Coupon tips

I usually save 180$ to 260$ every time I "big trip" grocery shop. Often I go for little trips where I can usually get 50$ to 70$ worth of items between 10$ and 20$.
Here is my advice on how to do it:


Step 1: Get a Sunday paper every week , in fact buy a few copies. The cost of the papers will be offset by the overall savings.

Step 2: Many coupons may not be available in your local papers but are national manufacturer coupons, therefore you should join and order any needed or missing coupons through this link:

Join this site and literally order only the coupons that your family needs and uses.


Step 3: Print your online coupons 1 time per week and look for alerts to new ones. I will be posting new coupon alerst on this blog 1-2 times per week for subscribers.

A lot of manufacturers predetermine how many internet coupons will be made available, so you have to be part of those that get them. Don’t wait to print a coupon you really use and need. Please sign up and join this site through Coupons.com , Smartsource.com, Redplum.com, Coolsavings.com, Eversave.com
link to the side link:



Step 4: Join electronic coupon sites. These coupons get loaded right to your loyalty card for whatever grocery store(s) you use. These are so great because they combine with other coupons for more savings. In fact it can make some items "money makers".
Whats a money maker??? A money maker is an item that pays you to but it. Example:
Cottonelle toilet paper. On sale at Ralphs for $1.25 usually. Combined with the printable $1.00 coupon and the electronic coupon for .50 cents it makes .25 cents.
Now you have free toilet paper and an extra quarter to apply to the rest of your bill. It all adds up!!!!!!

Please go to www.shortcuts.com and join. Its simple, you just need your e-mail and store loyalty card.

Also, join at www.cellfire.com. This site notifies you of coupons, you save them and when you go to the grocery store, you give the cashier your "code". Items are linked through your loyalty card as well. Again, these provide opportunity to get free items or money makers when combining with MQ's or store Q's.



Step 5:Get organized: You will need a coupon organizer. I currently use and recommend the Couponizer. It's made for beginners to learn from but also continues to be useful even once you really get to know what you are doing. It looks like this:


Please click here to order, it really is a must have!!!!








Tips:

DO NOT print any and all coupons you find. Most print with a 2-4 week expiration. If you don’t use it, you have wasted not only ink and paper but most manufacturers limit coupon printing to 2 per household per cycle.


Aside from saving money, couponing is about building up your pantry, medicine cabinet and your sundries.
Example: I haven't paid for a tube of toothpaste in 2 years and have 7 full boxes sitting in my cabinet just waiting for when I need them. 4 are Aquafresh, 2 are Colgate and 1 is Crest. So you have to be flexible, ready to switch brands etc.
But often when we need something like toothpaste, we run and get it, pay the full price of 3.99 and don't think twice about it. No!!!! Wait for the sale, take your coupons and pay nothing or close to nothing for it. Thats the way couponing works.
here is a great Colgate Coupon, wait for the .99cent sale and look it's free.
http://www.colgate.com/app/ColgateTotal/US/EN/SpecialOffers.cvsp



Learn your store prices, get to know if the sale price is really a sale or just clever marketing. Remember grocery stores are looking to make a profit. It’s about knowing what to buy, when to but it and having the coupons to make it really work for you, not your store.


Set a budget. Do not go into the grocery store thinking you will pay whatever it totals at the register. Instead make a list before you go, estimate the price of the items on a shopping list with the coupon you will use. If your budget is 200$, your list should total 200$. Cut out anything you don't need especially if it isn't on sale. Again ordering the Couponizer is great because it includes lists and other tools.

Many people think that if they use coupons they will be buying items they don't really want or use. This isn't true. If there is an item that is free with a coupon, or just a few cents, please don't forget you can donate those items. Food banks and shelters are always in need of donated goods. Also, you can start saving on the cost of gifts. By putting together cute baskets of cake mixes, frosting, icings etc. for example you can gift the baskets to teachers, your postman, your UPS man as a thank you instead of having to run out for the 25$ Starbucks/ Chili's/ Visa gift cards we all so often run out for at the last minute.
It's a way that even in this economy you can still afford to show your appreciation to the people that provide service to you.

Don't get frustrated and give up. Learning how to coupon and save is a process. Try starting with 10-20 coupons for sale items and see how you do. Go from there.