Hi,
So I watched a couple of episodes of Extreme Couponing on TLC - and while I do not want to end up having 8 years worth of shampoo or toothbrushes at home nor do I have 35hrs a week to devote to couponing, I wouldn't mind saving a few bucks. I do clip coupons from my Sunday paper but I don't always use them. Also, a lot of the coupons end up being thrown away because a lot of it is stuff we don't use or the snack foods are basically junk food. I am seeing a lot of websites though that offer coupons for healthy snacks - stuff that does not show up in the papers! Any couponers out there who can suggest a way to get started and some websites they use. Any words of caution or must dos?
Thanks for your help!
Thanks you everyone for the great ideas. I'm looking forward to saving some money :)
I found the most helpful are couponmom.com and howtoshopforfree.net.
You need to start a filing system. Take the coupons out of the Sunday paper and write the date on the front. That is the first and most crucial tip.
Extreme Couponing show isn't even real! The stores allow the shoppers to double coupons they would not normally double and they stock the shelves (or allow them to empty the shelves) for drama.
Try www.jillcataldo.com for a great introduction! Her website has everything you need to know to get started. You can also attend one of her workshops, they are free or almost free.
Her method doesn't force you to spend hours clipping coupons. I spend maybe 10 minutes a week? 15 at most? I also don't buy anything we don't need, even if it is a good deal.
I've gotten some great deals, but I'm not "extreme." My only suggestion is invest in a good pair of scissors! I use a wheel cutter and a mat :)
i use:
pennypincher.com
pillsbury.com
hotcouponworld.com
coupons4free.com
if you look at the labels of the things you buy - contact the maker and ask for coupons. They might send you some or direct you to their website.
good luck
I have just started this month to try a bit of couponing. I starting getting the sunday paper and clipping those coupons, but ONLY the ones that my family uses or might use. Then I starting really paying attention to what was on sale (obvious I guess, but I never really did before) and started meal planning. For me the meal planning has really helped more than anything to base our meals off of what was on sale.
Then I searched facebook for a local area couponers site. So in one spot it tells me all the deals that are going on and how to match up the coupons already. So with a quick glance I know what things I should for sure be buying this week. Search like "frugal" or "coupons" and your state and you should find something. They also will have links to coupons online etc.
I also have starting following faithfulprovisions.com a coupon blog that shows national sales etc. I look at each of these like once a day.
I also "liked" a bunch of brands on facebook for coupons.
Oh and if you get a coupon online usually you can print 2 copies - that was news to me, so fyi.
Good luck!
mashupmom.com is local,
thekrazycouponlady.com
dealseekingmom.com
Couponmom.com is a free website that does all of the work fro you. You first find your state, then the store that you want to shop at, and all of the deals are listed. It is really great!
I don't save near as much couponing as I used to. The manufactures just make the coupons like they used to (now I sound old, but it is true from 3 years back.). I actually pay more attention to price cycling. At the grochery store chreerios (the family sized box) is 5.99 at its highest and 1.99 at its lowest. It cycles like this every 6 to 8 weeks for the chreerios but other items cycle at rates of 4 weeks to 12 weeks. Even milk and eggs cycles like this though the more of a staple it is to more people the longer the cycling period.
I try to match up sales with coupons, and I also "layer" coupons, meaning I use both a store coupon and manufacturers coupon for the same item (you are allowed to do this). I layered Target coupons today with man. coupons for Pantene hairspray and Twix Halloween candy, and both were on sale too. I get info about sales & coupons from couponmom.com and jill Cataldo's Supercoupoing website. They both have links to printable online coupons and they tell you which coupons to match up with sale items. It definitely saves me money.
I laugh at the show - just wanna know what store really allows this?? The feedback is hurting the regular couponers.
I will stack coupons, too - like this dog food, buy it, get a box of treats for free; but I also have a coupon to get that bag of dog food! It pays to watch for sales and save up coupons - in the past, have sent my kids thru the line if it's something we used a lot of! Don't buy any extra papers since mom gives me any she doesn't use!
Read this website all throughout, several times. It tells you EVERYTHING.
jillcataldo.com
she does all the leg work for you and just tells you which stores have which deals and what coupons to combine with them.
I love hip2save.com. She has a youtube video series that teaches you how to coupon.
I also like couponingtodisney and swaggrabber.
redplum
shortcuts
cellfire
smartsource
coupons.com
product websites
grocery store websites
target has great coupons on their website as well as mailers. You can stack store coupons with manufactuer coupons.
I like amazon for diapers wipes. Subscribe and save plus amazon mom plus manufactuer coupons save a lot.
Good Luck
Visit health food store + grocery store websites. I printed coupons off Whole Foods website for example. Many food product companies offer coupons on their own websites. You can also sign up for special offers via e-mail.
