New couponers-- what are your questions?

[noyoupayme...]

I want to write a series in my blog for new couponers and I'd love to know what is most confusing to you and what questions you have! Any tips on how you figured it all out would be great too!

Thank you!

[treesyjo]

Love this topic! I'm still confused on the specifics of stacking coupons and store deals. For example, how does doubling work on a BOGO coupon? And do you have to use a coupon for each item?

I love seeing all the different examples of how people organize their coupons but also knowing how their system works would be helpful too.

[photog1109]

How does doubling work?

[camille147]

I hope this hasn't been covered yet.. I've been searching all morning and can't find the answer.. so I'll post it here.. If I have a B1G1 coupon, can I use 2 MQ as well?

[tmsmalley]

There's a whole thread here on the details of BOGO coupons. Have a look there for the answers to the BOGO type questions.

Doubling is something that some stores in some areas offer. This is a very regional thing and may not be offered in your area. Look up the store you usually shop at under the Grocery Forum and you should see all the information you need to know on whether or not they double and how it works at their store.

Tess

[noyoupayme...]

Thanks for the ideas! For the BOGO thing it really depends on your cashier. You can use a BOGO coupon on a BOGO deal to get both items free but some cashiers will give you a hard time. You can also use (1) MQ and a BOGO coupon for 2 items. If there is a store BOGO sale you can do the same and sometimes use (2) MQ-so a coupon for the free item and a coupon for the one you buy. I don't really feel good about using a coupon on an item I am already getting free so I usually don't suggest that in my posts. I know lots of other bloggers that do suggest that so I guess its up to what you are comfortable with.

[drusilla]

I would love to know how to go about finding out the stores coupon policy.

also

when a sale paper comes out i need to know how to find the coupon for what is on sale at the moment.

being new to the coupon world i just don't have much to start with.

[wildhorses302]

:confused58:How do you guys get so many inserts. Do you have to buy that many papers. Im sure they dont deliever that many papers to your house. I have called my news paper company and they told me that they never have extras as they only print the number of orders they have. I ask at the gas station but they never have any. Im thinking if I want to save big, I will have to have a lot of inserts. Man this is so confusing. Im saving just not as much as I wish I was.

[tmsmalley]

:confused58:How do you guys get so many inserts. Do you have to buy that many papers. Im sure they dont deliever that many papers to your house. I have called my news paper company and they told me that they never have extras as they only print the number of orders they have. I ask at the gas station but they never have any. Im thinking if I want to save big, I will have to have a lot of inserts. Man this is so confusing. Im saving just not as much as I wish I was.

I buy 4 papers a week. Some people get multiple copies delievered (some newspapers do a Sunday only delivery). Some people get them from friends, relatives and neighbors that don't want their coupons and others find them in recycle bins. You can also trade for coupons that you want, or you may be able to purchase full inserts as well (you don't pay for the coupon itself, you pay for someone's time to assemble it). To start, 3 or 4 copies of the paper is good. As you figure out what you need and how things work, you may want to expand later.

Tess

[russsoul]

I am a pretty new couponer. This site has really been helping. I saved 98% today at CVS and purchased a whole bunch of stuff for .24.

I am trying to get organized. I plan to buy my binder and materials next week. But, I want to do an Excel spreadsheet so I can list all my coupons as I get them. I am trying to think of categories: title, amount, expiration...Does anyone have an example. Thanks.

[Misscourtj]

How do couponers with young children go about their shopping? I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 3 month old and I end up getting so flustered trying to keep them both calm while I'm trying to find my items, then inevitably the items aren't in stock or I left a coupon in the car. . .what is the least stressful way to go about doing the deals?

[nursebrittney]

Im interested in learning how to get the home mailers and the coupon books people are talking ahout all the time.
I've gotten a few random coupons in the mail, but i don't remember signing up for them. How can I get more?
And do they sell coupon books at stores? I'm so confused when people talk about these books.

[KrispyKrittersUSA]

How do couponers with young children go about their shopping? I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 3 month old and I end up getting so flustered trying to keep them both calm while I'm trying to find my items, then inevitably the items aren't in stock or I left a coupon in the car. . .what is the least stressful way to go about doing the deals?

I'd love to know how you guys with kids do it too! You guys are superhuman! I don't have kids, and I can't seem to get my act together either! THe only time I can really do a good shopping, is when I am not distracted, in the early or late hours of the stores. When the store is mostly empty, I can focus, and do a better job.

[jenandjb]

Look at the "How do you organize your coupons." There are only pics, but ut helped me.

[borntoshop]

My savings increase without my kiddos. I do my best shopping after they go to bed. I don't get as distracted and can focus on the deals. If I do bring my kids, each one is in charge of something. One is in charge of holding the matched coupons and the other one is checking things off the checklist. Even if you break down your checklist to a few things, they are much more willing to cooperate when they have something to do.

[lindarella]

On some other web sites that match up sales and coupons for you and send an email, lots of time they havecoupons listed from "Family is its own reward" and other things I;ve never heard of and they seem to be from Publix but they are using them at BiLo and other stores. We don't have a Publix in Western NC, and I was wondering how I could get those coupons?

[ninasmum]

Hi, I have a newbie question.

How can you use multiple coupons for the same item at one store? I feel like many of the coupons I see say one per customer or something like that? If there is a thread that discusses this, sorry, I didn't come across it yet. I've spent about an hour reading the how to store/organize and watching the you tube videos. It's all been very helpful!

I also don't know what coupon books are.

Also, Lineralla, what are some of these websites that match coupons and sales? I find I have a hard time reading the circulars every week and making notes of what we need. I'm new to cooking, and I'm also gluten-free, so a lot of the sales don't really help me too much, so I get lazy about looking.

Thanks in advance!

[tmsmalley]

bump

[kensher]

I have a lot of clipped coupons that I hate just to throw away. I've tried post to trade or give away for something I need. Any suggestions???

:bump93:

[Godschild09]

Hey ya'll. I'm a newbie. Just got here today and just recently started considering serious couponing.
My first question is: Why do the cashiers act like they don't want to take coupons or they try to invalidate some of them or they look at you like you're trying to steal something if you use a coupon, (or I should say 'some or several coupons')? I think it's weird, like you're ripping off the store or them personally.
Question two: Has anybody ever contacted any stores and asked them this question and what was their response?

ETA - Okay, went and looked at some threads so no need for an answer to these questions. Seems even some of you veterans have problems too. Oh well, a conundrum I guess.

[Godschild09]

What's a blinkie?
WYB?
YMMV?
Is there a thread where all of these are listed?

[Godschild09]

One more (for now): If a coupon specifically says 'do not double or triple' and yet the bar code is (little)5 44500 52033 (little)5, do you try it anyway?
I saw on one thread that it means something if a bar code begins with a 5 or a 9. I'm assuming that is referring to the little number at the very beginning? It was a little confusing.
Sorry if my questions are dumb ones.

[AmyinDM]

What's a blinkie?
WYB?
YMMV?
Is there a thread where all of these are listed?

A blinkie is a term for a coupon that comes out of one of those little machines at the grocery store right beside the product in the aisles.

WYB = When You Buy.

YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary. Roughly means things might be different depending on your store (I think that's what it means!) I know there's a list somewhere in the newbie area with abbreviations. Hope those help!

[AmyinDM]

One more (for now): If a coupon specifically says 'do not double or triple' and yet the bar code is (little)5 44500 52033 (little)5, do you try it anyway?
I saw on one thread that it means something if a bar code begins with a 5 or a 9. I'm assuming that is referring to the little number at the very beginning? It was a little confusing.
Sorry if my questions are dumb ones.

I'd guess that checkers at stores that double and triple look at the codes pretty carefully. Someone else will hopefully understand this - our stores here don't double. :( IMO though it's not worth it to try to get around those rules for a few items here and there- you'll build a good rapport with the grocery store people you see regularly if you stick to the rules and don't make the machine beep a million times. BTW the machine may still beep a million times at some stores. Hehe! :)