Saving money is great, and couponing is the way to do it. The problem is that many people watch shows like Extreme Couponing or YouTube channels and think that they can do it at that level, or they listen to bad advice. Since the show aired, there have been far more rules with couponing than there were before, and unfortunately, some social media channels are telling people it’s okay to break the rules. We’re here to tell you how to coupon the right way.
Copying Coupons
Copying coupons is illegal, and there have been massive scandals involving people doing this. People would print coupons from the internet (which is legal) and then make hundreds of copies. Cashiers typically don’t check to see if every code is different, and in most cases, the computer won’t catch it, so it goes through anyway. However, you will be caught eventually because this is illegal.
Read The Coupon
Every coupon has fine print that says what you are and aren’t allowed to do. For instance, a coupon will say that you can only use four in one day or one per household. That means not using more than the coupon says. In the show, they used hundreds at a time, but you can’t do that now. The store won’t get paid back for the coupons. Remember, this doesn’t mean using four at one store, then going to another and doing it again. It means waiting for the next day.
Glittering
The show had people using coupons for a different size or product than what was on the coupon. This is known as glittering. An example would be if you were buying a small pack of lunchmeat for a bigger pack of meat. Another example would be using white strip coupons (which are always high) for a sample size of toothpaste. On YouTube, you’ll see people buying a cereal bag instead of a box. This isn’t what the coupons are meant to do, and the CIC has long said this is illegal.
Gang Cutting
Unless you’re buying multiple papers, you don’t have to worry about this one. Gang cutting is where you stack a bunch of papers and cut them all at once. It’s great for saving time, but companies don’t like this because they’ll assume that the coupons are fraudulent because of massive rings that have been happening since the 70s, with thousands of coupons being fake.
Selling Your Stock
When people coupon, they create a stockpile. The issue that arises is selling the stockpile you’ve created because the CIC has declared that you cannot sell any items that you’ve gotten with coupons, because there are terms and conditions that state that you can’t make a profit from coupons. In addition to this, if you’re in the military, you can have severe consequences for doing this because the commissary is tax-free.
Only One
Another trick is trying to use a coupon on multiple products when the coupon has restrictions. If the coupon says buy one, you can’t use that coupon for multiple items. You have to buy the correct number of items. Employees have been made aware of the last couple of decades that this is an issue and they’ll rectify this immediately because they know it’s illegal.
Buying Coupons
If you see sites selling coupons for money, it’s illegal. There are laws in place that say you’re not supposed to buy coupons (newspapers are legal). However, many people go online and buy huge stacks from clipping services. Clipping services try to tell you that you’re paying for their time cutting coupons, not the coupons themselves, but the Federation still says this is illegal. You’re supposed to find coupons from the paper, online from a company’s site, or from the company directly.
Making Counterfeit Coupons
Making and then using or selling fake coupons is a serious offense. There have been movies made that make this seem like it’s not a serious thing, and you only get a slap on the wrist. However, that’s not true. You’ll end up in jail and can commit serious crimes because it’s coupon fraud.
Stacking
Stacking is not illegal if the store allows it. However, using two or more coupons on a single item is illegal if a store doesn’t. Many people use this to get the best deals possible, and the show had many families doing this to get overage. Because companies were not getting paid back, and people were breaking the law, the laws are stricter now.
Multiple Accounts
Many stores will offer rewards programs and coupons. You make an account, and you get immediate savings. Unfortunately, there are YouTubers telling people it’s okay to make ten emails and then sign up for ten accounts to do the deals over and over. This is illegal and not what these programs were designed for. Follow the rules properly to ensure that you’re not making mistakes.
Coupon Properly
When you want to save money, coupons are a great way to do it, but you have to do it properly. When people break the law, especially repeatedly, the rules get stricter, and everyone suffers. Not to mention that a few dollars in savings isn’t worth years in jail. Coupon properly, and you’ll find that you can save money easily for your family with food, clothes, and far more.
