teach me to use coupons

[disneyplanner76]

A friend said she can use a coupon plus sale to get items for almost free.

Can anyone help me understand how to do this? HOw do you keep track of when the item goes on sale? Seems like it's cheaper to buy generic anyhow.

 

[hmdavid]

I have recently started couponing and have found this thread helpful...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2545854

 

[seashoreCM]

If the coupon has a face value of less than 50 cents, throw it in the trash.

It's a lot of time and trouble to clip and sort and file the coupons and remember to bring them with you, or postpone the trip to a particular store that day because you forgot the coupons. And postpone the trip to that store the next day because you were not headed in that direction.

 

[mollymar]

My grocery store doubles coupons up to a dollar so I use even the small ones. I signed up for the grocery game and they do all the leg work for me. It tells me when items are on sale, when to use coupons and the list goes in the order of my store. I just click off the items I don't want and print my list. Check them out at thegrocerygame.com. There is a small fee to join, but I have cut my grocery bill in half.

 

[Piecey]

If the coupon has a face value of less than 50 cents, throw it in the trash.

It's a lot of time and trouble to clip and sort and file the coupons and remember to bring them with you, or postpone the trip to a particular store that day because you forgot the coupons. And postpone the trip to that store the next day because you were not headed in that direction.

No way! I get free stuff all the time with .50c coupons!
Just a few weeks ago Kroger had Crest 10/$10 and the .50c coupons doubled to make it free.

 

[apnep]

If the coupon has a face value of less than 50 cents, throw it in the trash.

I wouldn't do that! My grocery stores triple the value of coupons up to $.39 and double up to $.50!

 

[beansmom]

first off...go to www.afullcup.com and see what's going to be on sale at your local stores next week.

Then go to www.couponsthingsbydede.com OR www.thecouponmaster.com and order coupons for the items that you use that will be on sale. I use both services because they get different value coupons in different areas. Often dede will have high value coupons that WILL double in my area.

I get coupons for anything that i think i MIGHT buy...any coupon is better than no coupon...i also don't agree with PP about throwing away lower value coupons.

Stock up on what you use regularly. My sweet (almost) DH said 'WHY do we need 50 boxes of dishwasher detergent'. Well, lessee...it's regularly $5.00ish a box and i got some for free, the rest for $1 a box and it won't go bad. We have enough to last a few years. Same for free shampoo, razors, toothpaste, etc, etc, etc.

Last week I got FREE Nature Valley granola thins, free bisquick and free soup. I'll take it.

 

[WeRblam]

first off...go to www.afullcup.com and see what's going to be on sale at your local stores next week.

Then go to www.couponsthingsbydede.com OR www.thecouponmaster.com and order coupons for the items that you use that will be on sale. I use both services because they get different value coupons in different areas. Often dede will have high value coupons that WILL double in my area.

I get coupons for anything that i think i MIGHT buy...any coupon is better than no coupon...i also don't agree with PP about throwing away lower value coupons.

Stock up on what you use regularly. My sweet (almost) DH said 'WHY do we need 50 boxes of dishwasher detergent'. Well, lessee...it's regularly $5.00ish a box and i got some for free, the rest for $1 a box and it won't go bad. We have enough to last a few years. Same for free shampoo, razors, toothpaste, etc, etc, etc.

Last week I got FREE Nature Valley granola thins, free bisquick and free soup. I'll take it.

The best resource I found is www.hotcouponworld.com They have previews of upcoming ads for most drugstores and a great section for newbies on how to start. Lots of information on grocery stores and matchup's with coupons. Best part it is FREE!

CVS has a great rewards program called Extra Care Bucks (aka ECB's). This is how I obtain lots of stuff for free or nearly free. Coupons are like gold, whatever you can't use may be good to someone else. Trading is fairly common along with purchasing ones that would help you through sites like the one from the last poster above.

Good Luck!

 

[KKB]

If the coupon has a face value of less than 50 cents, throw it in the trash.

It's a lot of time and trouble to clip and sort and file the coupons and remember to bring them with you, or postpone the trip to a particular store that day because you forgot the coupons. And postpone the trip to that store the next day because you were not headed in that direction.

NEVER throw coupons out for something you MIGHT buy...
Sunday mornings I read the paper, look at the sales (including the grocery store ads from earlier in the week).. I scan ads for items we regularly use, items that are a great deal (especially w/ extra "bucks" like at CVS or Walgreens), go through my well-organized coupon holder--that is ALWAYS in my car so I never have to worry about forgetting them. I my coupons are organized by date (soonest to expire) within each category, and organized by the layout of each store once I match them to my list. Hour max on Sundays to get organized. I save $20-50/week in coupon value alone--I don't figure the sale price into it. I spend $500-600/month on groceries for a family of 5 hearty eaters--and we eat healthy & fresh. Maybe $100/month more for toiletires/household items. I also checkout couponmom.com. I can see at a glance which items are truly the best value.
And I DON'T live in an area where anyone offers double coupons.
One note--I don't bother w/ coupons of items I know we will never use AND I don't buy something just because I have a coupon. I only use coupons on items we use regularly or is a tremendous value considering sale prices.

 

[SweetPeasMom2]

It's all about building your coupon stash and learning to stockpile.

I first started out using The Grocery Game. It's a fee based site and in the beginning was worth the $10 every 12 weeks. I learned a lot. Then I found www.SouthernSavers.com. It took me some time to get used to her format but once I did, I liked it a lot better. And it's free.

When you first start, you won't be getting all the rocking deals that your friend is. But if you stay steady with it, within 12 weeks, you should have a good build up of coupons. The sales and Q's tend to go in 12 week cycles.

The Grocery Game does have a message board you can read on and learn from as well. And it's free too.

 

[scrapbookingpro]

I love Southern Savers, and also this one : http://www.forthemommas.com/

As others have said, you basically just start by collecting, printing and saving any and ALL coupons you can get your hands on. It does take a lot of time to keep track of the sales and organize everything but it is so worth it when you see how much you can save! Last week at Publix, my bill was almost $100 but with BOGOs and coupons I only paid $40.