How long to get going good?

[jrashley]

I know this isnt going to happen overnight and I fully do not expect it to but I was just wondering. How long does it take for a beginner who goes "all in" to start seeing good results. How long does it take to gather a decent stash of coupons to pull from if all you have is access to the local papers and a few coupons here and there on food and store shelves? I see some people who have hundreds of the same coupon. How is that even possible?

[cpaige]

It will take a little while to a good stash of coupons. Make sure that you have a good organization system for it as it can get out of control very quickly unless you are on top of it all the time. The RAOK forum is a great way to get started with your 'stash'. Watch the sales, and remember that those sales come back around! As for the hundreds of coupons.........I know that I used to get them at the end of the night at my local corner store, however the clerk started taking them all on me....so that's out. You'll get there!

[momabrown3]

It takes a while to get a good stockpile going.RAOK are a good way to get extra coupons.Trade for coupons for things you use.Match sales with coupons.Check the forums for stores you shop.You can even order coupons for items on sale .Do you have stores that double coupons?This a great when a store doubles the coupon and it's on sale.HTH

[CW&M Mom]

Take a day and go through all your local grocery stores and Target and walk through the isles to find the peelies, hangtags and tearpads. You don't want to take them all...but help your self to some...even if you don't think you will purchase the product...you can trade it.

[rachellepeters]

It took me about 2 weeks. I printed off every decent q I could find..there are tons out there. Save your weekly inserts don't just clip what you think you'll use, there will be great deals almost every week from each insert that you won't even think about.

I have a Wag's, Target and CVS and that seems to be where the best deals are, free's every week.

My first couple grocery store trips when I first started couponing I only saved $10-$20 per visit, but after LOOKING at what things cost and LEARNING about when to buy and when to stockpile, I started saving more and more. Only been doing it 3 months now and save 75%+ at the store, and 90-100% at Wags and CVS. GOOD LUCK!

OH! Also start emailing co's and telling them you like the products and then you'll get q's mailed to you for products you definitely like and use. I have received tons of q's and free's....I started off emailing 5-10 places per day, but now I do 2-5 per week since I've emailed most everyone I can think of.

[mommas2moody]

Yes, take the word from the wise and do have an organized system first! I didn't and it has hurt! (My coupons get out of control every week it seems, but I also work full-time, have a long commute each day, and 3 kids)

If you can find someone (a friend IRL) to trade with, that helps. I have a friend at work that is single so I can get stuff like diaper coupons from her. We both grab peelie's and tearpad q's for each other when we go to the store.

I recently joined the TNT and that's been a great way to get a good coupons stash going too. I see that you have also, so hop onto one of the trade chains!!! You might "have to" give up a few q's that you want to use but you will get a great return for doing so.

I also browse ebay once a month to see if there is something. That's always an option. There's a forum somewhere on HCW about buying q's on ebay, check it out.

Something else that I found that helps me see if I'm actually saving or not, is a saving spreadsheet. I log every trip to the store. I know when I receive rebates and what items I stocked up on during that trip.

Overall I think it took me about a month to get a system in place and now after a few months I have improved my system (thanks to the members of HCW!!!). I also notice that they as the months go on, I have learned to do more in less time.

Hang in there! Things do get better as long as you are willing.

[434Teresa]

The more you work on useing coupons the better you will get...it takes time to find good coupons and to come up with a system that works for you. I send about 30 minutes or so a day online looking for coupons, some days a hour or two..Visit the product websites and HCW and so on..Ebay is a good place to buy coupons also but make sure you are getting manufactures not internet printed ones, not a safe thing to do. Let your frineds and family know to save coupons from boxes and news papers and so for you..
I dont drive all over town to shop. I use the sales ads in the paper and price match them at wlmart,however I do go to wlagreens some because of the RR they have if its on things I use because you cant price match those. With the price of gas and having twin 3 year olds this is just best for me..

If you work a check paying job you will now have another if you stick to useing coupons but its pays very well. I am a SHAM for the first time in my life worked since I was 14 but the twins would cost to much to put in daycare and i have two teen boys to...

Just keep using whatever coupons you can you will get better at it..and look at it like I did if I only saved $20 that was better than full price.

[tmsmalley]

I thought it through for about 2 weeks before I started. I figured out what kind of binder I needed and what kind of holders, I read lots of threads. Then, I collected coupons and went for it. I'd say 2-3 weeks should see a dramatic return depending on how you look at things. For example, I was able to see on my first trip that I had twice as many groceries in the cart for less than I'd paid 2 weeks earlier. Your out of pocket expense will likely stay the same while you build your stash, but you'll be bringing home a lot more. Then it just builds from there.

Keep in mind that some weeks are better coupon weeks than others too, so it may take a month to get your coupon stash built up too.

Tess

[cecaic0609]

It took me about a month to start getting enough coupons to get good or free deals at the store, but I only buy one copy of our sunday paper, because our coupons are always off 2 items and I'd rather them be off 1...not to mention we don't get half of the inserts advirtised.

[mommas2moody]

.not to mention we don't get half of the inserts advirtised.

Same here!
I did read today on another site that the insert size depends on your newspaper/city. Ex: our last weeks RP had about 4 q's in it.