How do I Start Couponing?

How do I Start Couponing?



So I get asked "How do I start couponing?" when I tell people that the total for the products in the photo to the right was only $4. I have tried to answer it so many times it just made more sense to make one place where all the information can be found. I do not have the time to compile daily deals but I will point you in the direction of where you can find those...




Things to figure out first:

Which stores do you want to focus on?

• We have a Safeway/Vons down the street as well as a CVS. So those are the two I focus on. I do not generally go to Albertsons because I have to consider my time spent and I would rather add Target once a month or so instead. So if you have work, school and/or kids then you need to consider what time you have left for this. It may save you a few dollars but what time are you "spending" on this? Also, as a beginner you should stick to 2-3 stores until you learn the ropes, you can add or skip stores whenever you want.

Where will you get your coupons?

• Print your own- see if ink refills are alailable for your cartridge; use "copy" paper: print with your black cartridge ONLY and on draft mode; when coupons print 1/page flip it over and reprint on the other side as well.
• See if your local paper will do a Sunday Only paper delivery. It is generally MUCH cheaper than going to the store, and you will always have it of you are out of town, sick, etc.
  
• Friends & Family- use their magazine subscriptions, the Parade insert, Grocery store booklets, recycled newspapers- It all depends how much time you want to invest, but if people know you are always collecting coupons, then they will often save them for you. Look for coupons everywhere!

How do you want to organize them?

• Coupon organizers favor two styles the best; file folder organization and binder organization. File folders use accordion style coupon books and sort coupons by type. I use this method and have two accordion books, one for food and one for non-foods. They are organized into categories like frozen, canned, cereal, dairy, and snacks. The binder organization method uses a 3 ring binder with baseball card inserts (or 4x6 photo inserts) and the coupons are slid into the slots and easy to flip through and find. There are pros and cons to each, but either method should be easy to start with items from dollar stores so you can see which works for you.

Where are you going to put all these things?

• Consider a hallway closet, under the bed containers, garage racks. Any house, condo, apartment or even modular home can have a stock pile. Why have one? Because when you run out of shampoo it will not have a coupon nor be on sale, of course! So "stock up" when it is cheap, and you always have what you need! Here is part of my closet, each of these items are new and unopened waiting for its turn in the bathroom. Below I have cleaning products as well as medicines and band-aids. I recently took out items for a 'stock pile swap' and have not yet sorted the new items in (more on that below!)

On-line coupon match-ups

Each week the grocery stores come out with their flyers and the papers have their coupons. If you want you can spend hours sorting and searching, OR you can check out these sites and let them do it for you. These are my favorite sites, but you will find more, depending on the type of shopping you do and different stores you choose to go to. You will find more, as often sites link to each other to promote business. In addition to coupon match-ups they post store deals and internet promotions!

These sites are laid out like blogs, and each post is full of information and links for you to search through. Some blogs have the same promotional special or deal, some have new ones, you have to search through them. Try spending 20 min per day or an hour per week, it just depends on how much time you have or if you are searching for a certain deal. The way the deals are shown is like this:

This is from KCL and listed under CVS for this week. There will be the product, and the shelf price. Then below will be the coupon (with the magazine and date it was found in) or the link to take you to print your own. Below is the "final price". Each computer will print off 1-2 coupons, try hitting refresh after your coupon is printed and it will re-set and give you another copy most times.

Stove Top Stuffing, 6 oz $0.77
$0.50/1 Stove Top Stuffing – (coupons.com)
Final Price: $0.27 each

Also, most companies have a Facebook, and offer coupons through their page, so search for your fave items and see what you find!

Now you are ready to start couponing... Good luck!

And one F.A.Q.-
"But even if it is free, why get it?"

• Donate it to your local shelter. It costs you nothing but tax, but will help others so much. It will teach your children kindness and how can you put a price on that?
• Okay you want it to benefit you AND others? At CVS they give Extra Bucks based on your spending per quarter, spend more, get more... so "spend" more!
• The best reason?! Have a Stock Pile Swap! Get together with your friends and trade products, coupons, sample sizes and things you have too many of, or will not use, for products you want or need! We recently had one with over 200 items and it cost us nothing, and everyone went home with new items!
  

What about amazing on-line deals?!

Yes, there are some amazing on-line deals out there. I never pay full price for anything and yet my family has good quality items at a fraction of the price. How? I am always looking for the best deal out there. Below is my receipt for a Shutterfly.com order from this week:


You will notice the total spent was $2.52, and I received 12 photos, 2 being very large prints. I received credit by way of a Target "baby registry" credit that was un-used by a friend, and an online promo code for free shipping.

We recently went to the San Diego Zoo and after a little searching found a coupon for $4 off each ticket AND a free plush. We were going to buy the tickets no matter what, so why not search for a better deal?

Do not buy ANYTHING on-line without first Googling the name of the site and"promo code" because most stores have promo codes and you will find some for free shipping, % off and some for free items. Isn't it worth the few minutes checking?


Some other places I check:
Woot.com
No More Rack
Groupon

Just remember, if you don't have the money, or weren't going to be buying something, it is NOT a good deal. But if you know a wedding/baby shower is coming up, or a birthday, these can offer you gifts at a fraction of the price.