Are you new to couponing? Don’t know where to start? Below are some helpful tips for getting you started!
- First off I just want to start off by saying Welcome! Couponing is a wonderful adventure that leads you to pools of savings, which means less money out of your pocket and more to use on those things that really matter most! Chances are you know someone who already uses coupons, they probably tell you all the time how they get products for cheap or even free and you wonder how do they do that? Well you can be just like them too! All you need is a little patience and a passion for saving!
- There are tons of Coupon blogs out there, add as many as you would like! We all provide you with great deals, freebies, and saving tips, the more you can learn the merrier in my opinion. I know when I started really getting into saving, I could not pass up on any blog. Everyone has their own topics, interests, and opinions but at the end of the day we are all dedicated to help you spend wisely.
- Obtain Coupons! Coupons are going to be the main resource for saving you money. You can either purchase a newspaper every Sunday from any retailer (double packs are usually 2 newspapers for $3.00) or get a newspaper subscription from your local newspaper agency (this is usually the cheaper option). If you live in Utah there is also a free Sunday delivery that contains ads and coupons for that week (1 per household, and only contains 1 coupon insert) the information is here: http://www.moneybagutah.com/. There are also several printable coupons that you can find online, the only requirement is you must download software to be able to print the coupons. Printable coupon sites can be found by clicking on the ‘Couponing’ tab then scroll down to the ‘Printable Coupons’ tab and the sidebar with pop-up with the different printable coupon sites.
- Organize! Once you obtain your coupons you need to figure out an organized system that works for you. That organized system can be done anyway you’d like, just keep in mind it should be easily transported and accessible. Everyone is different, in the way they like to stay organized. Some like to organize by the date/name of the insert ex: Red Plum 3/12/12. while others like to organize with expandable file folders with different categories. Personally, I love having a coupon binder. It it a zip able 3-ring binder that has all my clipped coupons, organized into categories, and placed into clear page protectors that have 9 slots on each page. That way I am able to transport it everywhere with me, but makes for easy access. For example: If I want to see if I have a Crest Toothpaste coupon, I go to my ‘Oral Hygiene’ category and there I have all my toothpaste coupons. It just makes things easier for me and is less time consuming. To get started be sure to print out my Coupon Binder Page Inserts.
- Learn The Coupon Lingo! Sometimes there are abbreviations when I write posts and they can get sort of confusing so I have made a PDF Coupon Lingo File for you so you can print it and keep it in your Coupon Binder! Download your Coupon Lingo sheet here!
- Start Small! If you go in thinking you need to walk out of a store paying nothing for $300.00 worth of groceries then you will be discouraged when that does not happen and it will probably make you want to quit. Start by saving small amounts of money and work your way up to the big stuff (every penny counts right?). Places like Walmart, Target, and Smith’s are a lot easier to start at and have the easiest coupon/price matching policies. I’ve created a list of those here: http://www.bargainswithbrittanie.com/store-policies/
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions! At first this all can be really confusing and seem like your trying to learn a new language. In some sense you are, (coupon lingo) but don’t let that overwhelm you. If you are confused about something, just ask a question. I will do my best to have an answer and if I don’t I am sure there are other readers or bloggers than will be able to help. I promise your hard work will pay off in the end, and it gets so much easier the more you get used to the way coupons and saving money works. Just be prepared your back pocket or purse might feel a whole lot heavier!