When and How to use coupons!!

So, How and When DO you use coupons to get these deals?

• The Big “Secret” is MATCHING COUPONS WITH  SALES and PROMOS!
  For example- If you go to Walmart to use your $1 off 5 Campbell’s Cream of Chicken Coupons, it will end up being cheaper to just buy generic.
  BUT, if you use the coupon when the name brand are at a rock bottom price- or if you match it with a promotion at your corner grocery store – Viola! Cheap Soup!

• Stacking Coupons, my favorite coupon secret!
  Stacking simply means using 1 Manufacturer Coupon and 1 Store Coupon on 1 Item!!
  Target, and Walgreens, Rite Aid, & Kroger Stores (to name a few) all have store coupons and allow them to be stacked with a manufacturer coupon! (You can never use 2 manufacturer coupon on 1 item… but most stores allow you to use 1 store and 1 manufacturer coupon on the same item)

• Double Coupons
  Kroger double coupons up to a $.50 value.  This means that one $0.50 off coupon will become $1.00 off, etc.
  
  
  
  • Kmart:  Occasionally Kmart will double coupons.  They may or may not advertise the doubling publicly.
  
  
  
  

Remember, when a store doubles a coupon, they will match the price of your coupon- for example if you have a coupon for $1 off- they will take another $1 off!  Restrictions usually apply, as to how many coupons you can double, etc.

 

Collect your coupons!

The first step to couponing is to collect your coupons.   You can get coupons from several sources.  The best source and my personal favorite is from the Sunday News paper.  Most Sundays there are 2 inserts, a red plum and a smartsource.  At the beginning of the month there is usually an extra insert called a P&G.  P&G are awesome inserts that contains health & beauty coupons and household items.

You can also get coupons from online sources.  Coupons.com is a great coupon source and most likely the best.  You can also use redplum.com and smartsource.com.  Most companies have facebook pages, this is also a great way to find coupons for your favorite products.

Also, NEVER throw a way a coupon until it expire.  Even if you think you may never use that product, don't throw it away.   I have often said that I would never buy this item even if it is cheap, so then I throw the coupon away, then days later the item goes on sale. You never know when an item may go on sale where you can get it free or even get overage from it.

Collect coupons is the very first step to couponing.  Save your coupons week to week.  Use what you need as you need it, then your ready to start hunting for deals!  I'll explain how to find amazing deals in my next post!

Hello world!

Hi everyone!

I've started this blog to teach people how save money with coupons.  I want to start by saying don't expect to be like the people on TLC's extreme couponing.  They spend hours of time getting prepared and shopping.  It is possible to get free stuff like they do, but you have to take baby steps!