Getting Started
1) Build your coupon supply.
I don't clip or print every coupon that comes along, but I do ask myself if a) I use the product in question, b) I could imagine myself using the product, or c) I could donate the product. If the answer is "no" to any of these questions, I disregard the coupon.
Here's where to find coupons:
- The Sunday paper. Look for coupon inserts from General Mills (GM), Proctor and Gamble (P&G), Red Plum (RP) and Smart Source (SS). Also check for coupons inside Parade and USA Weekend. You can always see what coupons and inserts will be included at the Sunday Coupon Preview!
- The mail. I receive RP inserts occasionally in my mailbox. They're absolutely free and full of coupons! This might be regional, but keep an eye out for them.
- Magazines. All You (sold at Walmart) is always full of manufacturer coupons, and pretty much any magazine contains at least a coupon or two.
- The internet. The best coupon websites are Coupons.com, Smart Source, Red Plum and Hopster. Their coupon inventories are constantly changing, so check often!
- eCoupons: These are coupons you can load directly onto your store loyalty card (i.e. Albertsons Preferred Card) via the internet. These coupons will come off your total automatically when you use your loyalty card at checkout. Cellfire and Shortcuts are great eCoupon resources, as well as SavingStar, in which your eCoupons count towards rebates like Amazon and PayPal gift cards! (Note: In most cases, these are manufacturer coupons that can be combined with store-provided coupons, but cannot be combined with other manufacturer coupons on the purchase of a single item.)
- Store-provided. Target carries a great selection of printable coupons, and Rite Aid's Video Values program allows you to print high-value coupons after watching short videos. You can also find extra store ads at Customer Service counters (like Albertsons Twice the Value coupons). Just ask!
- Catalinas. These are the thin coupons that print on receipt-like paper following a transaction. They can manufacturer coupons or a specific dollar-amount off your next purchase. I'll keep you updated on Catalina promotions.
- "Blinkies" or "Peelies": Look for these blinking coupon machines or coupon tear-pads around the store.
You can find new coupons on this site, but I can't promise they will be around forever. Internet coupons can be finicky. They might have print limits, and the particularly high-value ones generally run out quickly. It is best to print them as soon as possible, just in case!
When a Sunday paper contains a particularly amazing set of coupons, I will purchase several papers. The coupons will more than pay for themselves, especially if a high-value coupon will result in a free product!
2) Don't be ruled by your coupons.
As tempting as it may be to use a high-value coupon before it expires, only do so if you are getting an excellent deal on something you truly need. Too much money can be spent with the intention of saving money, if you know what I mean.
Often, the best strategy is to clip and print the high-value coupons and save them until you find a sale price. The release of specific coupons tend to precede great sales, and you often need only to wait a week or two for the payoff.
I make a point of posting the best coupon matchups I can find. I don't like to clutter this blog with a bunch of "deals" that really aren't deals after all.
3) Patience is a virtue...
Especially when it comes to coupons. Timing is everything. A coupon's best friend is a sale price to pair it with. A BOGO coupon is great, but even better when you use it with a BOGO sale!
This also applies to getting started in drug store shopping. You'll find I focus much of my attention on Rite Aid, since I believe it provides the best deals on a consistent basis. It takes time to build a coupon supply, a stash of +UP Rewards and a stock-pile that will sustain your family's needs between sales. Give it just a few weeks, and you'll be well on your way to saving like a pro!
4) Be organized.
Coupon organization is key to smooth shopping and transactions. I use labeled miniature filers, but I know many couponers use binders with baseball-card holders. Cashiers will be more receptive to your stack of coupons if it's all clipped and orderly at check-out. If you have kiddos in the cart when shopping (as I do), organization is a must!
Once you have an organized collection of coupons, get into the habit of bringing it with you every time you shop. Unadvertised sales and discounted items are awesome. They're even more awesome when you've brought along your coupon force and realize, "I have a coupon for that!" ...And voila! A crazy-good deal!
5) There's a learning curve.
It might be a rocky start. Cashiers can be intimidating and calculations confusing... at first. Stick with it, though. Before you know it, you'll be the next "coupon queen" at the grocery store and your family will (eventually) thank you.
Coupon Lingo
BOGO or B1G1 = Buy One, Get One Free
B2G1 Free = Buy Two, Get One Free
CAT = Catalina Coupon
GC = Gift Card
MQ = Manufacturer Coupon
OOP = Out of Pocket Expense
PG = Proctor & Gamble insert
RP = Red Plum insert
RR = Register Reward (Walgreens store-credit coupons that print when you purchase specific products. They do not "roll," meaning if you purchase the same item you received the reward for, another reward will not print.)
SS = Smart Source insert
+UP = +UP Reward (Rite Aid store-credit coupons that print when you purchase specific products. These do "roll"!)
