How To Get Started With Couponing, Part 1

Needless to say the show “Extreme Couponing” has many of you curious about couponing and how to get started. Let me start by saying that I do not agree entirely with the show, I believe it is very unrealistic to the average couponer. Is it possible to save money with coupons without going overboard? Absolutely! Do you have to spend hours and hours on end preparing for a shopping trip? No! I spend about an hour a week clipping my coupons and organizing them in my Coupon Binder and I spend at most an hour preparing my grocery list.

Your best bet to saving money in the grocery store is to go with a plan. Have your list, have your coupons (and coupon policies), do not buy items that are not on your list, and shop without your kids IF possible.

Where do you find coupons?

• Coupon Inserts:(Smartsource, Redplum, P&G) These are located in your Sunday newspaper or you can order whole coupon inserts or even clipped coupons online. I personally use WholeCouponInserts.com and Coupons and Things By Dede to order my coupon inserts. I get 6 of each insert each week, this way I can stock up on a good deal if available. You of course don’t have to start with that many inserts. I would at least get two of each though!
• In-Store Coupons: Some stores have in-store coupons hanging by products or in the aisles. Your local store might also have “Blinkie” machines in the aisles which spit out coupons. There are also “Peelies” which are coupons that can be found on a product and Catalina’s aka coupons that print at the register.
• Magazines: All You Magazine is the best magazine I have found for coupons! Each month there are HUGE savings in coupons and sometimes even a coupon for a FREE product!
• Printable Coupon Sites:Coupons.com, Smartsource.com, Redplum.com. These sites allow you to print two of each coupon per computer.
• eCoupons:Cellfire, Shortcuts, uPromise, P&G eSaver. These are coupons that you can load to your store savings cards. No clipping required!
• Newsletters: Sign up with your favorite brands or stores newsletters online. If there is ever a brand or a store that you like, sign up for their emails, most companies send out newsletters that include money saving coupons.
• Contacting brands you like via phone or email. I’ve called and emailed numerous companies in the past and simply requested a free sample or coupon and they were more than happy to oblige.
• Free Samples: Many free samples that you request from companies will also have an attached money saving coupon.

Now you know where to get your coupons, check my post here on How To Coupon With A Coupon Binder and Stay tuned for How To Get Started With Couponing, Part 2.

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