10 Easy Steps to Get Started Couponing

Like many of you, I saw the TLC Show, Extreme Couponing and I was amazed, but I was also overwhelmed hearing how these women spend 20-40 hours a week dedicated to couponing. I personally think that's ridiculous and I don't know about you, but I don't have time for that nonsense. I figured I'd try it tho, so I went out and bought a newspaper (late in the day) and when I got home I realized someone had stolen the coupon inserts. I was pissed and scrapped the whole idea. Fast forward to a year later, we took a financial class at church and my husband encouraged me to give it another shot. He bought a book called, "Couponing for Busy People." It's a little out of date because coupon policies are always changing, but it gave me a general idea of what to do. Here's some simple steps to get started:

1. Subscribe to the Sunday Newspaper

• I pay $6.00 a month for just the Sunday Newspaper. Each paper comes with inserts from coupon manufactuers like Smart Source, Red Plum, and P&G. Some Sundays you may get 1 insert, some you may get 2 or 3. Here's a schedule for inserts: http://www.sundaycouponpreview.com/2013-sunday-coupon-insert-schedule/

2. Buy Additional Newspapers

• You don't have to buy additional newspapers every week, base your decision on extra papers after looking at the inserts that week. If I see great coupons for laundry detergent, or BOGO (Buy One Get One) Free Coupons for expensive products like Shampoo, Conditioner, Toilet Paper, etc. I will buy additional newspapers. If the insert doesn't have good coupons for things I buy, then I won't get additional papers.

3. Ask Your Neighbors and Friends for Their Inserts

• My neighbor is an older gentleman in his 70s, he has no interest in coupons and gives me his ads and inserts every week. In return, I bake him cookies and other things to show my appreciation. ;-) 

4. Print FREE Coupons Online

• You can print free coupons online from Smart Source, Red Plum, and Coupons.com.
• Here's a link: http://couponssavemoney.blogspot.com/p/print-free-coupons-online.html
• You can print two of each coupon PER computer.
• You can also print STORE coupons from Target.com and Target will accept a Target Coupon AND a Manufactuer coupon for the same item.
• For Example: I can use this coupon that I printed on Target.com for $1.00 off Garnier Hydra Shampoo or Conditioner, and I can use the manufactuer coupon that I printed from Coupons.com for $1.00 off ANY Garnier Shampoo or Conditioner for a total of $2.00 off ONE Garnier Hydra Shampoo or Conditioner. To maximize your savings, wait until the product goes on sale, and then use the coupons together with the sale to get a rock bottom price. (Sometimes FREE!) I've used these coupons together many times, I know that this particular product is $2.99 normal price, making each bottle $0.99 cents after coupons. When these go on sale for $1.99 they're FREE.

5. Keep Your Coupons Organized

• I have my coupons organized in a small binder by category. The binder is small enough to fit in my purse. I think I paid $3.00 for it at Office Max, and I got the inserts for $2.99. Small investment for great organization and less headaches later. I have several catergories, but just to name a few: Soaps, Household Products, Pets, Frozen Food, Pre-packaged Food, Cold Food, Razors & Shaving Cream, Medicine & Vitamins. ETC. Organize any way you like. You don't need the huge zippered binders with baseball card inserts like they put on the TLC Show, that's Extreme and since you're just starting out, keep it simple.
• I only print coupons that I know I will use, otherwise it's a huge waste of printer ink. I also only cut coupons for products I know I would buy if the right sale came along. Then I save all the coupons I didn't clip and put them in envelopes marked with the name of the insert and the date it came out, for example: P&G 3/31 (This is huge, you need to hang on to these coupons even if you don't plan to use them, because sometimes these items will go on sale for cheaper than the coupon price and you can get them for free or actually MAKE money on these products. Sale Price 1.00 - coupon is for 2.00 off. The store won't give you the other dollar, but you can use that credit to pay for other items in the same transaction.) You don't need to keep track of these coupons, just check the match up websites for FREE/Money Maker deals. I'll explain more in Step 7.

6. Look at Sunday's Newspaper Ads

• Check your local paper for sale ads. Pull out the ads for grocery stores, drug stores, and Walmart/Target/Kmart. Browse through the ads and look for sales of items you need to buy, then check to see if you have a coupon for those items. When you're just starting out, you probably won't because you don't have a good stock pile of coupons. Don't worry, in 2-3 weeks you'll have coupons you can use at almost every store.

7. Check the Match Up Websites

• There are a lot of websites that will do the "dirty work" for you. Websites like: http://thekrazycouponlady.com/ have "Match Ups". Just visit her site and she will show you the best deals for that week. Click on "Find My Store" and you'll find a list of match ups and where to find the coupon. The coupons are usually listed like this: Use $1.00/1 Maybelline New York Eye Shadow or Eye Liner from RP 2/3 (exp 3/30). Translation: Use the $1.00 off 1 Maybelline New York Eye Shadow or Eye Liner coupon from the Red Plum insert that came from February 3rds Sunday Newspaper. Beware, sales for some stores are regional. Just because an item is on sale for $1.00 at Wal-Mart somewhere in Georgia, doesn't mean it's on sale at your local store. I found this out the hard way. *POUT* But if the sale is actually listed in your local Sunday Ad, you can count on that price. Bring the Ad with you.

8. Prepare for Shopping

• Don't be one of those annoying people fumbling through your coupons at the check out. Get your shopping list together before you leave the house, get your coupons together for each store you're going to and have it all ready for the cashier at check out. It saves you time and headaches. I use an accordian binder when I go out shopping and I label the tabs with the names of the stores I go to most. These things are only a couple bucks at Office Max or Staples.

9. Familiarize Yourself With Coupon Policies

• You've got to do your research, it doesn't take much time, just find out the basics. Grocery stores will generally double coupons up to $1.00 meaning your $0.50 coupon will actually be a $1 off coupon. Your $0.25 cent off coupon will be $0.50. Your $0.75 off coupon will be $1.00 off. They generally will not double anything over $1.00 and some stores have a limit to how many coupons will be doubled in a single transaction. As far as I know, only grocery stores will double coupons. I don't believe drug stores or department stores will do this. Visit your local grocery store and drug store websites to view their coupon policies. I have them printed and keep them in my binder in case I need to whip them out to show the cashier. I haven't had to do this yet. *Knock on Wood*

10. Familiarize Yourself With Drug Store Rewards

• Drug Stores like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid have reward systems that are basically like free money. I'm very unfamiliar with CVS and Walgreen policies, but there are a lot of websites with great information on how to save money at these stores. 
• CVS 101 - Click on the CVS 101 Tab to learn more about Extra Buck Rewards.

• Walgreens 101 - Click on Walgreens 101 Tab to learn more about their point system.
• Rite Aid 101 - Click on the Rite Aid 101 Tab to learn more about UP Rewards (SERIOUSLY AMAZING SAVINGS!)
• Express Scripts Customers earn extra UP Rewards (ie: FREE MONEY) Click Here for Additional Information about that.

Like I've mentioned before, I'm not an expert, I'm just getting started myself, but there is tons of money to be saved with coupons and I hope you can use these tips to get started.

E-mail me at lora_june@yahoo.com if you have any questions.