New and have a couple questions

[Rachel2717]

Hi Everyone!

I'm a newbie here, and I have a few questions to help get me started. I generally shop at Meijer, CVS, and Walgreens.
-Is it worth it to print online coupons? It seems that I might be spending more in paper and ink than the savings.. What is your experience with online coupons?

-Do you have a coupon train here?

-I have tried couponing before, but it seems like many of my coupons expire before I ever find a good sale! What am I doing wrong?

-What about fresh fruits and vegetables? I have heard many people complain that it is hard to get healthy foods on sale/there are no coupons for them. How do you handle this?

Thanks SO much for your help and advice! :)

[VivaciousJewelz]

Hi Everyone!

I'm a newbie here, and I have a few questions to help get me started. I generally shop at Meijer, CVS, and Walgreens.
-Is it worth it to print online coupons? It seems that I might be spending more in paper and ink than the savings.. What is your experience with online coupons?

-Do you have a coupon train here?

-I have tried couponing before, but it seems like many of my coupons expire before I ever find a good sale! What am I doing wrong?

-What about fresh fruits and vegetables? I have heard many people complain that it is hard to get healthy foods on sale/there are no coupons for them. How do you handle this?

Thanks SO much for your help and advice! :)

Welcome!

1) Sometimes it's worth it to print IPs. For example, on coupons.com there was a $1/1 Tone body wash coupon that meant overage on body wash since CVS had it on sale $3.88 get $3 ECB. I usually only print it if there is more than a 50/50 chance I'll actually use it.

2) Yep, we have coupon trains here, but you need to join the trader-in-training program first. Info on that is here.

3) You're not doing anything wrong, some coupons have short expiration dates, or sometimes even if a sale does come around, I might not use a coupon if I know it's not the best deal. There will always be sales and always be coupons so eventually, you'll start getting the deals!

4) Besides stockpiling frozen and canned vegetables (Birds Eye, Green Giant, Libbys) I buy meat and produce and submit the receipts along with mail-in-rebate forms (that you can trade for after you become a trader) to offset that cost. I also by locally at farmer's markets in the spring/summer, and I know a lot of our members grow and can their own vegetables sometimes.

I'm sure more people will jump in here to help you out. Good luck and welcome, again!

[Pennstater]

Hi,

Since your only grocery store is Meijer, be religious about reading the weekly sales ad. There should be a board on here for that store with all the coupon matchups. Eat what's on sale or near your price point.

How to make price point book? Log most thing you eat, in categories, such as meats, condiments, laundry soap, fruit and veg, boxed items etc.

Start writing down the prices without cuopon, the store name and date.
After a few weeks, you will find the lowest price for most items that you are willing to pay. Stock up when the items are at or near this price, buy 3 months worth of the stuff! After 3 months it will on sale again with a coupon.

Trade coupons on our trading board for items you need weekly, according to your sales ad.

I only print the printables i am going to use that day, unless it's an especially terrific one.

Just some tips, good luck!

[Rachel2717]

Thank you! All of your info was really helpful. :) And I will definitely check into the trader in training section of this site.

[tacatcon]

Hi just wanted to say welcome and let you know that we are waiting for you at Traders in Training with open arms

There are a lot of great coaches in that forum that will really help you figure out how to maximize trading to get the best coupons you can and work on that stockpile!