Based on feedback from the last post I am going to go over some of my coupon routine and favorite deal sites.
- I get a double Sunday paper for $1.99. I like to check the deal sites on Sunday and then clip the appropriate coupons for the coming weeks deals and any other coupons I might be interested in.
- If there are really good coupons I might also get another double paper.
- Coupons do NOT come out on holiday weekends like Thanksgiving and Christmas, so don’t waste your money on newspapers.
- My aunt and uncle give me their coupons each week, so I always get another set.
- Please note that I don’t clip and file all the coupons each week. That is way too time consuming and tedious.
- Then I try to get to the stores in one shot on Monday after Nadia’s nap. If we go when she is fresh, she can get in and out of the stores with me quickly.
- I have a 3 ring binder with baseball card inserts. I use dividers to sort the categories and then I put the coupons in the baseball card inserts. The binder zips closed and then nothing falls out.
- I think the choice of categories is a personal decision. Everyone has a method they prefer, so go with what will work best for you.
- I use a Sharpie to place the date the insert came out on the front cover, then I place them on a shelf in my pantry in chronological order.
- This helps when you are on a deal site and someone says, “Free Fructis Shampoo by going to CVS and using the $1 coupon in the 10/19 SS”
- SS stands for Smart Source, RP stands for Red Plum and P&G is for the once a month proctor and gamble insert. Almost every deal site uses these initials and dates to reference coupons.
- You can also buy coupons from coupon clipping sites. Please note that it’s illegal to ‘buy’ coupons, so you are paying them for the ‘clipping service.’ Don’t ask me why, it’s just the way it works.
- I like to use The Coupon Clippers for this, but there are a lot of other places that do it. They have rules on minimum orders and limits on some coupons, but for the really good deals it is worth it.
Now to the deal sites. I have been using Refund Cents since 2005, but it’s been around much longer. I pay for the Internet only access (she offers a magazine also, but this isn’t the best way to start for a newbie). It’s $12 a year when you pay in advance. You can also get a trial 3 months for $4. This site has a lot of information!! If you are new to this whole thing you need to start by reading the information on Walgreens, CVS and/or Rite Aid depending on what’s available in your area. Then you can check the Centsible Chit Chat page for deals that are posted as people find them.
If you are local to me you can let me know that you want an invite to our local yahoo group called MomSaves.
I also like A Full Cup. This is a free site and there are some great forums and tips on there too. My favorite part is the Target Coupon generator. That way you can print just the coupons you want and not waste ink. And you can use Manufactures Coupons and Target coupons on the same item. Awesome!
This same rule applies at Walgreen’s and CVS. It’s really great when you can combine coupons. This is how you can get a lot of items free during sales.
The main thing to remember here is not to let couponing overwhelm you. If you are just starting out and building your coupon stash, you aren’t going to be able to work the deals that list a coupon from 2 months ago. In those cases, let it go and remind yourself that you will quickly have all the coupons you need for the deals. Don’t be surprised when you go to a store and they are out of an item that is a good deal. Everyone is trying to save money and take care of their family. If you are going to make a special trip, make sure you go at the start of a sale or it’s unlikely that the product will be available if it’s free.
Now if any of you have any recommended sites, feel free to list them here for everyone else to learn from.