One of the struggles I’ve had in writing my Coupons 101 series, is that there is just so much information to share and the world of coupons is constantly changing.

I’ve compiled a list of questions readers typically ask me in the hopes that it may help you.  Please feel free to send me your own coupon questions and I’ll do my best to try to answer them!

Is it really worthwhile to print your own coupons? Printer ink and paper costs money.
Nothing is every really free, unfortunately.  Read my post How Much Are Your Coupons Costing You to see some price comparisons for the different types of coupons.  I find it is worthwhile to print my own coupons. It only costs a few pennies per coupon and I am only printing ones that I’m relatively certain I will use.

Printable coupons drive me crazy! I can never get them to print! What can I do?
Ah… I have not escaped the frustration from online coupons myself!  Sometimes I find switching web browsers can help (for example, if you’re using Firefox, switch to Internet Explorer).  I also recommend reading Freebies 4 Mom’s Printable Coupon Help post for more ideas.

What happens if the cashier won’t accept my coupon?
If you truly believe you have legitimate coupons and you are using them in the manner in which they are intended, I would ask to speak to a store manager. If that doesn’t work, keep moving up the food chain until you find someone who can help you.  I recommend visiting your stores’ favorite sites to locate their coupon policies.  Knowing the policies ahead of time will help prevent coupon heartaches at the checkout.

How do you know what is a legitimate coupon? Some of them look fake. Chances are if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.  Read this post Fraudulent Coupons Hurt Everyone from Freebies 4 Mom for ideas on how to determine if an offer is too good to be true.

What if I forget my coupons or screw up a coupon deal?
Ugh.  Even the best of us coupon clippers forget our coupons or botch a deal now and then.  Don’t be too hard on yourself.  If you are out of something and don’t have a coupon, consider purchasing a smaller size or a storebrand instead.   I keep my coupon organizer next to my purse so I always grab it on my way out the door.

I hope that my coupon tips and tricks have helped you.   In the end, you have to ask yourself how much time you want to invest to save money. For me, the hour a week it takes to find, print, clip and organize my coupons is well worth the money saved.  For others, it may not be a priority. Only you can decide.

Happy Saving!