Getting Started

Where do I start? This is the second most asked question I encounter. So here is the answer….Start cutting those coupons! The most common and easiest way to get them is with the Sunday paper. With the exception of about two Sundays a year the Sunday paper will have coupon inserts that will get every clipper started. I get the weekend edition that comes Fri-Sun and Mondays during football season (Carolina Panthers are a staple here in Charlotte) and still pay $0.26 LESS then if I went to the grocery store and bought just the Sunday paper. The Sunday newspaper is the best way to get those coupons….and I would suggest it to everyone. However; there are many other route to stocking up on your coupon stash that you might want to start exploring once you get your own storage system down (Checkout my post on Coupon Organization). Here are a few of the ways….

1. 
   Ask your NON-clipping friends and family members to save the coupon inserts from their Sunday paper for you. - Most of them are more than happy to do this…until they see how much you save and start clipping for them selves
2. 
   Swap/trade with another clipper - I separate my coupons into 1. To be filed (my personal use) and 2. To trade (these go into a box that I take with me anytime I will be gathering with a group of friends)
3. 
   Pay for them -There are websites that will clip them for you. You pay for the “clipping service” but it is only pennies compared to the face value of the coupon. (You’ll find my suggested websites on my blog page) This service is especially good when you come across coupons that will make an item free - but you gotta be quick because they go fast!
4. 
   Magazines - they will generally have a coupon or two too encourage a new product. There is one magazine that is sold exclusively at WM called “allyou” for less than $2.00 or you can subscribe to it for even less. (please know that this is NOT an endorsement for WM - I personally HATE that place and NEVER shop there - but that is another blog all in it self.. I doubt that you’ll ever hear me talk about them with the exception of this magazine) This is the BEST magazine I have ever come across for coupons. It has at least one coupon for something “free” in each issue and hundreds of $’s worth of other coupons. Plus each issue has great recipes with great pictures (that’s the only way I can cook- I need to know what it should look like.)
5. 
   Printable coupons - however you may find that your grocery will not accept these. Since it isn’t hard to “copy” a printed coupon there are a few places who no longer take them. The best thing to do is give it a try and make a note if they do or don’t accept your printed coupon. I find that if I use a heavier weight paper and quality printing most cashiers don’t really notice. Once you start finding legitimate coupon websites you will come across printable….I get most of mine from www.afullcup.com
6. 
   Sign-up at the manufactures website….you will most likely get a sample and some coupons in the mail within a few weeks. This is even MORE likely if you write a note to the company asking for their latest coupons. This can be done via the internet or check the info on your favorite food packaging.
7. 
   Dumpster-diving - yes, go to your neighbors trash and fish out their Sunday paper to retrieve the coupon inserts. I personally haven’t done this (being a germ phobia and all) However; I have never laughed at someone who has….remember I KNOW how much those little pieces of paper saves!!!
8. 
   Coupon Trains - These are when groups of people send the coupons that they don’t use to a person through the mail, that person then takes out the ones they want and add their coupons to the pile and mail it to the next person on the list. Sometimes these trains are within a group from the same area and sometimes the trains are “cross country” . There are also specific trains - pet food, baby products etc. (I will be starting a train from this blog the first of the year. If you want to join then send me an email with your mailing address.)
9. 
   Catalina’s - coupons that print out at the registers. Another great reason to sign-up for the prefect buyer card at your local store.
10. 
    Tear pads - just that, little pads with tear off coupons that are usually located near the product to encourage the customer to give it a try.
11. 
    Peelies - a coupon that is stuck on a product, usually the cashier will have to remove these BUT it’s up to you to make sure they do!
12. 
    Store Coupons - most of these are found in the weekly ad paper issued each Wednesdays or near the front of the store. They are almost always store specific and are used in conjunction with your customer card. But you can “stack” these with a manufactures coupon for even more savings.
13. 
    SmartSource Coupon Machine - that little machine that will spit out a coupon once you pull one off. Yes, I have been known to just stand around waiting for them to pop out so that I can have multiple ones. My 5yr old loves these things so she is a huge help with this.

Don’t let this over whelm you. Before you know it, you will be spotting coupons every where you look. It may seem like a lot to do to save a “few bucks” but once you get the hang of it you’ll realize how easy it is to do and those “few buck” will quickly become “lots of bucks” . Then you will see the hundreds of $$$$’s you have saved

What are you waiting for? ………. Go cut those coupons!