Coupons are cool.

Yes, you heard that right! You can say all you want – how “unfashionable” it can be to present stubs to a store to save on money, or how “money-grubbing” it feels to get a pair of scissors and trim things off a newspaper, or even printing out coupons from websites.

It’s easy to understand why it “feels wrong” sometimes to be peeling away the extra dollars and cents with rebates, and discounts and freebies that come with that tiny stub of paper. And it’s so easy for people to be upset about not having enough to match market value for the things you want.

But in the long term, the savings you get out of these small discounts can add up to a huge amount of cash.

The embarrassment one feels of having to collect and cash in coupons comes in how it lets people put money away for almost nothing. The truth is that coupons are a tool used by companies get position to grow and develop their business.

Coupons were originally a marketing tool used by corporations to get repeat business. They gave them for a variety of purposes – as “rewards” for customers who come back and shop, as an incentive for new customers to try their place out, or just a way to help them get rid of overhead stock.

One of the earliest examples of how coupons were first used was in the 1880’s, with Coca-Cola distributing coupons for drinks. The company was able to leverage this to expand and grow the market of Coca-Cola, handing out an estimated 8,500,000 free drinks over the stretch of time from 1894 to 1913. This massive exposure took the company to new heights, and to this day the brand is synonymous with soda drinking worldwide.

From those auspicious beginnings, other businesses have taken to giving their customers “greater value” for those who can “earn it”. Collecting coupons became a different kind of badge – it was the sign of someone who could squeeze value out of virtually nothing. It’s a lot like how some supermarkets or groceries have tie-ups with prepaid card programs, where shopping with their card earns special privileges and discounts.

Since you’ll be doing businesses a favor by taking on coupons, try and look through these Internet sites for some great sources for helping along your next big ticket purchase.

First on the list is CouponMom.com, which is filled with deals and bargains for the discerning shopper. The site is great for households that spend a lot on groceries. Visitors on the site can find major supermarket chains and avail of special offers when they buy products ranging from over the counter medication, to cereals, snacks and more.

Searching for something “less supermarket” and “more shopping mall”? RetailMeNot.com is another very popular coupon source. The site is ideal for Internet shoppers, and feature great deals and coupon codes for those looking to pocket more money. They have coupons for a variety of online shops, including Amazon.com, Target.com, JCP.com, and even VictoriasSecret.com.

See? This is fun! Take these first few steps for your online coupons. Clip away, and watch the savings pile up!