad.



Now, how the heck can coupons pay for your vacation (or house, or pay off debt)?  Aside from an actual coupon, or redeeming credit card points, they can't directly.  However, if you account for the money you save using coupons, it can very well help you pay for whatever it is you want.  Keeping track of how much you actually save from coupons to use towards the fun requires a little planning though.  Unless you are a human computer and can keep track in your mind.

Here's a suggestion:

First: keep your receipts.  Most nowadays will have the total amount saved at the bottom from sales and coupons.  Next: Create a savings account and put however much you saved into that account.  So, if you used $7 in coupons at the grocery store, put $10 into the account.  Put even small amounts in.  It helps if your savings account is linked to a checking account, therefore you make do this all online.  It may seem pointless to do this but, if you save $10 a week on your grocery bill (more if you include sales and whatnot or include extrabucks from CVS as coupons) then in one year you will have an added $520 in you account.  Doesn't seem like much, but that could mean staying an extra 2 nights in a hotel on vacation.  Oh, and lastly: enjoy the money in whatever way you feel fit.

I personally like to make it a goal to save "x" amount each month from sales and coupons and using that money to pay extra on my student loans that month.  And then the next month, I see if I can beat that.