Newbie looking for some guardian angels

[coupon_surfer]

Hi I am new, I am trying to save up to buy a house. I currently have 7 rats (I know not a normal pet), and two cats. I am trying to cut my costs for HBA, Bathroom (toilet paper, paper towels, and baby wipes are much needed), and pet supplies, as I live with family and board is included in my rent. There is a walmart, walgreens, and CVS around the area. I just a couple of minutes ago signed up for a CVS card. I am brand new at this coupon thing. (I just got a couple of bags of cat treats for free, and loved it.) I have read quit a lot of the newbie sections of the forum, but I am just a little overwhelmed. Any hints tips, or suggestions are greatly welcome. Thanks in advance.

[Curious_Kat]

I think the trick is to find out what coupons you can use at the stores you frequent, secure a source of those coupons, and be really aware of when things are already on sale. I think that means getting a store circular, but I'm also new and I don't know how to do that yet either. :)

So, first step: go to the Walgreens, CVS, and WalMart websites, and also the FAQ sections here on HCW. Find out what kind of coupons they take, how many, and if they double on them. Then, once you know general policy, talk to the customer service desk at each store, and find out what the store thinks. While you're there you can ask them how to get a circular, which might have coupons of its own in there, I don't know. Oh! And try to get a saver card or a membership card while you're there, if it's free. Find out the benefits.

After you know what to get, go about trying to find them. Sunday newspaper inserts seem like a safe bet, since almost everyone takes print coupons (rather than internet coupons). You can find out which one of your local papers has inserts, and what kind (there are three) in the Coupon Database here at HCW. Find a place to buy the Sunday paper, or get a subscription if you need newspaper anyway (like for lining the cages of your rats). I think you can sometimes pick up multiple copies and use a bunch of identical coupons, but some coupons say you can't, and some stores only take a certain number. You might want to get to the store for the paper early, too, I tried to get my Sunday paper today only to find that at noon the place had run out.

Ok, so now you know how you can use your coupons, and you have coupons to use. Follow the store circular to find out what sales will be available when, and when something comes on sale that you need (or, if you have a coupon that would make it free or nearly free, go get it anyway, since you could probably find a use for it- especially during this season, nonperishable foods are great to donate) go buy it. While you're in the store, be aware for coupons on tearsheets or 'blinkie' consoles. Grab some of those while you're there.

And I think that's pretty much how it works.

PS: Rats! They're like tiny versions of dogs! Cute. :)

PPS: There are other things, like turning in your recycling (if you're in a state that gives money back per bottle or per pound) or collecting POPs from certain products, that can save you money or get you free stuff, too. And Box Tops for Education/Campbell's soup education thingamajigs are good for trading- so keep an eye on the packaging you buy.

[ninetenths]

I would recommend you dive right in to all the threads of stores by you. You don't have to participate - you are free to just read and see what people are doing while you are just getting your toes wet. If you only spend your time in the shallow end (noob threads) you may lose interest getting stuck in the trees (although you do need to learn what ecb's & RR's & such are and you can learn what they mean in the noob threads without p.o.ing seasoned members in the regular threads by asking what they are) and miss out on the deals you can pull off all by yourself in the very near future in the forest.

Folks here explain exactly what they purchased and even show you the math. You should be spending NOTHING or very close to that for HBA within a month just by copying what you see others do here. They aren't giving out trophys for coming up with brilliant deals here (although you see them all the time), just trying to help each other learn the ropes like others have showed us.

You are going to lose your mind when you start playing CVS! I'm sure you used to think it was an "expensive" store - for us here, it's where we get our FREE expensive HBA's! And, you may never again darken the doorway of walmart - they are SUPER expensive compared to the rest. Best of luck, just hang in there and copy a deal or two - that should cure your "noobes".

[tmsmalley]

And read the Couponing 101 thread that is in a sticky in this forum. It will walk you through all the basics.

Tess

[kevincz]

all this information is all well and good but of no use. I have no idea how to get coupons to take to the store. thats all I want to do. not all this other stuff.

[zoeys_mom]

all this information is all well and good but of no use. I have no idea how to get coupons to take to the store. thats all I want to do. not all this other stuff.

Paper coupons:
Sunday paper
blinkies
tearpads
gas station tearpads
recycle bins
coffee shops with paper

printable sites
coupons.com
smartsource.com
bettycrocker.com
eatbetteramerica.com
boxtopsforeducation.com
redplum.com
pillsbury.com

Take your pick of printable sites or locations to find paper coupons.

[zoeys_mom]

Coupon_surfer - not sure if you cage your rats or not and if so, if you use pine shavings or not. When I had rats, I didn't use pine shavings as it is not really good for their respitory system, also gets expensive

I used rabbit food. It takes a bit to get used to the smell(dh never did but he married me anyway, lol) but it is better for them and if you have a local feed store nearby, you can get a BIG bag for very cheap. Much cheaper than pine shavings.

[tmsmalley]

all this information is all well and good but of no use. I have no idea how to get coupons to take to the store. thats all I want to do. not all this other stuff.

"All this other stuff" as you put it, is what you need to know about where to find coupons, how to organize them and even more importantly, how to use them once you have them. If you're not willing to invest a little time in reading the directions in the Couponing 101 thread so that you can actually make this work, you're probably going to be disappointed in the results you get.

Tess