You say, "Well I don't know the first thing about couponing but I would like to learn."
Here is the page for you. This is going to start you out couponing.
Step-by-step. I learned through lots of researching on the computer, but you don't have to spend as much time on the computer as I did. Why? Because I am going to tell you what I have learned. YAY!! Now, the first week is the weirdest, but once you have it started it will be easier to keep with and you get better at as the other weeks come along.
Step 1-
Join Weusecoupons.com and watch their articles and videos for beginners, they are about at most 5 minutes and very informative. They have divided for you to learn as you grow: beginners, intermediate and advanced. Another area you should join is Southern Savers (link below) and/ or Coupon Mom. Southern Savers will send you list of the new printable coupons and send you lists by email of what is on sale with coupons. You can also go onto their site to make a printable shopping list to shop and it has all the coupons you need listed on there. Al you need to do is find them. They also have instructional videos to watch. Coupon Mom works pretty much the same ( just without going into your inbox) and they have instructional videos as well. My favorite is the Drugstore video, CVS is used here as an example, but Walgreens uses the same thing but without a loyalty card. They also have a grocery video as well that teaches you have to use their site and to use their coupon lists.
Step 2-
Get a Sunday newspaper, either order a Sunday subscription of a large city in your area or pick one up every Sunday. In my area Orlando Sentinel and the Ledger are big ones. Look through them, and compare them to the lists in the Southern Savers and/or Coupon Mom.
When buying newspapers, buy the amount that is equal to you family size plus or minus one depending on your family's needs. (Example: during school- I need 2 newspapers weekly for maximum savings with my needs. Since I shop a lot of Buy 1 Get 1 free deals, I need two of the higher priced coupons for those.)
Step 3-
Organize your coupons. There are many ways to organize coupons and they all vary with the couponer. You must find the way that works for you. Southern Savers has a good video about ways to organize your coupons. (I do go for the binder method which they hate, but I use the binder method they do approve.)
~Update I just found an awsome video for making binders easier and quicker from cuckooforcoupondeals.com here is the video. Now the coupon binder is my choice, everyone works differently so you have to find what works for you. The only thing is that I do recommend the double binder she has shown because don't have to flip through all the catergories to find one store coupon it just save time and effort for me, but like I said before everyone works differently.
The double binders you can find at amazon for like $20. I didnt start this way I started with what I had avaliable and just got the baseball card holders, then I saved and couponed for the binder I wanted.(swagbucks helped with this too) Why? I wanted to use the best tool to save money for school and plus onece I had it I didnt become a need.
Tip- find a binder that zips just in case your binder falls you coupons dont go all over the floor.
Step 4-
Find out your store coupon policies, ask the customer service desk at you favorite stores and while your there get the store's card if they have one.
Also, go online to see weekly ads and join their mailing lists, they offer deals and coupons not available in stores.
Step 5-
Find out if your area Stacks and/or double/triples coupons, this is really important to how you save money. In Florida stacking is your better option since not many stores offer doubling. Stacking is where you can use a store coupon and a manufacturers coupon on the specified number of items. Doubling/Tripling is where the store doubles/triples the value of the coupon.
Step 6-
DON'T BUY VALUE PACKS, THEY'RE NOT REALLY VALUES, opt for the smallest size the coupon specifies. The smaller the size the smaller the price. Often times depending on the number of coupons you have, you can get the same amount or more cheaper using coupons. Nathan or Mr. Coupon (from weusecoupon.com) as he is better known, will show us at Krogers how to buy smarter without the value packs.
Step 7-
Everything has a sale season. I found a great chart and list found on cukoo for coupons. Why look for the sales cycles? Well, everything in the store goes from its highest price down to it lowest, grab it now and stock up price and back up again. When would you rather buy it and get som extras to last you until the prices are that low again.....I think at its lowest price, THEN USE COUPONS FOR EVEN BETTER SAVINGS.
Step 8-
Pick one store to start with. Starting with one and adding once you are comfertable is easier than juggling six stores all at one when you barly know how to begin. Start with a drugstore (like CVS) or what's called a "high-low store". They normally have high prices so that they could have crazy sales, like Publix. CVS and Publix are a good place to start. Pick one and when you get the hang of it move to the other. Soon you'll be going to Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Save-a-Lot etc.
Step 9-
Look throughout the blog!!! This blog is designed to help you save.
Look at the Tips Tab for more help.
The Ethical Couponing Tab for some guidelines.
The Cool Stuff and Unlimited Savings for more ways to save and to win.
and more.
Happy couponing from your Ethical, College Couponer.