There are 3.6 billion coupons distributed every year, but we only cash in about 3 per cent, according to the Coupon Industry Association of Canada (yes, there is such a thing).
It’s likely we’re not taking advantage of these potential money savers because the old-school strategies for putting them to use seem time consuming or inefficient. However, a number of apps and websites are making it easier than ever to take advantage of the savings. A free app like Clip Mobile does all the work for you by finding coupons based on your location. Then, you simply show the code on your mobile device to the cashier to redeem and save.
Sites like GroceryAlerts.ca and Groupon.com also eliminate the need to sift for coupons, as the deals relevant to your area are sent directly to your inbox. If you’re happy to do a little digging yourself, then sites such as FrugalShopper.ca and MommySavers.com are good places to start. Signing up for e-mail alerts for the stores you regularly shop at is one of the best ways to take advantage of coupons you’ll actually use. Considering I’ve never really taken advantage of coupons, I’m going to set up a little challenge for myself for the month of August to see how much I can really save using the simple strategies above. You should too. Who knows, perhaps by the fall, we’ll be coupon converts with a little extra money to burn.
Angela Self is one of the founders of the Smart Cookies money group. Read her weekly column on managing debt and saving money at the new globeinvestor.com.
