How Much Do You Know About Coupons?

Surprisingly, coupons have been with us for over 100 years. They began being used in 1894 when Asa Candler, the recent buyer of the Coca-Cola recipe, gave out handwritten tickets for a free glass of his new soft drink. One year later, a cereal maker, C.W. Post distributes 1 cent coupons for a purchase of his new cereal.

The use of coupons continued to grow for the next 30 years, especially during the Great Depression, as everyone began saving coupons for the local grocery store. With the expansion of the supermarkets during the 1940's, along came an explosion of coupon printing and usage targeting local neighborhoods.

In 1957, the Nielsen Coupon Clearing House, became the first clearing house dedicated to coupon redemption, which bring us to 1967 when almost one-half of all Americans are
using coupons.

The usage of coupons doesn't stop growing. In 1975, 65% of Americans are using them. In 1998, America actually celebrates a National Coupon Month. And currently, 89% of all consumers are using coupons both in actual storefronts and on the internet.

You can find coupons in many places. The Sunday newspaper is a great place to start, the inserts are loaded with them. About 90% of all manufacturers coupons are delivered in the Sunday newspaper.

The local stores also offer coupons in their weekly fliers. They can be found right inside the entrance on a display, or near the cash registers. Additionally, stores like to print additional rebates on the back of receipts to encourage return customers.

In many major warehouse type retail locations, there are sampling or demonstration tables where the clerk is passing out rebates. All you have to do is sample the product or give a "test drive."

Each week, check your mailbox, especially on Wednesdays. The local retailers always send out fliers and advertisements to promote the weekend sales. Most people don't take enough time to filter through the list of items, and miss out and major sales taking place with in their city. Sometimes, the best deals are actually found locally!

Lately, the internet as become the major source for consumers searching for rebates or coupons for the products they love. The web as become saturated with coupon and rebate websites where you can download a coupon, access a rebate promo code, are be directed through a special link to a retailers website with the coupon is automatically applied at checkout.

Coupons have been around forever, and show no sign of ever going away. Remain aware of where they can be found, and you always be able to save a buck on the products you buy.