Coupons for Beginners

WHERE TO START:

Step 1 – Create an Email Account for Coupon Sites

Sign up with Gmail for a free email account so you don’t have to deal with tons of newsletters coming into your personal email. I really think this is key because if you have a separate email account you are more likely to sign up for offers for free coupons and newsletters.

Step 2 – Start Collecting Coupons
If you don’t get the Sunday Newspaper, Stop by a gas station each Sunday and pick one up. Go for a Statewide paper (Reno Gazette) because these typically have all the best coupons. Or--you can save money and wait until Wednesday and get the Dayton Courrier! It has all the coupon inserts as the Sunday paper :) I usually get 3 or 4!

Create a place on your desk where you can keep Internet Coupons that you have printed. I typically print these as I find them because they disappear fast. I put them in a pile on my desk and cut them out when I do my weekly coupon clipping. I then filed them in a folder that zips shut (I like the zippered ones, so if you drop your binder they don't fly all over the place) I put the coupons in baseball card holders so they are easy to find.
If you are using the binder system here’s what you need:BinderPlastic Folder Dividers (The Paper ones will rip)Trading Card Sheet Protectors

Step 4 – Organize your coupons
I Cut and file all my Internet coupons when I print them.
Save all your inserts by date- I don't cut these up- I just go to the inserts when I need a coupon.
File Coupons by Category:Free StuffFoodToiletriesMedicineBeautyBabyCleaning
Stacking coupons:
Many stores will let you stack manufacturer coupons with store coupons- this means you can use 2 coupons on one item. This is a good way to make money on an item. When you are doing this make sure you have something you are purchasing to cover the overage.

Wags-
RR- register rewards. These are “coupons” given back to you after your purchase to use on a future purchase. Often times when using a manufacturer coupon and a rr you can make money on your purchase.
CVS-
Ecb- extra care bucks- these are similar to Wags rr’s. These are printed at the bottom of your receipt and can be used towards your next purchase.

Couponing 101- from http://www.northerncheapskate.com/

Using coupons is one of my all time favorite things to do to save money. But if you've never used coupons, it's easy to make excuses not doing it. I'm here to debunk some of the common myths surrounding coupon clipping. And over the next week, I'm going to provide you with a series of posts designed to help you get started with saving money with coupons.First, the myths debunked:Coupon clipping takes too much time. When you're organized and you have a good system, it only takes about 1/2 hour to an hour a week to clip coupons and plan your shopping trips. The time spent can easily save you 30 to 50 percent on your grocery bill.
I have to buy the Sunday paper to get coupons. There are many other sources for coupons - including printable coupons, coupon clipping services and directly from the manufacturer. I'll be sharing my list of coupon sources in an upcoming post.
The internet has made it a cinch to save money with coupons. I'll share my tips with you on how to make the most of your coupons in my Coupon 101 series. You can't find coupons for anything healthy. Not true! There are coupons for everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to organic meat and snack foods. The secret is knowing where to look. Coupons make you buy things you don't need. It's all about willpower. No one made you eat that giant slice of pie at Thanksgiving, did they? Just because you're offered something doesn't mean you have to use it. The same thing goes with coupons. Don't buy things just because you have a coupon! The key to saving money with coupons is to use them to make smart choices with how you spend your money. You can't really save that much money with coupons. Every little bit adds up! While I am an avid couponer, I'm not as serious as some (no stores double or triple coupons in my area and we don't have a lot of stores to choose from). Yet over the past two years I have saved close to $4,000 by clipping coupons. Coupons should be thought of like cash. Would you leave a $1 bill lying on the ground? So why not use a coupon for a product you were planning to buy anyway?

Sign up for free samples- you may only get a sample size of something- but typically they will also send you coupons to purchase more of the item.

Let companies know if you like their products- they love this and usually send you out coupons as a way to say thanks for your compliment.