By Maneerah Griffin —
For college students, tuition, textbooks and other supplies can be costly. It’s very hard to stretch paychecks with the economy and anyone would jump at the opportunity to save money. There is a good money saving tool that has been around for years: coupons.
With shows like Extreme Couponing, coupons are now a staple in most households as a way to save money. You can save almost hundreds of dollars all by using coupons. If you’re not the type of person to sit around clipping coupons, don’t fret, there are dozens of apps that you can download to access coupons quickly on your smartphone.
Here are a few saving apps and tips to make your next shopping trip full of savings:
Tip # 1: Sign up for email alerts
Dozens of retailers have websites that offer you email to get notifications, but sometimes coupons and coupon codes are attached to those emails, you can find out about the next sale and save some money. One of my favorites is ELF cosmetics (eyeslipsface.com). They have quality makeup for half the price and they always have sales on their site. Groupon.com also has everything from massages to trips to Jamaica for percentages off.
Tip #2: Invest in a membership
Stores like Sam’s Club and BJ’s have pricey memberships (the most being $80), but it’s well worth it because you can buy lots of grocery and cosmetic products in bulk. Stores like Rite Aid, Walgreens, and dozens of grocery stores have memberships that are FREE and can save you money and sometimes even earn you free things like a turkey at the end of the year.
Tip #3: Apps
Yes ladies and gentlemen, coupons are digital. Coupon apps aren’t limited to groceries either; you can find coupons for just about anything! Two of my favorite apps are Coupon Sherpa and Retailmenot; they have dozens of coupons from retailers like Macy’s and Bath and Body Works with percentages and almost half off. And they update daily.
Coupons are not a sign of someone being cheap (if you use them on a date well…) but it’s a way to shop smarter and frugally. So clip, or download, and save today!