I’ve received many emails from people asking how to get started. So I decided it might be nice to give a couple of tips to those who are new to couponing.
Coupons–how do I get them?
First I want those of you who are just starting out to know that there is no need to feel overwhelmed! If you start and only save $1 –that is better than you did the week before! It takes time to learn and time to gain a good stash of coupons. With that said—to save money you need to have access to coupons! The first thing you might want to do is start getting as many coupons as you can.
Determine the best way to get insert (newspaper) coupons for the least amount of money. Can you get them from friends and relatives for free? Is it cheaper to buy them at the store versus a home delivery option? Is there a place in your area that offers them for free? Are you in a small town with limited coupons in your inserts?
Exhaust all of your options before you go out and drop a large chunk of money on newspapers every week. Here in my area there are several options for FREE inserts. The free Hispanic newspaper available at restaurants and stores have full inserts included. My county paper is FREE and includes a large amount of the coupons found in the inserts. My area offers a double paper on Sunday for a reduced price. Street vendors in my area offer the paper for $1 and often dollar stores will carry the Sunday paper for $1. Check around and see what you can find in your area!
I personally don’t spend more than $2.50 per week on newspapers UNLESS there are hot coupons that make it worth the extra money. I find that insert coupons make for a very small percentage of coupons that I use on a week to week basis. For me it makes more sense to trade or use a clipping service and thus I can get the specific coupons I need. That is why I like to see the insert previews. I can determine what coupons I might need and make the decision to buy or trade!
There are tons of other coupons available other than those you find in the newspaper. There are tearpads, coupons in flyers, blinkies, printables, magazine coupons…really you will find coupons everywhere. (coupon definitions HERE) As you accumulate your coupons you want to make sure to organize them so that when you need them you will have easy access to them! I use a combination system –I use a binder system (seen HERE) and file uncut inserts by date in a filing cabinet. Being organized saves time and money! Next week I will go into detail on organization tips!
Now that you have your coupons—what’s next?
Menu planning is a great way to save money and your sanity! I always struggled with the “what to make for dinner “question week after week. Now-I find new recipes at home ahead of time rather than walking the grocery store aisles aimlessly in hopes a meal idea would come to me. Meal planning will save you a ton of money! If you stop and inventory what you have in your pantry/refrigerator you might be surprised at how much food you have on hand. Use what you have and supplement with items from the weekly sales ad to create a meal. Just a few minutes of planning will save you tons of money.
Creating a grocery list is another planning tool that is a must for saving big bucks! If you only buy what you need you will save money—it is that simple. I use a spreadsheet so that I know exactly how much I will be spending before I even leave my house. This helps me stay on track and avoid any unnecessary spending. I can also use my list to make sure that all of my purchases rang up correctly and that all of my coupons were redeemed. Impulse buying can destroy a budget in no time flat!
How to put it all together?
I think this is the most difficult task for a new couponer. I know when I first started couponing I was buying all kids of things just because I had a coupon that made it cheap. Determining when to buy an item can be tricky—there is no way for me to tell you what a “buy it now” price is as it will vary from person to person based on consumption! My “buy it now” price for cereal is .25¢ –I will not spend more than that as .25¢ is my value for that item. Cereal is not a necessity in my house so I only get it IF I can get it super cheap. Another person may put a higher value on cereal and have their buy it now price as $1. My point is that you have to determine what your NEED is and let that determine the price point you will pay.
When you find an item that is in your price point that is when you buy! I use the buy ahead principle as I like to have a stockpile of products available for when I need them. I prefer to purchase multiples of an item when it is cheap or free rather than paying full price when I need the item. Stockpiling can be a great way to ensure your pantry/freezer is always full.
Using I Heart Publix to get started
I try to have the weekly ad up Monday so that you have plenty of time to plan and get your list organized for the sale that starts on Thursday (Wednesday for some). The weekly ad will have as many coupon match ups that I can find listed for every item in the ad. For me this is nice as it gives me time to track down the coupons that I may need before the sale ends. I also list the Publix Super Deals every Tuesday. These are items that I see as a great stock up price –either based on the cost or the cost when you use a specific coupon/coupons. I also try to spotlight any other deals that I can find in hopes it will help you save money!
I encourage all new couponers to give it a try. Don’t be disappointed if you aren’t saving 90% your first week. Know that many of us who get those high totals have been doing this for quite a while. We have big stockpiles and know how to spot a deal in the dark 🙂 I remember being lost and overwhelmed but I learned more and more every week and loved seeing my bank account grow bigger and bigger!
Hopefully this has helped. If any of you pros out there have any additional advice I’d love for you to share it in the comments. If you are a new couponer and have a specific question—feel free to ask!!
Michelle- Thanks for the great advice! I wasn’t aware of the hispanic newspaper- which stores do you get this at? Is it possible to get it delivered? Also- which county paper do you use? I am in Fulton county and am unaware of any here. Thanks!
Tip for new couponers- sign up for Publix’s magazines- all of them! I even signed up for the baby and family ones (though we have no kids) because they still come with coupons we can use.
Another thing that got me a few more coupons- I wrote emails to companies of my favorite products asking for any coupons (when I didn’t see any of theirs in the papers, etc.).
Hey Shannon
They are at the local mexican restaurants in Douglas county and at the mercado (is that spelled correctly?) I think it is just the little spanish supermarket
Great post! One thing that has helped me with menu planning is a blank calendar that I can write on. I print mine from here: http://www.calendarsthatwork.com/ I write in pencil, so I can make changes. I even write in when/where we go out to eat. And I try to schedule a variety, like one pasta dish a week, one Mexican dish, etc. And I keep my calendars for a few months so I can go back and look at what I have fixed!
Even if you think you will NEVER use a product- you should still pick up any coupons you see- even if you just take a couple. You never know when they might come in handy. For example- when Kraft BBQ sauce recently went BOGO there was a .55/1 tearpad coupon I had picked up. There was also a tearpad out there for $2 off meat or poultry when you buy 2 kraft BBQ sauce. The BBQ sauce was priced bogo at 1.29 and for every 2 I bought it was like paying 19 cents for 2$ worth of meat. I personally don’t care for Kraft’s BBQ sauce and don’t ever use it- but I sure am glad I had those Qs on hand. I got to fill my freezer with meat and chicken and my local food pantry received a donation of quite a few bottles of Kraft BBQ sauce.
Thanks for all the information you put on the website. Since being unemployed I have been trying really hard to save money on groceries. I found your site through a friend a few weeks ago. Today was my best day yet at Publix. I spent $44 and saved $111. There are still great deals I want to buy but unfortunately I need to stop shopping for awhile since my freezer if packed full. 🙂
great article! by using coupons and your website, my husband has been very impressed w/ the savings. i started a spreadsheet to track it. to date, we have saved about $1300 using coupons and store sales. and oh yeah, i have proven quite a few people wrong about ” there are no coupons for good, healthy food!” when i take my lunch every day to work. and like kerry, we have been able to donate to our local shelter.
Thanks for all the advice! I am new at this and still struggle with whats a good deal and whats not! Any advice for whats to much to spend on things like shampoo and conditioner? I cant wait to be able to et cereal for $.25!!!!!
New Q ladies: Yes it takes time. Here’s what I have found since using this site:
1) Remember is Michelle’s prices may be a little cheaper than yours. I’m in FL and sometimes her prices are 10-20 cents off. So don’t be discouraged when you see a price difference.
2) Remember that Q’s are regional and what she lists to use, may not be what you received in your inserts.
3) Remember that not all stores double Q’s, in FL they do not, but ask your store about their policy
4) Look at expiration dates – this is key if you are buying something like salad dressing and you get a good price
5) I agree with Kerry about buying things that you think you will never use. We tried the Starkist fish because it was free and now really like it. We have other products that we don’t normally buy, but through this method we have tried new things.
6) Ask your store’s Q policy, but you should be able to use a MQ and a store (Publix or competitor Target, Albertson’s, Food Lion (FLIP) etc) on each item – remember to ask your store who they consider a competitor. However, when you check out you must have the same number of products that you do Q’s even though you can use 2 q’s per item. This is my store’s policy, but verify with yours. Kool-aid is a SUPER cheap filler if you need one for your item/Q count.
Sorry for so much information, but this site has been amazing and please check out her other site iheartsavingmoney.com as that also is a wonderful site!
Thank you Michelle (and Kerry) for what you do every day! Steph
Yes, Thanks Michelle for all you do!!! I have saved so much over the last few months, thanks to you and all you do!! And, it is a process that you learn and get better over time. I used coupons before but with the help of this site I have taken it to a whole new level!! I had to go out and buy a freezer… but it was worth it!! ha ha !!! 🙂
I use a spreadsheet for my weekly list, too. Sure makes for easy planning!
Thanks for the awesome tip about hispanic newspaper!!! I live in Lawrenceville GA and found a restaurant yesterday that had them. I was so surprised to find a stack of papers that nobody really wanted that had a red plum and a smartsource insert inside!! Blew me away!!! I was bad…I took three papers! My ultimate goal in all this couponing though….Save money for me and my Mom and ultimately, give what I can to shelters. I never thought it possible to have so much that I can actually find ways to give it away! Woohoo!
Sheri,
Where in Lawrenceville did you find coupons??? I am in Dacula and would love to score a few extras! Not sure which charity you donate to, but I have been taking my extras & any freebies to the Lawrenceville Co-Operative Ministry and they have been so grateful!
Erin
I am new at this…hope I am doing it right.