Couponing....Need Help

If you eat healthy, coupons do not exist. The only ones that exist are for health and beauty supplies and all processed food. Fresh veggies, fruit and meat, fish and poultry coupons are non existent.

First website you should start at is here: http://thekrazycouponlady.com
They also have a book that I recommend is you are new to it. You don't need to do extreme couponing but I did learn ALOT about combing coupons with items on sale (I read over the ENTIRE grocery ads). As far as coupon sites, I will give you links for all the ones I use. Also, alot of times, when you sign up on some manufacturers sites, they will have coupons available to print each month like Chobani is one I use often. You can also usually print out your online coupons 3 times (sometimes 2) and then it won't allow you to print anymore. You can bypass this by using different computers to print from. Also, if you shop online, ALWAYS do a search for a coupon code before you buy. You would be surprised at how many there are that you do not see on store sites.
Coupon sites:
http://www.coupons.com
http://www.couponnetwork.com
http://coupons.smartsource.com
http://printable-coupons.blogspot.com
http://www.save.com/coupons/
http://centsoff.blogspot.com
http://www.kelloggs.com/en_US/home/offersAndPromotion/cou...
http://coupons.target.com
http://www.grocerycoupons101.com
http://www.bettycrocker.com/coupons-promotions/coupons/de...
http://www.retailmenot.com

DC

it's not just about couponing...you HAVE to know what you NEED.

Make a menu (I didn't make one for this week so I'm behind the power curve) for the week. KNOW what you have in the house. KNOW what you USE. KNOW what you NEED.

Couponing and buying items that you do not need - isn't saving your family money. I have seen those shows where they women are "extreme" couponers and have thousands of items in their home - some they will take a LONG time to use...like 50 jars/bottles of mustard....100 bottles ketchup.

What websites do I use?

hotcouponworld.com
pillsbury.com
bettycrocker.com
coupongazette.com
pennypinchergazette.com

You need to verify that your grocery store will take coupons printed from home. We have some around here in VA and DC that do not. While some accept competitors coupons....

Make a list. Attach the coupons that you will be using that list. STAY FIRM ON YOUR LIST!!! Do not be an impulse buyer - where you say - well, I saved $5 so I can pick up this....no. STICK TO YOUR LIST.

Toiletries
toilet paper
tooth paste
tooth brush
shampoo
conditioner
hair spray

Coupons like these? Call ahead and ask your dollar store if they accept coupons - if they do? Shop there!

Some things I would NOT change to save money.
laundry detergent
dishwasher detergent

Other ways to save money? Make sure you do your errands in order...so you are not wasting gas and zig-zagging across town....

Bundle items like tv/cable - internet.
If you don't use your home phone and are no longer on contract? Cancel it and go cellular if you have a plan that works for you and is affordable.

Call your utilities companies and find out if they have a flat rate plan that you can sign up for. This will allow you to better budget your money and know exactly what your bill will be for the month or quarter.

Good luck!

coupon sites like moneysaving mom, have listings by store, together with a number of sites which report on the couponing trips people pulled off that week.

If you mean to coupon, you can piggy back off these sites. They will tell you specifically, which coupons, from what sources, to use at what stores, and how much you will be out of pocket, including printable coupons.

you may want to forgo coupons, and make a price book instead. make a list of the 20-30 most frequently purchased items on your list. every time you go shopping, or receive the circular, jot down the price of these items. when you figure out the real "rock bottom" price at your market, bulk up as much as your budget will allow. i.e. jarred pasta sauce runs anywhere from 6.39 per jar to 2/$5, to 5/$4. If I buy at $2/5 I am paying $2.50 each. If I get them at the rock bottom 5/$4 I am paying only $80c each. I can buy 7 jars at the 5/$4 price for the same cost of one full price bottle.

sometimes it makes sense to use coupons to "buy" items that you don't need or use, if the combination ends up "earning" you money you can use elsewhere. i.e. no one in this house is incontinent. my local pharmacy is offering a buy $5 in depends and earn $5 store credit. I also have a $2 coupon. I pay $3 at the register, and get $5 store credit, so I have actually "earned" $2, which I can use at the store on anything of my choosing. I can also donate the depends to say a senior center, and get a chartitable donation credit.

Good luck to you and yours.

we do it in spurts. We don't have the time, energy, or storage space for too much bulk shopping.

F. B.

Most stores have in house fliers with their sales and websites. The grocery store where I most frequently shop list their sales on Wednesdays so I just check online to see what deals they have for the week. There are also store specific as well as regular national coupons that can be printed on their website. I don't use coupons often because I find that the items are things that we don't use or that I would never buy.

If you like a specific brand (Pillsbury for instance), go to their website. Chances are they will have coupons or have somewhere where you can sign up to receive some.

For me there are better ways of saving money. So, if you try couponing and it doesn't work, don't feel bad.

We do most of our food shopping at Harris Teeter.
They have a Vic-card.
You can go through the store coupons online and assign them to your card so when you check out it's all applied - you don't have to print/cut anything out.
This works well for me because I never remember to have the little bits of paper on me.

I have a few tips.
1) talk to the customer service desk at the grocery store you like the best. Many stores will accept coupons from competitors, so you could take all coupons to one store - even if they say they are for a specific store - saving you gas money for running around.

2) I print the free coupons from couponmom.com I like that site because I don't have to register or anything.

3) If you are a Target shopper, they will take a store coupon AND a manufacturer's coupon for the same item. For example, if you have a Target coupon for $1 off of Pampers plus a manufacturer's coupon for $1 off of Pampers, you can use both at the same time and get $2 off. I don't know if this is true in all stores, but I know it is true at Target (if you don't shop at Target, you should ask your favorite store if they have a similar policy).

As for how to figure out sales, in my area, all the local stores mail out flyers with their weekly sales, and they are delivered on Friday.

I tried to do the coupon thing too, but found the coupons only exist for packaged foods and toiletries, and you can't be brand loyal if you're really trying to save money. For me that's a deal-breaker on some things (laundry soap, toothpaste, etc.), and I don't really buy many packaged foods since I cook from scratch generally.

Also, you need to be careful that you're not buying simply because you have a coupon, or because it's a good deal. Make sure you're buying only what you need. When I tried couponing, I bought too many packaged goods thinking, "but it's a great deal, maybe we'll eat it..." In the end, I still had to buy real food to make dinner, and the packaged junk just got donated to the shelter.

For me, I check all the store flyers and then make a list of things that are on sale. I've done this often enough that I know the sale prices for milk, meats, fruit and veggies, and so I'll just wait to buy certain items and bulk up when they go on sale. I don't make a weekly menu first anymore, I simply cook based on what I can buy on sale. And for me, I pass multiple stores every day, so I'm not driving all over creation looking for deals. Don't burn $2 in gas to save 50 cents...

And I have found it's worthwhile to have a Costco membership, for staples like butter, laundry soap, certain cheeses like parmesan and good cheddar, cottage cheese, eggs, etc., but you have to watch the prices. Not everything is cheaper than the sales at a regular grocery store (paper towels and toilet paper, for example). But some things are cheapest there, like canned tomatoes and green beans, AP flour and organic sugar. I shop there almost every week, for only 3-5 items, adding in a few things here and there. You might want to do a "guest" shopping trip just to explore the prices. Write everything down that you might buy (per item cost) and then start making comparisons.

Good luck!