HOW TO START TO USE COUPONS

Want to be a couponer? The easiest way to get started is to get your hands on some coupons.

The best place to start is the Sunday newspaper. You can buy it on the newsstand, but it will be cheaper if you’re a subscriber. Check your local Groupon and Living Social offers for newspaper subscriptions — the savings on these can be up to 90% off.

No daily deals on newspapers? No problem — there are other ways to purchase newspapers for less. If you live in an area with multiple newspapers, you’re in luck. Find the least expensive one that contains the weekly sales circulars and coupon inserts. Sometimes, these newspapers can be purchased on Saturday at a discounted price. Both Saturday and Sunday papers can be purchased at Dollar Stores in my area. If you are very lucky, your area may have a free newspaper that contains a set of coupons as well. Look around at diners, gas stations, libraries, etc… I recommend starting with just two or three newspapers.

Printable coupons can also be found all over the internet. In traditional Sunday newspapers, there are three main coupon inserts: Redplum, P&G, and SmartSource. These companies also host internet coupons. Another popular source of coupons is Coupons.com, which you can find in Extras For Me’s Coupons & Deals section. You can easily enter your zip code and see what offers are available. You can also change the zip code if you feel the “cash may be greener” someplace else. And sometimes, it is!

Now that you have some coupons, please don’t clip the ones you need and throw the rest out. Hold on to them — some expire in a month, while others are good for a year. I store my coupons that I won’t use right away in a file crate from Walmart, in file folders labeled by expiration date.

Sterilite Mini Crate in black, available at Walmart

Remember the circulars from that Sunday newspaper? I hope you haven’t thrown them out yet. They are the key to saving you money. The coupons can’t do it alone — they need a sale! If you have a coupon for your favorite product, (Yay!) but no sale to use it on, (Boo!) you have two options. You can save it and let it wait in the crate, or you can clip it, add it to your small accordion file, and hope you run into a sale. I like this one from Target — it can easily fit in my purse and I don’t have to lug a giant binder around.

7-Pocket Expanding File, available at Target

Whatever system you choose, just remember: you’re doing this to save money. Purchasing a $50 couponing binder online may cancel out any savings you get from coupons. I recommend starting by labeling your tabs generally: Health, Beauty, Dairy, Snacks, Produce, Frozen, Cleaning, etc. Everyone’s method is different; it’s just about finding what works for you and your family’s needs.

Most stores require you to shop with a loyalty card in order to get the sale price. If you haven’t signed up for these at your local grocery and drug stores, you are missing out on sale prices of up to 50% off as well as store coupons. Store coupons at most stores, including CVS, Rite Aid, Tops, ShopRite, Price Chopper, Target, and Walgreens allow you to combine a manufacturer couponand a store coupon on the same item. As a bonus, if that item is also on sale, it’s definitely going to be cheap… if not free!

When it comes to couponing, please keep in mind that it’s a learned skill. Just like riding a bike, you will need to take it slow at first. Ultimately, you will save money, get to try the latest products, and perhaps even create a stockpile, but it will take a few weeks to get the ball rolling. In the meantime, go ahead and organize your accordion coupon file. Clip the coupons that are enticing and tuck them away for a sale. Keep your file with you at all times. Who knows? You may just run into a clearance sale and score something for free!