Couponing 101: Complete beginners start here!

[marcia3131]

hi is there anyone here to help me with this new site

[msjssavinplace]

I love all the info gathered in this one site. I'm sure it will help me. I've been looking for a site like this one for about 6 mons. I've recently had my first grandchild, his mother had to be on bedrest for 5 mons. just to get him here. I started looking at the option of coupons to help them save since their income was cut in half. With this site I can now help more by getting them to join. Thank you this site will make all the difference and help me make sizable monthly contribution to my grandson's college fund with the money I save. I can't wait to get started on the right track to savings.

[Kricket]

Hello! I have coupons here that say "Save $1 on three". So am I able to use 3 coupons and get a $1 off each of them? I am just not sure how I would save a good lump sum of money if I only saved a $1 for all 3 items. I hope this makes sense!
The main store that I would be shopping at is Kroger since they have a loyalty card. I am a little confused on their policies about using more than one manufacturer coupon.

[mandycat48]

Hello! I have coupons here that say "Save $1 on three". So am I able to use 3 coupons and get a $1 off each of them? I am just not sure how I would save a good lump sum of money if I only saved a $1 for all 3 items. I hope this makes sense!
The main store that I would be shopping at is Kroger since they have a loyalty card. I am a little confused on their policies about using more than one manufacturer coupon.

When the coupon says $1/3 means that you have to buy those three items in order to get the $1 off, you cannot use 3 $1 off of 3 coupons unless you are buying 9 of whatever the coupon is for. what you want to look for is a good discount on the items using your store card + the $1off coupon. In some cases buying the generic store brand may be cheaper then having to purchase those three in order to use that coupon. The real goal in the end is to save money on the things you need...with or without a coupon.

[klinkbarbie]

I have been couponing for 30 years, but don't understand if I have a buy 6 get & 1.00 off coupon, can I actually use 6 coupons and get a credit????

[klinkbarbie]

I am not sure I understand a buy 6 items get $1.00 off. Can I actually use 6 of the same coupons and get a credit???

[booklover]

If you have a coupon that is $1/6, that is $1 off six items, then you buy six items and get $1 off. You cannot use six coupons.

[auntbea1]

I have saved my coupons now for 2 weeks and trying to get them organized.
My problem is I think I want to get to much to fast. I get upset that alot of coupons are get $1 off of 3 how can you save when you can only get $1 off off 3 or 2items.I'm guessing I just have to wait for better coupons and better sale. I just don't want to expect to much and get disapointed when I'm not getting the free to near free stuff to start my stockpile. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

Not every coupon is going to score you free or near free items. You should always be looking each week for what you can get for free or super cheap but other than that you need to focus on is it a good deal. $1.00 off three may not sound great but it really depends on what the product is. Lets say you have a coupon, for example, that is for $1.00 off three cans of Bumble Bee canned tuna. Now the regular price on the tuna is lets say $1.50. But it is on sale this week for 50¢ a can. Now you use your $1.00 off three coupon making it 17¢ a can. Good deal.

Keep in mind this is a made up senario. Maybe the items you have a coupon for won't go on sale at all before they expire. And they will...I only use about 10% of all the coupons I have because the items do not go on sale.

Aim for cheaper than generic. You may also want to read this article I wrote about Couponing & Budgets which gives a really good break down on building your stockpile up over time.

[RescueMom]

The following statement was made in the couponing 101 guide "Your goal is to match the weekly sales with the coupons in your possession." I have been using couponing websites and the weekly matchups they provide for my area. I assumed the owners of these websites use a computer program to figure out the best deals with the available coupons, and am wondering if you are suggesting this is possible on our own? I'm just wondering how this works if I don't necessarily know ALL the coupons I have (while looking through the circular) and what makes something a great deal (for example, I was warned in the guide that just because something goes "on sale" doesn't mean that the store didn't bump the price up, i.e. 5 for $5, when the original price of the item was $0.85). Anyway, I would love to know a practical way to do the ad matchups on my own (or with the help of my computer!) because the ones on the internet rarely match the coupons that I get in my local paper. Thanks!