Getting Started With Coupons - Baby Steps

You may be wondering where to begin...

There are many ideas and philosophies on this topic. You can dabble a little or a lot in the world of couponing. I will simply tell you what I did 6 weeks ago when I began my journey.

First I would begin by purchasing a Sunday newspaper each week. I use to pick up the newspaper from the grocery store but half the time I would get there and they would be all out. So I decided to order a subscription for Sunday/Thursday. This way I would always have the newspaper and better yet - it was delivered to my door. For a discount on a newspaper subscription...click here.

Second start clipping the coupons for products that you would most definitely use. Then go back thru the coupons and clip the coupons that you may use. These are the questions that I would ask...

1. "would I be willing to use/try this product in place of the one that I am using?"

2. "would I be willing to use/try this product if it were free?"

3. "can we donate it?"

Fourth I would begin to collect the ads from the Sunday paper and weekly mailings for the grocery stores in your area. (For example: I collect Kroger, Marsh, Target, CVS and Walgreens) If you want to keep it simple then just pull the ads for your two favorite stores. You may be thinking that CVS and Walgreens aren't grocery stores. Well you're right...they aren't. However they do sell grocery items. I will get into the specifics about why you should shop at CVS &/or Walgreens in a later post.

Fifth begin to make a list of the groceries that you need and compare that list with the items that are on sale (based on the grocery store ads). Then check to see if you have a coupon for that item. Your coupons can be best used combined with an item that is on sale. This way you get the biggest savings! :) I sit down on Sunday evening with my ads and I plan out my meals for the week based on what I have in the fridge/freezer and what is on sale.

Remember you do NOT have to use all of your clipped coupons each week. This is what manufacturers want you to do. Save the ones that you don't use and wait till the item is on sale. Many times you may find that with the sale price plus the coupon...you end up getting items for free!!

It my sound tedious but it can be lots of fun! I turn it into a game. I try to beat my savings each week!

This is just the bare bones of couponing. I will get into specifics as the week goes on.

Stay Tuned!

Let me know how you do...what was your savings this week?