(Photo credit: Campground Signs)

If you are interested in finding ways to slash your monthly grocery bill or are new to the concept of “extreme couponing” and just aren’t sure where to start, you’re in the right place!   First off, let me explain…”extreme couponing” is the art of using coupons in conjunction with the best store sales to get the lowest price possible for all household, grocery, or other items…and then to stock up when prices are at their lowest! Couponing is NOT about buying items only when you need them, but buying items with coupons when they are on sale and stocking up so that when you run out you can turn to your stockpile rather than the grocery store’s (and pay full price!)!

Here are a few tips on how to get started…

1.  Pick one or two local stores and start learning their system and how to use coupons at their store.  Personally, I feel that CVS and Target are easier to start out learning, rather than say Randall’s or Walgreens.  Here are a few things you’ll want to learn about (or do) at each store…

• Sign up for their Store Loyalty Program! If your store offers a rewards program or store loyalty card, you’ll definitely want to get one.  Just go to the customer service counter or ask an employee how to receive one so you can save more money while shopping at their store.
• Learn their couponing policy and how to stack their store coupons with manufacturer’s coupons, if applicable.  For example, you may want to find out if they accept Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupons on a Buy 1 Get 1 Free store sale, or if they allow a coupon to be used on a “free” item during a store sale, and so on.  You’ll definitely want to print a copy of their coupon policy (usually found online) and take it with you at all times in case you run into a new employee or manager who is unfamiliar with it.
• Meet the manager(s) – You may want to introduce yourself to the manager and let them know that you are a couponer and find out if they’re ever willing to “special order” products in bulk for you if you want to stock up during a great sale!   Oftentimes, it helps to meet them in person since they’ll be seeing a lot of you!
• Truck Days – You’ll definitely want to find out what days certain stores receive shipments so that you can work your shopping schedule in a way so that you can almost always find items in stock!   Yes, it’s very frustrating to prepare a shopping list and get your coupons organized only to discover that they are out of stock.  However, if an item is out of stock, you’ll definitely want to ask for a raincheck (if applicable).

2. Start getting coupons and pick an organization method that works for you!  Here are a few of the most common organizational methods that people use to file their coupons…

• Coupon Organizer - I feel this method works best if you’re just starting out in the couponing world.  This method allows you to file your coupons by category or store (whatever works for you!), stick it in your purse, and take it with you to the store.  It’s a simple method, that doesn’t require a lot of upkeep.  However, the downside is that if you find a Clearance item in store, you may or may not have the coupon for it on hand to be able to get a great deal.

• The Binder Method - This method is more expensive to start with and can be difficult if you have little ones you’re also trying to carry around.  I don’t suggest this method for moms who have newborns with car seats, diaper bags, and more to carry around!  However, I use this method and it works great for me!  To start, you’ll need a large 3-ring binder, plastic sleeves, baseball card holders, and envelopes.  I use the Business junk mail envelopes that I get everyday in the mail and label them by stores that I shop at and place them in my coupon binder with coupons for items that I’m planning on buying soon at that store (i.e. weekly deals, etc).  Also, I like to have a small folder at the front of my binder with coupons for FREE items, and another folder for coupons that I need to use that are expiring soon.  This method allows you to be able to be well prepared for finding Clearance or unadvertised sale items since you’re binder is well stocked with a lot of coupons.  However, this method can be very time consuming.
  • You may wonder if it’s necessary to clip every single coupon that comes in the newspaper?  I say NO, but…if I can end up getting an item that my family may or may not use for FREE (or a money maker), and can then donate the item to a friend, family member, or shelter, then it’s a win-win situation.  My family doesn’t have any pets and we ar e finally out of the potty training stage, so pet and baby coupons are usually ones I set aside to donate.  However, let’s say there’s a coupon for one type of cheese, but my family only likes a different kind but I’ve seen this particular brand go on a really good sale at Randall’s, I’ll go ahead and clip the coupon and file it in my binder.

• The Binder + Accordian Method (Condensed) – This is the same method as above, but instead of clipping and filing most or all coupons that come in the paper, you’ll clip only the coupons you know your family will use and  file them in a smaller binder.  Then label the front of each insert with the Sunday’s date it came in (i.e. 1/12 SS) and place it in an accordian file by date and insert type.  That way, if there’s ever a great sale and you know there’s a coupon from the 1/12 SS insert, you can go to your accordian file and find the January 12th Smart Source insert and find the coupon quickly.

Where to Find Coupons?

I often have people ask me when I’m in the checkout lane ”Where in the world did you get ALL those coupons!??”.  I just smile and kindly tell them “Everywhere!”.  Coupons can be found all OVER the place, online, from the newspaper, on the aisles at the grocery store, you name it!  Here are a few places to find paper coupons…

• Sunday newspaper – There are 4 inserts that come in the Sunday newpaper – Smartsource (SS), Red Plum (RP), Proctor & Gamble (P&G), and occasionally General Mills (GM).  Somtimes you can find coupons in the Parade Magazine insert, so be sure to browse through it before tossing it!  Also, you can check out the Sunday Coupon Preview to find out which coupon inserts we’ll be expecting in the following week’s Sunday newspaper.
• Facebook! – Facebook has become one of the biggest venus for companies to advertise and thus gain business!  There are often high value coupons to request (as well as print) from companies on Facebook, including occasional FREE products or samples!  If you don’t have a Facebook account, I’d highly recommend signing up for one and using a separate email account to sign up under.
• Rewards Programs - Vocalpoint, Recyclebank, MyCokeRewards are all FREE sites where you can take surveys, enter codes, and more to earn points to redeem for coupons and other items!
• Product Samples or Home mailers - Often times, manufacturers will send coupons along with their free samples that tend to be higher in value than most coupons we get in the Sunday paper.  It’s definitely worth requesting those samples!
• In magazines – The All You Magazine is a great money-saving magazine that comes filled with great coupons every month.  The magazine is only sold at Walmart stores or online and is definitely worth subscribing to!  Usually, the magazine subscription pays for itself after a few months with all the great coupons!
• Inside products or on the box of a product – Sometimes you’ll find coupons tucked away inside packages of products as an incentive for you to buy the product again (Quaker and Kellogg’s for example).
• In-Stores – There are usually a lot of coupons you can find while shopping at the grocery store!  They are found taped to certain products (i.e. peelie coupons), on a display or sampling stand, in a store booklet, or from an electronic ”blinkie” machine.  If you see coupons, it’s a great idea to grab a few, as they’ll more than likely come in handy during a store sale!  I usually grab a few, especially if I find a unique manufacturer’s coupon that will pair nicely with a different store’s sale!  Also, after you check out, be sure to hang on to your Catalinacoupons that spit out at the register!  Sometimes, these coupons can be for FREE (or buy 1 get 1 free) products or are a high value “dollar off” coupon that can be used for the same item during a sale at a different store (for example, you can use a Randall’s Catalina coupon for the same item at HEB).
• Ebay or Coupon Clipping Site - If you only receive one or two papers every week and are in need of a few extra coupons to get a great deal during a store sale, you can buy specific coupons in bulk on Ebay or a Coupon Clipping site (like Coupon Clippers).  You’ll pay a discounted price for single coupons so you can stock up during a sale!  Also, I’ve requested coupons from Freecycle (a FREE online recycling group for your local area) or Craigslist and been amazed at how many people have had extra coupons to share…and I’ve been able to pick them up the same day!

Electronic coupons that you load to your store card-

• Cellfire
• P&GeSAVER
• Shortcuts
• Randall’s (sign up or log in, register your store card, and add coupons to it)
• Upromise – doesn’t give you instant money off your receipt, but gives money back when purchasing a select coupon item on their site after it’s been loaded to your store card, and it places the amount into an account that can be used for Kids college, savings, etc.

Printable Coupon Sources – Most of the time you can print 2 coupons per computer!

• Coupons.com
• Smartsource
• Red Plum
• Cool Savings
• Target – From the Target site and they are mostly Target store coupons (which you can pair with manufacturer coupons for increased savings!), but it also includes several manufacture’s coupons as well that you should be able to use at any store that accepts mfg. coupons.
• Bricks – These are a coupon software company that contracts with product manufacturers to supply (links to) internet coupons.  Can hit back button and print 2 coupons per computer. Here is an example of an expired Bricks coupon for Old Orchard juice.

Start small and work your way up!  Coupons should be a blessing NOT a burden to your family, so don’t get overhwhelmed if you’re not always on top of every deal or have every coupon clipped, filed, and ready to go!