Curb Your Spending: Coupon Clipping

I bought a fashionable Nine West winter coat at the end of last winter season from Macy's online for: $0 out of my pocket

Let me see if I can remember the price breakdown:

1) End of Season = huge markdowns. The coat went from approximately $280 to $99. For that kind of bargain, why not buy your next winter coat at the end of the previous winter?

2) An additional promotion for 15% off of orders over $100 was being offered by Macy's (luckily they counted my $99 purchase as $100). This brings us down to a little under $85 for the coat.

3) I had a Macy's coupon for 20% off. This brings us down to $68. 

4) And I used a gift card I received for Christmas to cover the rest.

5) Oh and...Free. Shipping.

I get SO many compliments on this coat :-)

What I'm trying to say is...don't underestimate the power of a good bargain. Not only can keeping your eye open for great promotions and sales be beneficial, but searching for and saving coupons can be the difference between paying $20 for a coat (which is still awesome) and paying $0.

I am a coupon lover. I clip them for food, clothes, household necessities. I save the coupons I get with my receipts from Target and the grocery store (how many of you throw them away? Did you know that the coupons the machine spits out nowadays is usually for the exact items you just purchased?!) 
 
I keep my coupons on me at all times (clipped right to my daily planner in my purse) because you never know when you might need one.  I hate being at a store and thinking, dang, I think I had a coupon for this!

Most of us 20-somethings think coupon clipping is for old folks or "poor" folks, but the reality is, if you're trying to save money or curb your spending, you might want to take advantage yourself.