Coupons are a great way to save money, but not if you don’t know how to use them. You may be thinking, how hard can it be to use a coupon? Sure, you may have a couple of them lying around; you plan to use them the next time you visit a store. However, without proper planning and preparation, those couple of coupons aren’t going to do you much good except make you believe that couponing isn’t worth the time and effort.

To help you fully understand how to save money with coupons, consider these tips.

Organize

This is the most common tip you’ll receive on the Internet, because it is the most important tip. Professional coupon users have multiple binders with tabs to categorize and sub-categorize their coupons. For example, some coupon users have a tab for meats and sub-categories for ham, chicken, turkey and other meats. This helps shoppers know exactly where their coupons are when they need them quickly.

Gather From Various Sources

While the Sunday paper is a great way to gain coupons, there are other sources, such as magazines and websites, which offer coupons as well. Additionally, higher priced papers and magazines usually contain coupons with greater value. Still, there is no guarantee that these coupons will be for products that you would normally buy.

Be careful about signing up for coupons through websites. Most of them will require your email and telephone number. You may start receiving solicited calls and emails from other companies. If this happens, simply ask to be removed from their database. They are required by law to do so if asked.

Sites like Groupon and Retailmenot are great for finding special deals, both online and in-store.

Use For Things Other Than Groceries

When people hear the word “coupon,” they usually think about groceries and saving a few pennies. However, there are coupons for literally everything — haircuts, oil changes, manicures and more. Always file these coupons under a miscellaneous tab. You never know when you’ll need a coupon the next time you need your oil changed.

Combine Offers

This is a great money-saving tip. Most stores will let you combine your coupons with other coupons or in-store special deals to help you save even more money. Before shopping, do some research for stores in your area that are having special deals. Stores like Publix, Winn-Dixie and Kroger usually have new deals every week.

Additionally, consider visiting pharmacies. They also have deals for various items, mostly beauty products. Pharmacies also usually have a loyalty card program, which will allow you to save even more money on your purchases.

You must also learn to be patient with your coupons. Wait for certain items to go on sale and combine your coupons. The best shoppers are patient and understand the value of an extra 50 cents off of an item.

Don’t Collect Coupons for Brands You Don’t Like

This is just common sense. Don’t use coupons to buy items you normally don’t use. Many people let their impulsive side take over when they have coupons. Perhaps you may have a friend or family member that would like the coupon instead.

Amazon UK online coupons on Coupon Croc, one of the best resources for coupons in the UK. Tom Blanchard shares his advice with couponers in the UK on how to find the best deals and save the most money on their daily purchases.