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I have to admit, I don't use coupon databases regularly. Coupon databases are created when published coupon and store sale information is compiled in a database and made available either through a paid membership program or offered free on a website or blog. Occasionally it is fun to see where the deepest savings are and to zero in on them; however for me, I find scouring coupon data tedious and very time consuming. I realize the value and popularity of this information being made available, and I know lots of my customers and other couponers love to do this and find this task to be just the opposite. So, it really comes down to personal preference when using this type of resource.
There is no getting around the fact that a planned, strategic shopping trip with coupons involves a time investment of some magnitude. How you order this time and what supporting resources are used is as varied as there are coupons to select from! So if you decide to incorporate a coupon database into your coupon planning routine, here are some pros and cons to keep in mind:
PROS - All the information you could possibly want or need about a coupon is usually listed - description, value, expiration, source, limitations, store, category, product, sale price, final price, percent saved.
- Depending on the database, you can find FREE items easily; this is where the coupon value exceeds the price.
- Referencing a coupon database by store makes comparison-shopping easier.
- Data is available until the coupon expires.
- Using this tool makes possible the "Spend $100, pay $5" kind of shopping trip that is shown often in news (provided you invest the time).
- If you prefer to work with numbers (left brain), the spreadsheet format will appeal to you.
CONS - Time!! Be prepared to spend hours monitoring and selecting coupons from the database, printing the list and rifling through coupon circulars, and then still clipping them!
- Requires saving coupon circulars for months until coupons expire and learning acronyms and other lingo listed in the database.
- Free databases tend to have lots of ads, which can be distracting and add visual clutter and require registration of personal information including your e-mail.
- Paid database memberships usually require an ongoing charge on your credit card or a commitment of several weeks or months.
- Can contribute to fanatical coupon behavior that spells trouble for promotion marketing budgets that will impact coupon availability. If you process information better in picture format (right brain), the spreadsheet data will not appeal to you.
When it comes to using coupons, I use the simplest possible process for organizing my savings and reaping the rewards. I enjoy going through the Sunday paper coupons, looking at each ad and deciding right then if the coupon is of value to me. The coupon then is clipped and part of my inventory immediately. All coupons I know I won't use are discarded right away, and I don't think about them again. After all, I have clipped coupons now for about 10 years and have learned that if I happen to miss out on a great deal, another one always comes along.
As a business owner, I get the business side of coupons; and as a Mom, I live the consumer side. Somewhere in my quest for savings, I understand the balance of power and have found a reasonable and sustainable level of participation that works for me and for the manufacturer who gets my business. My process for finding and organizing savings happens to not involve coupon databases for the reasons listed; however, you may find them to be the best thing ever!
Keywords: free coupons, savings, shopping, online coupons, coupons
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Honest Thoughts on Coupon Databases