Just starting out..

[TashaLu00]

I was wondering what the easiest/quickest way to start my coupon collecting??

And what is an easy store to start with???

[marilyna]

Hi Tasha,
The best way to start, I think, is to buy the Sunday paper that has the coupon inserts in it. consider buying several copies each week.
Probably the easiest store to start with is your local grocery store. If you have one that doubles or triples coupons that would be a great one to start with.

[jolly321]

You can sign up to be a trader and trade for potlucks also participate in trades. Join the Coupon Trader Group

Before you know it you will have tons.

[IMaqu]

Are you feeling somewhat overwhelmed too? LOL

So much information!
I've got to get a newspaper subscription-- and then start organizing a little better... I'm waiting for my CVS card to come in the mail- We have a CVS, but I've never shopped there.
I've been downloading coupons as much as my computer will let me, and I'm looking through the grocery store circulars that come to my house free.

We will get the hang of this, right? LOL

[tmsmalley]

Get yourself 2-4 copies of the Sunday paper this weekend. Cut out the coupons that you might possibly use, put the rest away for future use. Organize them in a way that makes some sense to you, then look up the thread for the grocery store near you that you typically shop at. Someone there will have a list of the best deals this week. Then, take your coupons, get the stuff you need, stock up on good deals if you can and see how it all works. After you get that down, try a drug store in your area.

Tess

[jolly321]

One more thing, I think it is best to always get an even number of papers so if a sale is BOGO you can use two coupons on the purchase. (This many depend on the store).

This has been great advise from everyone!

[suesaving]

Welcome, Tasha! And Welcome everyone else!

I know it can seem overwhelming at first, but stick with it!!! We are all here to help!

I second the motion to join the trader in training group (I swear, it has nothing to do with the fact that it's my forum!). Often if you are looking for several copies of one coupon, you can trade someone here on HCW for it instead of going out and buying 10 papers or something like that. It's like, if you have a cat and I have a dog, maybe I can trade you my cat coupons for your dog coupons, you know? That way everyone gets what they can use!

Anyway, click the link Jolly so kindly provided or the one in my signature below...

[elisablaze]

I was just coming to ask that same question.

I guess I will start by getting several papers this week and then trying to come up with an organization system.

[couponut]

I am a newbie also and I got a great tip that if you have more than one set of inserts (like P&G) seperate them and stack each page together, staple the coupons together, cut out the coupons. This way, you don't cut out one coupon at a time. I mark a baggie with the month and day it came out of and put them in that baggie. Then if I know what day the coupon came out, I go to that baggie. I have some coupons that are stapled together with 5+ in each one and if I trade any, they will be all together ready to send. Ask your friends and family if they get the paper and if they don't use the coupons, would they please save them for you. Hope this helps.....

[hokiegir1]

I'm also just starting! I got my paper yesterday, and am about to sit down with some scissors and an envelope, and a couple paper clips. My plan is to put all of this week's in the envelope marked with the date, and paper clip the different parts (RP, SS, etc) within that date to make them easier to find.

I'm also looking forward to being able to use the Coupon database! I have a friend (vacation4mom) that referred me here because I was telling her I was going to use a spreadsheet, and she said they had that already set up on here!

I normally list-shop anyway, so I will be trying to make my list based on the sales and coupons I have (************** has store lists where you can select the items you want and then print it out), then I will pull my coupons based on my list and jsut paperclip them behind. I won't need to fuss at the store, because I will only bring the ones I need.

At least...that is the goal.