Reader Question:
Why do I need to get newspaper coupons if I can just print the ones I need? Is there a cost saving associated with the newspaper ones?
Answer:
You don’t NEED to buy a newspaper each week for the coupons. Many coupons are also available to print – and you’ll find that ALL types of coupons help you save money at the register. Personally, however, I prefer newspaper coupons – and here are a few reasons why:Â
1. ACCEPTED at ALL STORES
Some stores have chosen to refuse printable coupons and will only accept those from newspaper inserts or magazines. They’re never mistaken for counterfeit coupons by cashiers, who generally will be wary of printables because of the rising occurence of fraud with printable coupon use.
2. AVAILABLE in MULTIPLE COPIES
You can get as many copies of newspaper coupons as you’d like to buy (or trade with friends, etc). With printables, you’re limited to 2 prints (or less)of each per computer (and photocopying is completely illegal).
3. WILL NOT DISAPPEAR
As print quotas that manufacturers have set are reached, printable coupons will disappear and no longer be available to print. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to print a coupon for a shopping trip only to find I’ve missed my window of opportunity.
4. LONGER EXPIRATION DATES
Expiration dates on printable coupons usually last only 30 days, where newspaper coupons will last 30 days or more (some up to a full year)! The longer the life of the coupon, the better chance I have to find a good sale price to match it with. Many of my printable coupons end up going unused before I find the product on sale.
5. LESS COST PER COUPON
Printable coupons will cost you paper and ink – and you’ll have to decide which ones are best to print. You’ll get your investment back on newspaper coupons very quickly, especially since you receive so many with just one copy of the paper. (This depends, of course, on how many coupons from the paper you’ll end up using).
6. VARIETY of COUPONS
Though often identical coupons are available in both newspaper insert and printable formats, most of the time the variety differs greatly. It’s nice to have a coupon stash that contains both printable and insert coupons so that you have the greatest possible opportunity to save.
Those are just a few of the reasons I came up with…..did I miss any? What would YOU add?
I think that ink and toner can get expensive if you print a lot of coupons!
Great article!!
Oh, and our family sometimes travels, and even if I can read about the sweet IP’s online, my printer stays at home!
Today’s paper had an insert describing a new section in the Wednesday paper called “The Clip”. It is supposed to contain coupons for clipping. What do you know about this and is the Wednesday paper worth purchasing?
In my opinion, past issues of the Wed paper aren’t worth buying. The coupons aren’t for grocery products/items, but area restaurants, etc.
Of course, all it takes is $1.00 of useful Wednesday coupons to pay for the paper itself. It might not be a bad idea to check it out. I am curious myself, Kathy.
I use printables only once in awhile. They print off so big that it really has to be worth using my ink and paper to do it. I prefer to use “load on my shopper card coupons” for Internet distribution.
It’s easy enough to get newspaper coupons free. Just ask your friends or relatives who get the paper to give you their hand-me-downs. Some people leave their coupon books untouched because it’s not their shopping tactic. (Imagine that …)