Why Freebies?

The recent onset of the global financial crisis, coupled with the world food shortage and the subsequent increase in food prices, has led many people to explore for more cost-effective methods of providing for themselves. There are several ways in which the majority of members of society can save dough on supplies such as groceries. Coupons have been around since the early 20th century (introduced by the Coca-Cola Company and popularised by C.W. Post) and do pose a viable alternative to paying face value prices in supermarkets and grocery stores; surprisingly, many stores and retail outlets offer more than a deceptive “buy one get one free” system, and the potential savings can border on 50% of a typical grocery trip’s expense.

It may surprise many that one of the best methods to obtain discount coupons is through free newspapers. Publications like the area-specific local papers are saturated with coupons from local retailers, and offer many deals like discounted meals, hotel stays, and even car washes. The number of discounts available is nearly unlimited, but too many people will discard it as junk mail. Local dealers, often struggling to make ends meet, will offer charitable deals and you can reduce grocery bills by taking advantage of this; these dealers will most likely offer lower prices than supermarkets your large supermarket chains to gain that point of difference.

Similarly, online coupons are a great way to save money; many websites such as coupons.com and couponizer.com offer free coupons that can be printed and used in stores. The price of a printed sheet of paper weighed up against a guaranteed financial savings is in all cases a great bargain and one that most people again do not take into account. Even coupons sites like freestuff4free.com have a section on coupons gathered from many areas of life.

Another source of coupons that most people do not give a second thought to before disposing of it is supermarket receipts; after your next trip to the grocery store, turn the receipt over and you might be pleasantly surprised at the offers that are there! While these offers are not from the actual supermarkets themselves, reduced prices can be obtained on services like carpet cleaning and car washes. Savings of up to 50% are not uncommon on these coupons, and most are valid for a significant period of time.

Using coupons has long been the realm of thrifty spenders, but it is by no means an unattractive habit; rather, it is an reasonable alternative to the pricing of retail outlets, and allows struggling families to afford necessities such as food and clothes while reducing the prices for services that would be out of the reach of many in this climate of global economic insecurity. Many are unfortunately aware of the phenomenon, but for people looking to save money without a reduction in their quality of life, coupons represent the way to go, as they are cheap, free, and most importantly, they work.

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