by Audrey-Anastasia Alleyne

Created on: September 24, 2009   Last Updated: September 25, 2009

In these harsh economic times, there is an increasing number of consumers seeking and making use of coupons to purchase groceries, and to dine at restaurants. As with everything in life, there is a wrong way and a right way; and where there is profit for one person, there may be less for the other.

When grocery stores and restaurants offer coupon deals, obviously, the eventual profit goes to the company. However there are people who are making a success of using coupons in the right way. There are people who have been known to have purchased as much as $200 worth of groceries by only spending as little as $7$ or $8.00 with the use of coupons.

How do you use coupons wisely? First, you need not to be distracted form your budget and get carried away because of the good deals which present themselves to you. Buy 1 Get 1 free offers like the following, can have you fall into an easy trap without being aware; until you reach the cashier, and find that your bill is about $20 more than you had planned.

Let's look at this scenario. You are at a grocery store, and you pick up 3 packets of assorted vegetables for $5.00, when you only needed one packet, which would have cost you $2.00. You also pick up 2 packets of juice for $6.00 when you only needed one, and then you pick up 2 cantaloupes for $4.00 when you only catered for one on your list. You further pick up 2 boxes of crackers, because the sign said 'Buy 1, get 1 free'; but, did you need crackers? Already, you are over your budget by $12.00

Yes, these deals are great, especially when you are not watching your budget. However, when you are, and most people are these days, it is important to know how to use them wisely. 10 items for $10 sounds good, and you can buy in excess of what you want and even give to charity; but when you are watching your dollars, you do not need to buy ten. You can buy three or five to enjoy the deal. By the next time you return to the grocery store, there will be more deals, and you may not yet have exhausted what you bought the week before.

So, shop wisely; cut your coupons and use them at the grocery store and at the restaurant, but use them wisely. At the restaurant, you need to be also on cue, because there is always some little trick to the bargain. Be wise and beware.

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