Coupon Info

So I know I'll probably have a bit more traffic here over the next few days and I thought I'd outline how to get started with couponing.

The key to saving money on groceries is to be a strategic shopper. It's all about shopping with coupons while a product is on sale and stocking up so you don't have to buy something when it's not cheap (or FREE!!!). I found this tutorial very helpful- and this to help you figure out the best time to buy the things you want.

• The first key is to know how your store's savings programs work, such as sales and promotions, and combine them- with coupons- to save the most money. National stores such as Wal-Mart and Walgreens have coupon policies available at their websites (just click on my links above- print this and take it with you when you shop). Walgreens lets you use a store coupon (which can only be used at Walgreens) and a manufacturer's coupon (this also works for target and they have their own printable coupons here). No one here in Danville doubles coupons except for K-mart at certain times and on certain items that you must have a "shop your way rewards" card (free from the customer service desk). I only know of one place in Champaign that doubles coupons which is Schnucks which doubles up to .35 (in other words a .30 coupon doubles to .60 off of the item).

• The second key is to know where to find the best coupons. The easiest and (usually) best source is your Sunday paper. Many hard core couponers buy 4 or more copies of the Sunday paper but I typically buy only one and I can still get a lot of deals/savings with just one copy of each insert. There are also MANY different site in which you can print some coupons such as coupons.com, smartsource.com, redplum.com, www2.kelloggs.com, (which you need to sign up for to have access to print them), bettycrocker.com, Eatbetteramerica.com, and when you "like" certain products on Facebook they occasionally offer coupons as well. If there is something on a wicked good deal and you only have a copy or two of the coupon for the deal there are some websites where you can buy clipped coupons such as collectiblecoupons.com, thecouponclippers.com, couponsthingsbydede.com. Signing up for samples when they are listed on the blogs below typically include coupons as well. There is also a magazine called AllYou sold exclusively at Wal-Mart that is FILLED with coupons! You may also go to allyou.com/subscribe to have it sent directly to your home. When you start collecting coupons you'll need a way to organize them. Some people use binders with baseball card holders so they can see them, I personally use a 4*8 index card holder with dividers and then you want to organize them by the date they will expire the soonest expiration at the front (otherwise you will just keep adding and adding and have a big unorganized mess!!). When you first start out you can use the little accordion coupon holders- or envelopes. But being organized is CRUCIAL to getting unadvertised or clearance deals. It does take some time up front but it saves you time when you go shopping.

• The last key is to know when to use your coupons, combining them with the lowest sale prices on your favorite items. Mylitter.com has some great advice as to what your favorite items would be. Also don't be afraid to ask for rain checks- just make sure they'll get another shipment of product before your coupons expire!

The only other advice I can give is to remember that when starting out that this most likely isn't the last time you will see products at this price! Remember to look for the smallest size of the product because that gives you the biggest savings- the trial size area is your best friend! Also don't forget that you DO NOT need to cash in on EVERY deal at EVERY store! Chose a store to focus on- start with one and go from there!

Here are my favorite coupons deals blogs:
athriftymom.com
becentsable.net
centsablemomma.com
commonsensewithmoney.com
couponmom.com
dealseekingmom.com
frugallivingandhavingfun.com
hip2save.com
krazycouponlady.com
moneysavingmadness.com
moneysavingmom.com
mylitter.com
passionforsavings.com
shesaved.com
stretchingabuckblog.com
wildforwags.com

these all show coupon matchups for walgreens, cvs, walmart and other stores as well as other money savings tips!