Although many people do use them, many of the manufacturer’s coupons sent out every week in Sunday newspapers go unused. Given today’s economy, using these instant discounts would seem to be one of the easiest ways possible to save some money. Anyone who seriously want to keep more of their paycheck should consider using coupons.

Tons of paper coupons are discarded every week without ever being redeemed. These manufacturer’s coupons are distributed in huge numbers in an effort to win shoppers over to new products. It is amazing that so many people throw away what could so easily save them several dollars each week.

Many newspapers actually use the coupons inside as a selling point. The publishers realize that people are looking for ways to save money, and they will gladly slap a tag at the top of the front page saying exactly how many dollars worth of coupons are hidden away inside. The coupons for food and other products are truly a bonanza of savings for the people willing to take a few minutes to clip and organize them.

Of course there are options other than the Sunday paper. When you hand over your little identification card at the grocery store, your purchases from that visit can be recorded and used to decide what type of free coupon will spit out of the register at you. Some people are very uncomfortable with their data being collected in such a manner, but most people seem content to trade their privacy for discounted grocery prices.

As privacy concerns grow, it might make for an interesting project to track previous purchases and compare them to current free coupons being handed out by your local grocery store. The in store coupons generally must be used only in that store, so each market will happily print the targeted coupons out and distribute them with every purchase made using an identification card.

If you prefer looking for treasure online, you can find many coupons online. With a little research, you can find free coupons on the internet. Some offers require the joining of a program while others do not. Usually the sign up cost is nominal compared to potential savings.

If you prefer to not pay for your coupons, you might consider joining or starting a coupon swap. On a small scale, you could trade with friends and family to maximize everyone’s savings. On a larger scale, you can look for larger, organized coupon swaps either online or possibly as a neighborhood activity.

The relatively small savings of each coupon you acquire can quickly add up to a noticeable savings on your grocery bill. Using coupons from a variety of places, the possible savings become considerable. Making the most of coupons for food and other free coupons is an easy way to keep some of your money safely in your wallet.