Have you ever paid attention to the coupons you receive at checkout? Some stores print them on the back of your sales receipt and others dispense them from a machine. If you’ve never looked at them you may be passing up on some great savings.

As for me, I usually sort them into two piles: keep or toss. All of the useful coupons go into the keepers and the rest are just recycled.

Recently, I almost tossed out a $5 off your next shopping trip coupon. I mistakenly thought it was an ad, because on the left side there was an ad and I happened to glance at the right and saw the $5 coupon. That would have been like throwing away $5.

The last time I used the self-checkout lane, I noticed some ads/coupons hanging from the dispenser. I decided take a look and found a $2 off your next purchase coupon. Sure enough, I used it on my grocery purchase and saved $2 instantly. I know it may not sound like much, but it all adds up and every dollar counts.

Taking the time to look through the ads/coupons you receive could save you money on your next shopping trip and more (e.g. restaurants, oil change, salon services). There’s no telling what type of coupon you may find because many businesses choose to advertise this way.

I hope you take advantage of additional savings at checkout. Be sure to check the expiration date of your savings offer, so you don’t miss out.

For tips on how to save money at the grocery store read the 5 Ways to Save Money on Groceries.

Happy Smart Shopping!