Still a newbie after all this time...HELP!

[diyod]

Hey guys!

I've been a member for a little while now, but I still haven't mastered the art of couponing yet. It's totally my fault! Every time I try to get serious about couponing, something happens and I have to start from step 1 all over again (this last time it was because I couldn't really afford to get Sunday papers because of lots of unexpected dental bills).

Now I'm really serious about saving money, and I know that even though I couldn't afford the papers before I could've saved a lot of money if I had grabbed them. I'm trying to re-read all the information on here, but of course that will take me a while.

The reason I'm posting is because I need some help. What is the best way to start out couponing? Should I focus on one store and then after I master that work on adding another? When I've tried looking at everything at once it was overwhelming, and I really want to make this work. Also, what are some of the best ways for someone to organize their coupons when they are just starting out?

I would really love some help from those of you with personal experience. What worked for you when you were just starting out as a newbie coupon clipper?

I really appreciate any help I can get! Thanks!

diyod:hectic1:

[sadlady12]

Hi,
I would start with a grocery store and a drug store. That can get you most of what you need. If you have a grocery store that doubles/triples coupons up to a certain value, all the better. Find out your store's coupon policy, these can vary from store to store.
Some questions you'll want answers to:
Do you take manufacture's coupons?
How many like coupons at a time?
Do you double triple coupons?
Up to what value?
How many?
Do you take store specific coupons?
Can you use a store coupon and a manufacture's coupon together?
Do you take expired coupons?

These questions usually can be answered over the phone, but you'll want to talk to a manager. Not guaranteed they'll be correct but...., lol... that's another story.

Next, find your store's boards here at HCW and READ!!!!! Lots of the boards here have current ad threads that will discuss what's on sale for the current week and the coupon match-ups and deal scenarios.

As for your coupons, find a way that works for you to get them organized so you can find what you're looking for. THere are many different ideas out there and many people do it differently. There are some threads here on organizing your coupons, very interesting ideas and helpful information.

As a way to get even more coupons coming to you, consider becoming a trader and joining the trader in training group. Amazing mods over there to take you by the hand and show you the ropes of trading and before you know it you will be swimming in coupons and getting some great deals!!

Those things are what I would start with. As you become more comfortable working the deals, you can add more stores.

It's easy to get distracted though and want to do more.... reading the stockpiling threads are very helpful and inspiring to read. You can also get an idea of where you want to go with your couponing, it helps to know what you want the end result to be.

Also.... most importantly.... don't be shy! Ask questions and get involved here on the boards. These are some amazing people here and very helpful and friendly mods. Ask, ask, ask.....

[tmsmalley]

Get yourself 2-4 newspaper inserts every week. Organize in a way that works for you. Some people go alphabetical, some go by catagories. I go by the aisles of the store that I go to most often.

Then, the secret is sale+coupon+stockpile. I'd start with one grocery store and maybe one drug store. Get that down pat before you try branching out. Rmemeber, you don't need to get every deal. Just get what makes sense for your family.

Tess

[434Teresa]

I use super walmart for most of my shopping trips, but I do try to keep a eye on the price of things at say the Family dollar, General dollar and Freds because on things I really like to keep a stockpile of sometimes I can them a little cheaper there or even free sometimes..I do most of my shopping at walmart because its the best way I can shop with 2 year old twins and not waste a tank of gas running all over town for one or two things at each store, I take those ads to walmart and get them price matched if the items are in the weekly ad papers.
I do like to drop in at Freds on saturdays for they double coupons then that are up to 70 cents so I save more on a few things I use that way..

I would not worry to much about stockpiling right now until you get the hang of things because as time gose by you will by three of this & that instead of one and it starts to add up..

If I buy a certin coupon I try not to pay more than 10 to 20% of face value unless I an getting the item for free.. I get the sunday paper about every sunday, i buy 3 to 5 of them most of the time from the Dollar Tree or Deals if you have one of them for they are $1 there. I then check out my paper recycle bin for coupons if there is a good one that I want more copies of, if no luck I will buy that coupon or try to trade for it.

I also keep a eye out on here for coupon deals for say free snuggle dry sheets with the $3 coupon, for I did not know there was such a coupon until I saw a post on here telling how they got free dryer sheets and 75 cents bottles..I find that other states get better coupons than I do often so I try to keep up with whats out there other than in my paper......

I made my own coupon keeper from baseball card holders and I try to cut the coupons from my paper out and put them in it so all I have to do is flip a page to see if I have a coupon for that or not...I also make a list of what I plain to buy and pull the coupons out for those items but I take my book with me just incase something i use is marked down and i have a coupons for it..oh yeh I stack my like coupons and cut them all at one time saves time that way..............

Coupons are a learn as you go type thing....just do it soon you will be a pro....


Dont let the dirty looks or smart rude comments keep you from useing your coupons becasue they will be there trust me......I just always make sure they hear my total before the coupons and then after and then I give them the know where you can go look....with the who is smart now smile...

[diyod]

Thanks so much guys!

I made calls to the grocery and drug store I frequent the most, and now I fully know what I can get away with coupon wise. Now I have to make sense of my coupon mess and start adding to the pile every week.

I've got very limited space since I live in an apartment, so stockpiling will be tough. Guess I'm going to have to just check things out and see where I can hide goodies. Any tips for stockpiling for apartment dwellers?

[Porfidio2]

Thanks so much guys!

I've got very limited space since I live in an apartment, so stockpiling will be tough. Guess I'm going to have to just check things out and see where I can hide goodies. Any tips for stockpiling for apartment dwellers?

As you can afford it.. Rubbermaid/Sterilite storage tubs. Get the clear ones with lids that you can stack and still see into. Maybe tape an inventory sheet to the outside so you know what you have. Stack them 2 high and put a table cloth over them so they double as end tables/nightstands. My stockpile is getting overwhelming... I'm getting more grief from my boyfriend than I am from the CSRs at all the stores I shop! lol

[sheila]

check out the stockpile thread!! There are several who have awesome stockpiles who live in apartments! You will become amazed at where they can help you find space you did not know you had!!

[tmsmalley]

I agree to really think about space you have. If it stays dry and doesn't get too hot or cold, under the kitchen and bathroom sink is good, under beds, top shelf in closet, linen closets, etc. will work.

[diyod]

I'll have to check out the stockpiling section more then. All the ones I clicked on where these huge stockpiles that looked bigger than my apartment, and made me sad that I couldn't get there with my limited space.

I guess I might have to hurry up and use some of my yarn stash so I can free up some room to hide my stockpiled items.

Thanks so much for your help! You guys are awesome!

Now I just have to keep the motivation, and hopefully get encouraged with my progress (when I make some)...

[diyod]

As you can afford it.. Rubbermaid/Sterilite storage tubs. Get the clear ones with lids that you can stack and still see into. Maybe tape an inventory sheet to the outside so you know what you have. Stack them 2 high and put a table cloth over them so they double as end tables/nightstands. My stockpile is getting overwhelming... I'm getting more grief from my boyfriend than I am from the CSRs at all the stores I shop! lol

Hmm, I might have to do that in the computer room...of course I might get all sorts of grief from my gamer boyfriend for it. :giggle2:

[sadlady12]

Hmm, I might have to do that in the computer room...of course I might get all sorts of grief from my gamer boyfriend for it. :giggle2:


LOL.... Yep, that's part of it!! When you get to that point, you know you're doing it right, lol!

[Porfidio2]

Hmm, I might have to do that in the computer room...of course I might get all sorts of grief from my gamer boyfriend for it. :giggle2:

These darn men just don't get it! :hysterical:

[diyod]

These darn men just don't get it! :hysterical:

Well he might, if I get rid of my yarn stash...but that ain't happenin'! No yarn means no hats for him, and he can't live without a few new hats each year...haha!

[gsxrfaaast]

Thanks so much guys!
I've got very limited space since I live in an apartment, so stockpiling will be tough. Guess I'm going to have to just check things out and see where I can hide goodies. Any tips for stockpiling for apartment dwellers?

If you have a walk in closet, you can always put a shelf over the inside of the closet door. If you have a hanging canvas garment bag with your little black dress inside, there's usually room in the bottom to store non-leaking, non-edible types of things like bath tissue. If you have a laundry closet, there is usually room above the existing shelf to put another, or room to go crossways over the dryer side. If you have the little cabinet over the fridge that you store your rarely accessed items, there is usually a little room in there for a small stockpile of items.

I have a stockpile of HBA items under every single sink in the house, to capacity. I have narrow baskets on the back of the toilets with spare bath tissue, in addition to the spares under the sinks. (I have really small bathrooms with no room on the floors for baskets.) I have shelves over the doors in the walk-in closets stocked to the ceiling. I have a small blanket chest in the dining room that is full to the top with cereal, bars and zipper bags.

You just have to get creative with your storage and don't be too concerned with keeping all items together. I wouldn't suggest keeping food in the bathrooms, but I wouldn't be opposed to keeping snack foods in the office. (I actually do that too, my DBF has a cabinet over his desk that is always full of snacks for him.) It frees up cabinet space in the kitchen and has the snacks where they are usually eaten.

[tmsmalley]

Also wanted to point out that in most kitchens, there's a gap beween the top of your kitchen cupboards and the ceiling. That's a good place for storage too.

Tess

[gsxrfaaast]

Also wanted to point out that in most kitchens, there's a gap beween the top of your kitchen cupboards and the ceiling. That's a good place for storage too.

Tess

Oh yeah, forgot about there, I have 42" uppers, so I don't have that space.

[diyod]

Also wanted to point out that in most kitchens, there's a gap beween the top of your kitchen cupboards and the ceiling. That's a good place for storage too.

Tess

I wish there was in mine, but the cabinets are attached to the "ceiling". There is a drop down step coming down from the ceiling. Would've made more sense for them to not take up that space with wasted drywall and just let me store more....but noooooooooooooooo!

[diyod]

If you have a walk in closet, you can always put a shelf over the inside of the closet door. If you have a hanging canvas garment bag with your little black dress inside, there's usually room in the bottom to store non-leaking, non-edible types of things like bath tissue. If you have a laundry closet, there is usually room above the existing shelf to put another, or room to go crossways over the dryer side. If you have the little cabinet over the fridge that you store your rarely accessed items, there is usually a little room in there for a small stockpile of items.

I have a stockpile of HBA items under every single sink in the house, to capacity. I have narrow baskets on the back of the toilets with spare bath tissue, in addition to the spares under the sinks. (I have really small bathrooms with no room on the floors for baskets.) I have shelves over the doors in the walk-in closets stocked to the ceiling. I have a small blanket chest in the dining room that is full to the top with cereal, bars and zipper bags.

You just have to get creative with your storage and don't be too concerned with keeping all items together. I wouldn't suggest keeping food in the bathrooms, but I wouldn't be opposed to keeping snack foods in the office. (I actually do that too, my DBF has a cabinet over his desk that is always full of snacks for him.) It frees up cabinet space in the kitchen and has the snacks where they are usually eaten.

All great ideas! Thanks so much! :thanks7:

I'm working on decluttering right now (which will be a huge chore), so maybe once I get rid of the things I don't need I can start filling it with my stockpile. My boyfriend was even talking about getting a Sam's Club membership or tagging along with his mom to get some things to start one (and I didn't even mention anything to him!). Maybe he won't give me as much grief as I thought! :giggle2:

[newmommy13]

i don't know if you've heard this before, but go around to your neighborhood gas stations and see if they have any extra papers at the end of the day. i have a few near my house that close at 9:30 (still a little past my bed time lol) and they get credit from the paper for the ones that don't sell, but they just have to cut out the top part of the front page. THE REST THEY THROW AWAY. i could easily get 20+ papers this way just in my neighborhood but i got 10 once and was so overwhelmed it took me 2 weeks to get them all cut lol so now i only get whats left over at the one across the street which is between 5 and 10 a week.

i have NEVER paid for a paper.

[diyod]

i don't know if you've heard this before, but go around to your neighborhood gas stations and see if they have any extra papers at the end of the day. i have a few near my house that close at 9:30 (still a little past my bed time lol) and they get credit from the paper for the ones that don't sell, but they just have to cut out the top part of the front page. THE REST THEY THROW AWAY. i could easily get 20+ papers this way just in my neighborhood but i got 10 once and was so overwhelmed it took me 2 weeks to get them all cut lol so now i only get whats left over at the one across the street which is between 5 and 10 a week.

i have NEVER paid for a paper.

Really?!?!

I'm jealous! I might have to check the ones around my apartment. Do you go at the end of the day, or first thing next morning? Do you ask for them or do you just find them near the dumpster or whatever? I know the one gas station I frequently go to that is on my way to work sells theirs out of one of the machines, so it's not a possibility with them. But there are others near me too (at least 3 that I can think of).

[diyod]

Well I've done some reading on organizing, and I think I might try the binder + trading card page protectors option now. After thinking about it, it seems like it would work the best for me. My box with index card dividers hasn't really worked for me like I would like them to.

I've still got quite a few binders from my college years (I'm a packrat, but I'm working on that), so I figured that would work until I could maybe get a great deal on a zipper binder. Now all I have to find is the page protectors, but I think I know where I can get a good deal on them (I have some family that has a baseball card shop in OH and my mom just said she could get me a pack of 100 for $15...is that good?). It might take a week or so to get them here, but if I can save money then it's worth the wait. I will just have to make do with what I have.

Let's hope this works!

[diyod]

Well, I've bought my supplies to get the coupons organized (ended up saving a little money just buying them right down the street...didn't know they had them there), so now I just have to spend the time getting things in order.

I made my first trip since posting here the other day, and I have to say I'm kinda proud of myself. I know someone else could do better, but I'm pretty excited about my savings for my first attempt back at couponing. (See brag here (http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/getting-started-couponing-basics-new-members/29749-newbies-post-your-1st-brag-19.html#post2116610))

Thanks so much for all your help! I might have more questions later, but I got enough help to get me heading in the right direction. You guys are awesome!

[tmsmalley]

I checked out your brag, good job!

[sadlady12]

Good job on your shopping trip! It always feels good to save more than you spend!

I noticed that you shop at Kroger. Are you familiar with the "loadable" coupons that you load on your card? They just automatically come off when you buy the correct product. Check the Kroger boards for the thread on loadable coupon sites. There are 3 of them. The great thing about these, is that it allows you to have the loadable coupon come off and then still use a paper coupon on the same item!

Last month I had 2 loadable coupons loaded for 1.00 off energizer batteries. I also had paper coupons for 1.00 off energizer batteries. The batteries were on sale for 1.99 for a 4-pack. I got 2 packs and paid only .14 tax.

[diyod]

Good job on your shopping trip! It always feels good to save more than you spend!

I noticed that you shop at Kroger. Are you familiar with the "loadable" coupons that you load on your card? They just automatically come off when you buy the correct product. Check the Kroger boards for the thread on loadable coupon sites. There are 3 of them. The great thing about these, is that it allows you to have the loadable coupon come off and then still use a paper coupon on the same item!

Last month I had 2 loadable coupons loaded for 1.00 off energizer batteries. I also had paper coupons for 1.00 off energizer batteries. The batteries were on sale for 1.99 for a 4-pack. I got 2 packs and paid only .14 tax.

I know about 2 of the 3, and try and use them when I can. I checked on the 2 I knew about before I went shopping, but couldn't find coupons for the mega sale items I would use.

:thanks7:Thanks for letting me know there is a third! I'll check out the boards and get started adding more coupons right away.

[newmommy13]

good work on your first trip! i'm right about there as far as savings vs spending. usually right around 50% give or take. hopefully we will get better as we go, i get jealous when i see these ladies (and guys i guess!) getting a cart full of groceries for a few bucks!

the baseball card thing is tedious (especially when you have to clip from 10 papers!) but it is so much easier to use in the store. i had a 2in binder and it only lasted me 2 weeks before i had to go out and buy the $18.99 zipper binder (2-2in rings. one section for food and one for non-food items!) from target. it was a ridiculous expenditure but it was worth it for ease of handling in the store, especially since the two sections are seperate. my qs always were falling out as i was looking through the pages in the store. AWKWARD!

about the gas station papers...i have had several friendly conversations with the girl who works sunday nights at the one across the street so i didn't feel that dumb asking for them the first time. now she just saves them all for me and i go there around 9 (they close at 930) and she just hands them over, how are you how is the baby etc. you will get to know them and it will seem less weird. my dh actually had a working relationship with the owner and he was super embarassed when i started doing this but now he will pick them up for me sometimes too. all the employees know to save them sundays so whoever is working just clips off the tops and hands them over! ;)

[diyod]

good work on your first trip! i'm right about there as far as savings vs spending. usually right around 50% give or take. hopefully we will get better as we go, i get jealous when i see these ladies (and guys i guess!) getting a cart full of groceries for a few bucks!

the baseball card thing is tedious (especially when you have to clip from 10 papers!) but it is so much easier to use in the store. i had a 2in binder and it only lasted me 2 weeks before i had to go out and buy the $18.99 zipper binder (2-2in rings. one section for food and one for non-food items!) from target. it was a ridiculous expenditure but it was worth it for ease of handling in the store, especially since the two sections are seperate. my qs always were falling out as i was looking through the pages in the store. AWKWARD!

about the gas station papers...i have had several friendly conversations with the girl who works sunday nights at the one across the street so i didn't feel that dumb asking for them the first time. now she just saves them all for me and i go there around 9 (they close at 930) and she just hands them over, how are you how is the baby etc. you will get to know them and it will seem less weird. my dh actually had a working relationship with the owner and he was super embarassed when i started doing this but now he will pick them up for me sometimes too. all the employees know to save them sundays so whoever is working just clips off the tops and hands them over! ;)

Yea, right now I have a 2" binder. I figure that will get me by until I start getting my hands on more coupons (don't have a big stash right now since I'm starting all over from Sunday's paper). I'll see how this way of organizing goes for me, and if it works then I'll consider getting a better binder down the road.

Thanks for telling me about the gas station thing. I don't usually go to the ones near me, but I might start so I can get to know them and not feel so awkward about it. What about the ones that are opened 24 hours? When is the best time to go to those? I know at least one of the ones near me is opened 24 hours.

[diyod]

Are there some weeks where you can't find good deals?

After finding some great deals last week, I've been searching through my ads for the grocery and drugstore I'm focusing one...but I can't seem to find all that great of deals for me. Some of the sales are on the Kroger brand, and I very rarely get coupons for the Kroger brand (unless it comes in the Kroger Plus Card coupons I get periodically).

Is it just me? Am I missing something? Or are there some weeks where you just can't find awesome deals?

[sadlady12]

Yes, it happens, esp. after a really good sale at your store. Remember you're only focusing on a couple of stores. There are always deals to be found. Granted, they may not be on items that you want or need at the time and they may not be at your store.

One thing you can do on off weeks, is go to your store and check out the clearance sections and see what you have coupons for that match up with those items. There are sure to be lots of "hidden deals". Those are deals that aren't necessarily on sale but with the coupon it's still free or cheap. Those take more searching out and are harder to come by but they are out there.

In shopping at Kroger, be sure to check the current catalina deals. Lots of times, those can be good to work deals around. Duracell batteries come to mind for this week. Spend 20.00 get a 5.00 catalina back. There are qs out there to match up, I believe they are 1.00/1 but not positive, I haven't looked.... if that's the case though, you could work this... each pack is 1.88, get 11 packs for 20.68 - 11.00 mq = 9.68 and then you'd get a 5.00 cat back to do it again with and then only be oop 4.68 for another 11 packs of batteries.

Look for those hidden deals, they are out there. The hard part is you have to be "out there" too to find them, lol.

If you feel like you just can't find anything at your stores, one week and you really gotta find a deal, go ahead and look at another store. You may not add it for all the time but if you can read about a deal there, go do the deal and that's all, you'd probably come out pretty good. Walgreens is not one I'd recommend doing that with though unless you are already familiar with how it works there. That one can be complicated at first. Walmart usually has something but honestly, I normally hate to shop at my walmart because of the parking and traffic issues I run into. Don't forget the dollar stores like Dollar General and Family Dollar, both of them take coupons and you can get some really great deals there too.