Coupon 101
19Are you new to couponing, and just starting? Have you seen people in your grocery store check out and save tons of money and you want o learn how? You are in the right place! Couponing does not have to be hard or complicated, it also does not have to be time consuming. Take a look at my “Getting started 4-easy steps” page HERE. This will help you start thinking about what to do first.
** Make sure to stay connected and join me on Facebook!
It takes only a few weeks to get a good stash of coupons going:
- I suggest buying 1 Sunday paper for each person in your family.
- Intall the coupon printer and print COUPONS HERE.
- Then, find a method that works for you to organize them.
- Next, pick 1 grocery store and 1 drug store to start getting familiar with, print off their coupon policy and try to do a few deals there each week.
- Find a friend to coupon with or learn from! This really helps, you can talk about what deals you find, bounce ideas off one another and trade coupons. I like having friends who coupon, as when we find a good deal we call each other so every gets the fun stuff!
~ How to read a coupon matchup.
~ How to read blog post matchup.
~ How to save money printing coupons
~ Donating Items / Hygiene Kits Video
~ Look for peelies, another way to save.
~ What to do when a catalina doesn’t print.
~ Index Card Method of organizing coupons.
~ What to do with expired coupons.
~ How to save money on natural products.
~ What are fillers at Walgreens and CVS?
~ VIDEO: How to shop a Kroger Mega Event
~ VIDEO: How to Extreme Coupon with kids!
~ VIDEO: How to price match at Walmart
~ VIDEO: How I organize my coupon binder
Part comedian, part Dad, part athlete. He will boss around your children while they play ball.
Just as angelic as she looks, this girl could easily raise a Village by herself, and all the children would grow up to be President.
Self proclaimed, she would be a webkinz dog. Because, "they're cute, and puppies are too. And they're sweet and they always get along with other puppies."
This mini-Martha Stewart can handle ANY craft you send her way. She isn't all bows and rainbows, she's got karate kid moves!
Not "Pick-Me-Up" like caffeine, she wants you to pick her up! AND NOW!
Anything that can be destroyed WILL be destroyed!
Practically Perfect in Every Way for now! Nicknamed "The Panda" she is rolly polly and lives by the motto, "the little one, is KING!"
The resident Labradoodle, Miller got his name because Mom won and got to name the baby! Need something chewed up? He'll take care of it. Especially if it's expensive..
{ 63 comments… read them below or add one }
The links to in your ‘coupon 101′ that show folks how you clip coupons, and organize your binder, are not working. :’( I am giving coupon binders for Christmas and would love for them to utilize those videos until you host some more workshops (which I hope they can attend).
Do you know which local papers in the Houston area have the Sunday inserts? Also, do you know which of them is the cheapest? Thanks, I’m just getting started with couponing and your blog is a huge help.
As far as I know the only paper that we have, that has them is the Chronicle. You can get it delivered on Sunday only for $1, the dollar stores have them for $1.50 or you can get them for $2 on Sunday.
Thanks for the information. I have one more question, sorry to bug you! Can you buy them at the dollar store during the week? Or do they have to be purchased on Sunday there as well?
Not that I know of? No, get them on Saturday morning, call and make sure your store carries them.
I saw the Houston Chronicle inside Krogers today and just ordered 5 Sunday only subscriptions for $.50 a piece. He said they’ve been running this deal for about 2 weeks and doesn’t know how long its going for. I just thought I’d share in case you or any other readers from the Houston area were interested.
They’re $.50 per week, $26 per year. You have to pay the whole year’s subscription up front.
Reading up on these different techniques of couponing has me very intrigued, however, I do have one question. When buying certain things in large bulk amounts ie: toothbrushes, deodorant, tp, paper towels and such that are practically free with the right coupon combinations, what coupons do I use? Almost all the coupons I have found are limited to one or two per item per transaction…..so in the show last night where I am seeing people buying 100 toothbrushes and 100′s of rolls of tp and paper towels, how is that done?
yes i have this same question too! i am also confused as to how many coupons with all those items work?
that is very confusing. Most of the coupons say one coupon per purchase. Also the coupons that say $1/3… can you use more then one coupon for the 3 items you buy?
No on the $1/3 you buy 3 and use 1 coupon. There is a big difference between 1 per purchase and 1 per transaction.
My name is also Amanda, and I have the same questions the other Amanda is asking……how is that done? Most of the coupons are limited to one item.
I am trying to find out how you save so much money on meats, such as steaks, etc. Aside from our grocery stores sale prices on meats or their marked down prices, I don’t know how to save more on them.
If your grocery store carries Pilgrims Pride chicken you can got to there website and in the top right hand corner you can get a coupon for $1 off 1 package. Kroger had some packs of legs and thighs marked down (managers special either use right away or freeze them) marked down to $1.72 so I got 10 packs for $7.20 =)
I tried to buy at kroger once a couple of items that were on clearance with orange manager specials on them and they told me I couldn’t use coupons on managers specials. Were they wrong.
Parts of The Woodlands/Conroe put out a little paper on Mondays they all have coupon inserts in them. I don’t know about anyone else but my neighbors usually leave there’s in their driveways until you can’t tell what they are anymore and we have so many vacant/foreclosed homes in the area that tonight while on my nightly bike ride I was able to score 15 of them some from a couple weeks ago all for FREE =)
i DO THAT TOO!
I’m so proud of myself…. today was my first excursion into the world of the casual beginning couponer. I clipped my coupons, made my list and then my husband and I hit the store. After we had our cart loaded to the brim with the in-store specials and BOGO’s we headed to the checkout lanes. Our before total: $291.87…… after: $182.07….total savings: $109.80 Yeah me!!! I realize this is not earth shattering, but hey it’s a beginning!
Now that Kroger has stopped there doublng and tripling of coupons how do you do it to still get your items for free and almost nothing
How are your classes do them at your home or a center or you go our home?
Hello
So I’m new to couponing, this may be a stupid question but can you use more than 1 coupon for a single item?
Thanks
You can’t use two manufacturer coupons for one item, but you CAN use ONE manufacturer and ONE store coupon for the same item.
I’m 33 and have a 6-month girl and 4-yr old boy. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2011. With missing work for surgeries and chemo (2 down 4 to go) and with gas prices at $4.09 your tips have helped me save a lot. My current record in savings in one shopping trip is $122.00. Now me and my sister is doing it together. Thanks
Hi Tiffany,
My husband Gary and I enjoyed your training seminar at the preparedness fair yesterday and are eager to get started. Hubby is looking forward to me clipping & organizing so he can take the coupons with him to the store & save, save, SAVE!!! Thanks again for your tips & direction
I was checking on Kroger.com for their coupon policy and all I could find was the digital policy. Does this apply to both or just to downloadable coupons???
•Limit one use per digital coupon per transaction
•Digital offers cannot be combined with manufacturer paper coupons on the purchase of a single item
•Digital offers do not double
•A limit of 150 coupons can be loaded per household at one time
The store manager has the right to accept, decline, or limit the use of ANY digital coupon or offer.
This is Kroger’s coupon policy…I do NOT shop there anymore for just this reason. HEB and Target will allow you to use their coupons along with a manufacturers coupon
What is exactly paper coupon policy?? I can’t seem to find it on their site.
Check this article too. They DO NOT offer double/triple anymore…Looks like I am shopping at HEB!
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7519148.html
I distrust the digital thing, to me, those are store coupons and should be able to stack with manu. coupons but instead they negate them. I just don’t load them to my card anymore, cellfire doesn’t work half the time either. What a rip, long live the newspaper insert!
CAn you “opt out” of the digi coupons from Kroger?? Also, do they still do the “double and triple” coupons? I heard they changed their policy on that b/c of all the extreme couponers… HELP! I don’t want to waste time matching if I can go to HEB.
Yes I think you can, no they stopped doubles and triples. I have been shopping at Randalls and Walmart with coupons, sometimes HEB
Does anyone know if Kroger accepts catalinas (say for $5 off your next purchase) along with manufacturer’s coupons? OR does it depend on the catalina? If so, I may try it at Mega Event. .. Thanks!
Yes, ones that come from kroger.
Exactly which coupon clipping services do you use? And how do I find out about the coupon workshops and/or coupon classes?
Tiffany,
I was searching for a coupon website that will match store sales with grocery coupons & rebates, and I came across one called Savingsangel.com. Have you heard or know anything about it? You have to subscribe for so much money per month. There is a “how & why enlightened shopping works” video. Wondering if it is worth it.
Thanks!
I would be interested to see the reply from Tiff. Looks like they CHARGE. Is it for tips or matching? IMO we can do that ourselves for free.
Tiffany, any thoughts?
how do i get to the my litter table of contents and category divider sheets. i found it the other day,but now i can’t seem to find them
Thanks
I am really new at this….. having trouble getting started. Need to save money. Help in any way would be great. I have read all your hints above.
no not really i have only being using coupons for almost 3 months
Sorry
zs
How do you determine your “buy now” price? There are NO STORES in my area that offer double coupons, so many of the items you get for free I have to pay for. I need help to figure out that magic number that lets me build my stockpile without breaking my piggy bank.
Donna, you should start keeping a “Price book”. I think Tiffany has a download for a “Price book” somwhere on the http://www.mylitter.com site. What you do is write down the prices of items you by often. Keeping track of what your store charges for a particular item every week will let you know when the so-called “sale” price is a good price and when it is not.
Donna, here is the link to printable sheets from this website.
http://mylitter.com/uncategorized/free-printables-to-get-started-couponing/
The “Price book” printable sheet link is located here. There are also many other free printable sheets located under this link as well.
I started a couple weeks ago collecting my coupons, i have been buying 1 newspaper per household member (3); my question is it better to cut them as you go or to cut them when you get them out of the paper and them arrange them in the binder? I am also having trouble trying to figure out how to categorize them in my binder…Please help
Here is what I do. I have OCD (LOL) so I am really anal about it.
1. Pull all ads (SS, RP, any other bonus stuff)
2. arange by page (1 or 2 pages)- I use my ENTIRE dining room for this!
3. Group them and staple in the picture (CAREFUL not to put through barcode or $$ amount)
4. cut out and put in binder.
That way when I am AT the store, I can use them all at the same time (if possible).
I am REALLY new to this BUT have already saved alot!!!! My hubby is so happy and I get to pursue my REAL passion which is FITNESS.
Tiffany
are you still offering classes.. im new but i really need to learn.. i am willing to come almost anywhere to learn this .. it will be a new life for my family.. please let me know
Yes look for the info on my side bar
Tiffany, what about digital coupons? I know Kroger won’t let you use manufacturer coupons w/ them at all. Should I forgo them all together? Also, can you use coupons at Sams and Costco?
No coupons at sams or costco, sometimes costco has their own but not very often. I don’t use many digitals, they are not for real food, mostly junk.
LOL. That is what I see also! My son and his friends eat all junk all summer so there is some savings there… What about meats and such? Is it better to get that at Costco/Sams in your opinion?
I’m wondering what categories you have your binder set up into? Dairy, Canned, ect…
Found them! Nevermind!
Sarah, where did you find that binder organization listing?
Does anyone know WHAT if ANY stores still take double/triple coupons? Are those days gone? I am totally down w/ price matching at Walmart BUT can you price match with multiple ads? ie. Bring in my HEB, Randalls and kroger ads to match?
If you live in the Spring-Woodlands area check out Hodge’s Food Basket on I-45 North, exit after 73 and stay on the feeder road. They triple 50 cent coupons.
Food Fairs and Food Towns double and triple coupons. There is a Food Fair on w little york and Bingle and a Food Town on Jones rd @ West Rd.
If you are at HEB and they have an in store coupon for a $1 off and you also use your $1 manufacture coupon???
FYI: Here is Tiffany’s link to her free printable sheets. http://mylitter.com/uncategorized/free-printables-to-get-started-couponing/
Sheets located here are:
Price book sheet
Weekly Menu Planner
Pantry Inventory
Shopping List
Freezer Inventory
Monthly Menu Plan
Binder Pages
Thanks Jaime!
Are there any stores around the Woodlands area that does double coupons?
Yes Randalls and Food Basket on the feeder do.
love your site
Hi Tiffany! I was wondering which Randall’s in The Woodlands doubles coupons. Do all of them?
Yes all Randalls and Safeways in Texas do!!
Hello. My name is Roxana, I am a wife and a mommy of 4. I have been Blessed to be a stay at home mommy. Being a extreme coupon guru will really benefit my tribe. I want to learn how to extreme coupon but already fell overwhelmed. So much to learn and so many coupon websites. I need help badly. I love the ideal of doing this not only to benefit my family but my extend family and the less fortunate. Please take me under your wing and HELP ME. P.S My husband doubts that this kind of savings is possible please help me make him a believer!!! Thank you for your time!