Whether you’re a coupon novice just dipping your toe or a full-time coupon clipper, couponing is a terrific and easy way to save your hard-earned cash.

WHERE TO FIND COUPONS

Sunday Newspaper. Not all coupon inserts are created equal. Larger newspapers tend to have more coupons, and the types of coupons can vary from region-to-region. Think about subscribing to more than one newspaper to get the best selection and best deals.

Online Coupons. Printable online coupons can be found all over the Internet, from the merchant’s direct website to Online Coupon sites like RetailMeNot.com, CouponCabin.com, SmartSource.com or TheKrazyCouponLady.com. Make sure to stock up on ink and computer paper!

Store Coupons. Oftentimes, these are given to you at checkout for use on your next visit.

Mobile Coupons – download free SmartPhone apps like GeoQpons, Coupon Sherpa or A Full Cup to get access to coupons right on your phone!

On Packaging. Referred as “peelies” in the Couponing World, these coupons are attached to the actual product. Manufacturers offer these in hopes that you’ll buy their product over their competitor’s sitting on the same shelf.

Loyalty Programs. Many companies have membership cards or “frequent buyer” programs, where customers are given access to special discounts and coupons. Signing up is usually free!

NOW THAT YOU HAVE THE COUPONS, WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT?

Stack Coupons. Some stores will let you stack store coupons with manufacturer’s discounts.

Double Coupons. Some stores will double (or even triple!) your coupon up to a certain dollar amount or up to a maximum quantity.

Be Competitive. Sometimes competitor coupons will be honored. It never hurts to try!

Learn Sales Cycles. Use your coupon when the product is at its lowest price.

Be Flexible. Are you tied to certain brands? Ditch the brand loyalty when coupons are offered from different manufacturers.

Double Check. Check receipt to make sure that the cashier included all the coupons.

GET ORGANIZED!

Think Ahead. Set aside space in your pantry and stockpile non-perishables. Get creative with freezing foods. Stock up on products with a long shelf life: shampoo, deodorant and toothpaste.

Make a List. Let your coupons – not your regular grocery list – be your guide. Make meals based on what foods have coupons.

Use a Filing System. Keep track of all your coupons in an accordion file or in clear binder inserts. Organize coupons
by category, alphabetically by brand, by expiration date, etc. Purge any expired coupons.

GET INSPIRED!

Extreme Couponing. Check out the TLC Network television show Extreme Couponing. These folks have clearly taken couponing to the next level. Click here for the television programming schedule.

Donate. Did you buy more than you need? Consider donating any excess items to charity or to your local food bank.

HOW CAN YOU SAVE EVEN MORE?

Buy discounted gift cards from Plastic Jungle! As the web’s largest gift card exchange, you can save up to 35% on from over 400 merchants. Shipping is free and all transactions are guaranteed.

Today’s retail climate gives us plenty of ways to spend money, but many of us consider saving to be a chore. It’s a shame, because with the smallest amount of effort, saving up to 35% can be had when you purchase discounted gift cards on Plastic Jungle.

If you’re a hard-core, never-pay-retail shopper, you’ll start with the discounted gift card from Plastic Jungle, then you’ll double- or even triple-dip into easily found coupons and promo codes.

The key to turning that small-ish percentage off into significant outlet-clearance variety prices is combining the gift card (means of payment) with existing sales and promotions (entered at checkout).

We’ve got a story about a Jungler who saved more than $500 on a personal big home improvement project – window coverings (not cheap!) — already posted on the Plastic Jungle blog. The post details how Marcy, a Jungle fan, purchased discounted Home Depot gift cards, added that to a rebate and in-store sale, and came up with huge savings.

Do It Now – Two Examples of Double-Dip Savings

Save on Omaha Steaks

1)      Purchase a discounted Omaha Steaks eCODE (electronic gift card)  on Plastic Jungle >>>

2)      Go to www.Savings.com or www.RetailMeNot.com (or Google “Omaha Steaks Deals” to find other coupon sites). Click through the coupon link of your choice. This sets up the promo code which will be applied at checkout. Right now, looks like the best deal is to choose an Overstock Bargain, which could give you up to 60% off (on STEAK!).

3)      At checkout, use your already discounted Omaha Steaks eCODE (at time of writing worth up to a 17% discount).

4)      Start counting the money you’ve saved by DOUBLE-DIPPING: Steak at up to 77% off.

Save at JC Penney or JCP.com

1)      Purchase a discounted JC Penney Gift Card or JC Penney eCODE on Plastic Jungle >>>

2)      Go to www.Savings.com where you’ll find all kinds of coupon codes. Find one that suits your needs. Let’s say today it’s “10% off, sitewide” (code=SAVE10), or for in-store value, go to http://printable-coupons.blogspot.com/2005/11/jc-penney-coupons.html (I just Googled “printable JCPenney coupons”), where you’ll find a printable coupon for $10 discount on $50, $15 discount on $75 and $20 discount on purchases of $100 or more.

3)      Check out the JCP.com outlet and clearance racks for already discounted merchandise. (ie: Landing page patio sale has items up to 60% off.) This could be your triple-dip!

4)      At checkout, use your coupon or promo code (online) and pay with your discounted JC Penney Gift Card or, online, your discounted JC Penney eCODE (at time of writing worth up to 14% off). Also look for free shipping coupons or links.

5)      Your savings could be up to 33-80% of regular retail prices, depending on the deal you choose.

Plastic Jungle gives you bottom-line savings, and with minimum effort, you can compound those savings by double-dipping with a quick “–deals” or “–coupons” search in your favorite search engine.

Happy (Discount) Shopping from all of us deal mavens at Plastic Jungle!

I had the opportunity to attend and present at the Future of Money & Technology Summit today in San Francisco.  There has been a lot of innovation regarding how money moves over the past few years.  Certainly well known is the growth of PayPal.  I used to work there (as well as eBay) and saw first-hand how consumers have learned how they can move money more easily — to an email account or to a debit card or across to a friend’s phone.

Now even more companies are emerging to really change how money moves.  A great overview of this trend was covered in a feature story in Wired magazine a month or so back.  With Intuit’s recent acquisition of Mint and American Express’ acquisition of Revolution Money, there is an increased understanding that consumers are responding to new tools that help them save money and reach their goals.

At Plastic Jungle, we announced a new capability that creates the ability for a consumer to use a retailer’s gift card in another retailer’s online store.  Our Payment Product enables you to use the gift cards you aren’t planning to spend (or just haven’t been spending) and buy something you want.  Have a gift card to a bookstore and want to buy a cell phone instead?  You will be able to trade in your bookstore gift card and use it like a coupon on the website of the cell phone retailer.  Your bookstore gift card then comes in to Plastic Jungle where we then re-sell it to another user.  Therefore, the bookstore owner still gets a user coming to their store.  We just get this money moving again.

This news follows Facebook featuring Plastic Jungle at their f8 conference last week.  Plastic Jungle will be an early way for you to earn Facebook Credits when Facebook launches App2User.

Getting this currently trapped money moving again is something we are excited about.  We, like a few new companies, see the opportunity to help consumers save and buy in new ways.  We’re excited to bring this new service to retailers, social networks and social gaming companies.  It’s all part of the future of money – and our present – at Plastic Jungle.