How do I start?

Everyone always asks, "How do I get started couponing?". Well the best advice I have is just to jump in. Everyone already shops for food and toiletries, so using any coupon is saving you more than not using one. I think what holds most back is thinking that they may be doing it wrong. There is no wrong way.

Where do I get coupons?

There are several ways to get coupons. You can get sunday papers which include coupon inserts, purchase coupon sets from coupon clipping services, print coupons from the computer and/or trade with friends. You will find what works best for you and your family.

How many papers should I buy? This again is up to personal choice. I usually recommend that you get a paper for each person in your household plus one. So 4 people = 5 papers. if you shop for parents of children you can adjust your number the same way. Once you are couponing for a while, you will find if you personally need more or less.

I tried for many weeks to buy the papers and get my inserts that way, but in my small town the papers were gone by 6 or 7 a.m. Trust me I like saving money but if I have to go to town at 5 a.m., it would never work. So I found a place online that I like to order inserts from. They are fast, reliable and fairly priced. It is http://www.missouricouponqueens.com/

If you prefer not to buy full inserts there are also coupon clipping services that allow you to buy only the coupons that you personally will use. On of my favorites is http://www.couponsthingsbydede.com/

So what do I do after I have the coupons?

Where I started was to search the local grocery store ads to find items on sale that match up with the coupons I have. This is the way to reap the most savings. But I would also like to mention that if you need an item and it is not on sale, it still makes sense to use a coupon and save that money.

Where you really start to save money is in purchasing items on sale with coupons. When you find a stock up price then buy enough quantity of that item to last until the next sale. Sales usually cycle every three to four months with some items cycling more or less often. For example, ketchup, mustard and BBQ sauce sales usually cycle Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day. If you do alot of BBQing in the winter, you would want to stock up on the last sale to last you through the winter. Making sure that you have enough stockpile to last until the next sale is where the finesses comes in couponing.

Do you stockpile?

I guess I could answer yes and no. I do have stockpiles of items that only sale in the summer, but if something sales all year, I don't think there is a reason to stockpile. Plus I have limited space in my house so that also limits my stockpile.

Just think, any money saved is money not spent.

I keep thinking of things I should mention, so if I didn't cover something or you still have questions, please post a comment!

Sheila