Monday, April 11, 2011

Getting Started With Coupons

I've been getting lots of questions lately about couponing, so I decided to start a blog to teach others how to manage their grocery and household budgets more effectively!  This will be the first part of an ongoing series - sort of like a virtual coupon class.  One of the questions I get most frequently is where do I get all of my coupons.  Here are several ways - from the obvious to the obscure - to obtain coupons and start saving today!

1.  Sunday paper - This is probably the easiest way to find coupons.  I buy anywhere from 1 to 10 copies of the paper each Sunday.  Before I head to the store, I always check out Sunday Coupon Preview to see what will be included in the paper that day.  This helps me decide the quantity that I'm going to purchase.

2.  Internet - If you have a access to a printer, you can start saving immediately!  Sites like Coupons.com, Redplum, Smart Source, and Coupon Network always have a good selection of coupons to choose from.  Facebook is also a great place to obtain high value manufacturer's coupons for products your family needs.  Just search for your favorite products and see what's available.  Most of the time you will be required to "Like" the product before you can receive the offers.  Also, check your favorite manufacturer's websites.

3.  Snail Mail - I receive coupons in the mail on an almost daily basis.  Most of them are offers I had to sign up for online.  I've gotten coupons for free hair dye, food, OTC medicines, and tons of other stuff just for taking a few seconds to fill out a simple form!  I will try my best to alert everyone when I come across these.  Also, if you are expecting or have a baby in the house, make sure you sign up with Gerber, Beechnut, Similac, and Enfamil.  They send out some awesome coupons that are specific to your child's needs and stage of development.

4.  Family, Friends, and Co-workers - For everyone one person you know that uses coupons, I can guarantee you know several more who don't use them!  Ask them to save their coupons for you instead of tossing them in the trash.

5.  Trade Coupons - Talk to the people you know who use coupons.  Chances are, they're got a few laying around that you could use and you've got some that they could use.  I'm hoping that this blog can also serve as an outlet for us to find more people to trade with as well!

6.  Coupon Clipping Services - This is a great way to obtain newspaper coupons without buying the Sunday paper.  Also, since coupons vary widely depending on the area of the country you live in, this will give you an opportunity to obtain coupons that didn't make it into your local newspaper.  Coupon Dede is a good place to start.  For a small handling fee, you can purchase only the coupons that you need or you can purchase entire coupon inserts.  Ebay is also a good place to look, but make sure to check the seller's feedback before making a purchase.

7.  The Grocery Store - While you're wondering around the grocery store, always make sure to keep an eye out for more coupons to add to your stash.  "Blinkies" are the little machines attached to the shelves that spit out coupons.  "Peelies" are the little stickers you find stuck to the products on the shelves.  "Tear pads" can sometimes be found hanging near products.  While it can be tempting to grab them all, make sure you leave some for the next person!  I'll have more on the ethics of couponing at a later time!

8.  The Gas Station - This can be a good place to find coupons for things like candy, soft drinks, chips, etc.  Grab a couple and stick them in your purse for later, but by all means, do not buy any of this stuff at a gas station.  We're trying to save money, not waste it on over-priced convenience items!

9.  Product Packaging - While you're shopping, look for specially marked packages that say "Coupons inside".  You can often find these in Proctor & Gamble products and lots of others!  If it's a product that you need or can use in the near future, go ahead and buy it - if it's on sale and you have a coupon for it of course!

10.  Write to Manufacturers - I'll have more on this later, but manufacturer's love to hear from their consumers.  Whether you're writing to praise their product or complain, a lot of them will send you coupons in return!

11.  Dumpster Diving - Personally, I've never tried this and I'm not sure that I ever will, but to each his own.  If you're interested, there are websites out there that will tell you where to find paper recycling dumpsters in your area.

12.  Magazines - All You is a magazine found exclusively at Walmart.  It's packed full of coupons that you often don't find anywhere else and will pay for itself the first time you clip a couple of coupons out of it!  It's available by the check out lanes at Walmart or you can usually find a better deal on subscriptions through school fundraisers.

Okay, now that you've read this, get out there and hunt down some coupons so you'll be ready for my next post - organizing!!

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