How to Start Using Coupons
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Why use coupons?
Coupons save people money everyday. When I first started using coupons I quickly went from saving 20-30% off my grocery bill to saving anywhere from 70-90% off my bill. This is money saved that I can then use for other things such as paying off bills, putting into savings, or taking a trip. Coupon shopping is a wonderful and easy way to quickly start saving your family money every single time you go to shop.
A lot of people have now heard of coupon shopping thanks to Extreme Couponing on TLC. This is both a good and bad thing. Extreme Couponing provides extreme cases of couponing that most coupon shoppers do not follow. It is hard to maintain that level of couponing on a daily basis although there are those that do it. However, you can save lots of money still without necessarily being an extreme couponer.
A lot of people have now heard of coupon shopping thanks to Extreme Couponing on TLC. This is both a good and bad thing. Extreme Couponing provides extreme cases of couponing that most coupon shoppers do not follow. It is hard to maintain that level of couponing on a daily basis although there are those that do it. However, you can save lots of money still without necessarily being an extreme couponer.
Printable Coupons
Another way of getting coupons is by printing them out on the internet. Printable coupons are a great way for a beginning coupon person to get started too. Often, when you begin, you will have more printable coupons in relation to your Sunday insert coupons. This is because you are still building up your supply of insert coupons each week which takes time. Whereas, you can go right away and print out coupons through the main printable coupon sites. These sites are all trusted coupon sites that I use each week to print out coupons for my shopping trips.
- Coupons.com
- Coupons.com is the largest printable coupon distributor on the internet. The database is constantly updated with new printable coupons so check back often.
- Redplum
- Redplum has printable internet coupons. They also are one of the regular inserts in your Sunday newspaper.
- SmartSource
- SmartSource also has printable internet coupons, and can be found in your Sunday newspaper.
- Coupon Network
- Coupon Network is one that a lot of people don't know about, but it is another great resource for printable coupons.
- Cellfire
- Cellfire offers digital coupons which I love. It is nice to have those extra savings directly on my rewards card.
Great Coupon Beginner Books
The coupon books below are the best on the market for explaining how to use coupons. If you would like to learn more in-depth tips and advice on how to save the most through coupons pick one of these up.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Setup a coupon binder to hold your coupons. A coupon binder is an ideal way of keeping track and organizing your coupons since they can all be kept in one place. Categorizing your coupons in the binder based on type of product is an ideal way of organizing them. An alternative that many people like to use is a nylon coupon organizer. They are small and easy to use. Both methods are good ways to organize your coupons.
- Start collecting coupons through the Sunday newspaper inserts, printable coupons online, and signing up through manufacturer websites.
- Learn the coupon policies for the stores you are going to be shopping at. Pick two or three stores that you will do most of your shopping at and learn the coupon policies for each.
- Begin building a stockpile of products when you are able to get them for cheap or free. This way you do not have to make an emergency run to the store for the product.
Stockpile: What is Stockpiling Anyway?
Stockpile is a term used to describe when you stock up on a certain item by buying multiples. The trick here for coupon shoppers is to buy items when they are cheap or free, stockpile the food or groceries, and not have to do emergency shopping trips for those items where they pay full price. By having a stockpile on items such as toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, and other items means that often couponers don't end up ever paying for these items. They buy them when they are free. Often, they also utilize free samples as well for supplementing their stockpiles.
Stockpiling, however, requires organization and buying when items are at their lowest possible price with coupons. Currently I have thirty bottles of laundry detergent just as an example. Compared to many stockpilers this isn't a lot. Some others I know have hundreds stored away. I utilize the space I have for my stockpile of groceries and other items so that I don't have to pay for items or either pay the lowest price with my coupons.
Stockpiling, however, requires organization and buying when items are at their lowest possible price with coupons. Currently I have thirty bottles of laundry detergent just as an example. Compared to many stockpilers this isn't a lot. Some others I know have hundreds stored away. I utilize the space I have for my stockpile of groceries and other items so that I don't have to pay for items or either pay the lowest price with my coupons.
Cool Coupon Shirts
Coupon Totes
Coupon totes are a great way to carry around your coupon binder. I always have my coupon tote with all my coupon essentials including my binder. I will often use this when going to the store instead of my purse. I also have several that I use for shopping bags. It is a good way to help the environment.
Where to Get Coupon Inserts
Coupon inserts are the paper coupons typically found in your local Sunday newspaper. However, if you live in an area where the newspaper is extremely expensive or you want to order large quantities of inserts, there are alternatives for getting your coupon inserts. One of the best methods is ordering them through eBay. I usually suggest ordering five to six inserts when you are first starting out using coupons. This way it gives you enough to start building a stockpile while also not being too many where you get overwhelmed. Remember, you are going to have to cut them out so start small and build your way up.
Coupon Inserts from Ebay
One of the great ways of getting lots of coupon inserts is through Ebay. A lot of coupon shoppers use Ebay to get their inserts for a good price. Check out the current listings below.
Coupons in the News
- Adding Some Reality To 'Extreme Couponing'
- I clip, organize and combine my coupons with store sales and specials. But no matter how much I try, I can't match the hauls of television's extreme couponers. (Shoppers featured on TLC's "Extreme Couponing," which kicked off its new season last week, ...
- Coupon learning curve steep but short
- Armed with a stack of coupons, Amanda Ostrowski paid just $51.67 for $1175.33 worth of groceries on TLC's reality show "Extreme Couponing." I remember watching that episode and wondering if I could do that. Ostrowski admits that that kind of savings is ...
- Top 5 Couponing Mistakes People Make
- Everyone knows that coupons can save you big money at the grocery store, but there's a world beyond coupon basics that most budget-conscious shoppers are familiar with. Couponing has taken on a life of its own, especially online where extreme couponers ...
- Smart Spending: Putting extreme couponing to test
- Armed with a stack of coupons, Amanda Ostrowski paid just $51.67 for $1175.33 worth of groceries on TLC's reality show "Extreme Couponing." I remember watching that episode and wondering if I could do that. Ostrowski admits that that kind of savings is ...
Other Great Coupon Related Articles
Please see the articles below for helpful ways to learn how to use coupons and get free samples.
Let Us Know What's On Your Mind
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YayasHome
Oct 5, 2011 @ 9:52 pm | delete
- Thank you so much for alla' these links an' resources. I have wanted to do more with coupons. I b'lieve your suggestions will be very helpful. Thanks, again. :)
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gonzalezdenise
Sep 6, 2011 @ 11:23 am | delete
- Thanks, great coupon resources.
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Cinnamonbite
Aug 3, 2011 @ 7:32 am | delete
- My whole life, it's the same scenario. I've never seen a coupon for the stuff we actually use. Ever! Coupons for fruit and vegetables? Nope. Meat? Nope. Never once for any shampoo I use. Butter? Milk? Nope. It's always for the whacky new product that they want you to try or processed packaged junk that I never buy. When I put a lot of effort into coupons, I might be able to find 1 or 2 so I end up saving a grand total of maybe 25 cents. Not really worth it. I still have my last coupon holder (bought on sale) in an old purse. It's got 3 expired coupons in it for sour kraut. I bought 2 packs of sour kraut at the time but hey, how fast can you use sour kraut? Either I'm missing something major in the realm of coupons or all of you only eat Hamburger Helper and other boxed fake food and just aren't on the same planet as me, LOL
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WarnerRobins2
Sep 6, 2011 @ 9:00 am | delete
- I know what you mean. My whole family is vegan so most of our grocery bill is produce. I use the overage from items that are money makers, to cut down or even pay for my fruit. So I may buy 4 of something just because it will make me $4.00. Then I buy grapes with that 4 dollars and give the items away if I won't use them. You should see the faces of people when they receive ALL the stuff I won't use. They are so happy and always say "I use that all the time." It's a win win.
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FarmerTom
Jul 14, 2011 @ 2:23 pm | delete
- What great ideas! I invariably leave my coupons at home. Thanks for the tips.
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Coupon Organizer
Carolina Pad Hot Chocolate 13-Pocket Coupon Organizer Pixie Sticks Design, 1.25 x 6.75 x 3.75 Inches (15023)
Amazon Price: $5.98 (as of 06/01/2012)
This is an ideal way of keeping track of coupons to restaurants. It stays in my cars glove box so that when we go to eat somewhere I can quickly look to find the appropriate coupon.
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