4 Ways to Use Online Coupon Codes to Your Advantage

| May 24, 2013

couponpic3Couponing is an ideal way to get your shopping at a hugely discounted rate. Newcomers to the couponing scene tend to think it’s just a matter of taking a coupon and cashing it in. It’s far more than that. Knowing exactly when to cash in a coupon and how to derive a strategy to make the most of your codes is how you can become a couponing master.

For beginners, here are four ways to use your online coupon codes to your advantage. To get your first codes, navigate to a coupon website like GreatDeals.com to see what’s available right now.

Free Shipping

It’s common to find an online coupon which offers money off your shipping costs. Shipping is the hidden expense of online shopping. You save up to buy that trendy handbag only to discover you’re $20 short due to postage and packaging. Use an online coupon code and you can make this money back.

Some coupons state it only applies to shipping costs. But this shouldn’t put you off. Any coupon code which takes money off the overall order goes towards making back the shipping costs. If you pick up a normal coupon which offers $10 off, and the shipping is also $10, it still gives you free shipping.

Doubling Up

Doubling up is one of the hardest concepts to understand for beginners. To double up, you need more than one code. It combines the coupons together so you can make double the savings. The difficulty is in understanding when to use it and whether it’s accepted.

Read the terms and conditions of the code. Some retailers have a clause which states their codes can’t be used to double up. Others only allow customers to double up on certain days, such as public holidays like Christmas and Labor Day.

Percentage Off

Perhaps the most lucrative type of coupon code is a ‘percentage off’ code on your next purchase. What this means is you will get a certain percentage of your next order for free.

In most cases, you can expect this to only apply to certain products. Other terms and conditions include it only applying up to a specific monetary value and no doubling up. Read through these conditions carefully before using it.

The main advantage is on larger purchases. As the value of your order increases, so does the value of the coupon. Giving the discount in the form of a percentage is much rarer than it used to be, but it’s still something to look out for.

Bulk Buying

Smaller items, such as toothpaste and toothbrushes, are fairly regularly purchases. Stores entice customers to buy by marketing online coupon codes which have offers like ‘Buy 1 and Get Your Next Order Half Price’. Whilst it seems like you’re buying something you don’t really need, consider this an investment for the future. Paying more now can save you a few dollars in the long-term.

These coupon codes tend to apply exclusively to smaller and less valuable items.

Samuel is a stay-at-home dad who controls the family budget. With his daughter, he searches for online coupon codes to help his family save money. When not couponing, he advises others on how to get into it and make big savings for themselves.

 

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Category: Coupons

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