| Are you a coupon clipper? Are you chasing deals and discounts kind of like your own private Olympics as you run from store to store looking for the best deal? Well nowadays you can “run” from the comfort of your own home as you find deals online. But once upon a time, coupon clipping was a Sunday afternoon adventure as you ripped through the newspaper complete with comics and coupons. The design of couponing has changed over the course of time, but here is a brief history lesson. Way back in 1887, the first “modern” coupon was mailed to pharmacy customers offering a free glass of Coca-Cola. Shortly after that, came the first box of cereal, Grape Nuts, complete with a coupon on the box. And of course, during the Great Depression coupons were a coveted item as people tried to stretch their dollars as far as possible. Soon after, coupons gained even more popularity as grocery stores handed them out trying to attract new customers and by the 1960’s, statistics show half of all Americans were clipping coupons. But the two biggest successes for people pursuing the mighty deal was in 1990’s as online coupons stormed the world and then Target was the first nationwide chain store to introduce mobile coupons on customers cell phones. Mind blown! Let’s face it, people coupon because they can save a heck of a lot of money and if you have a big family or are shopping for a large crowd, they sure do come in handy. As a matter of fact, in 2002, $3.8 billion dollars was saved using coupons just in that year. Lest we not forget that ultra popular show, “Extreme Couponing” which was a huge hit especially among moms. The premise of the show was the couponistas revealing all their tips and tricks on how to save wads of cash and stretch their dollars. It was a fascinating insight into how people can really save a lot of money if they are organized and familiar with the operations and strategies of store sales. But, sadly, every good thing must come to an end as experts say there has been a significant decline in the use of coupons over the last several years. But for those sprinting from store to store, looking for the perfect deal, there will always be a Buy One Get One! https://thekrazycouponlady.com/tips/couponing/the-not-so-boring-history-of-coupons https://www.couponsherpa.com/blog/a-brief-history-of-coupons/ https://www.retailmenot.com/blog/sc-history-of-coupons.html |
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