Having A Hard Time With....

[VAS1326]

I'm having a hard time making sure I have enough coupons for the sales that are going on. Sales here start Sunday and some of the ad's don't even arrive until Sunday morning. Some I can see online Saturday and one comes on Thursday. So by the time I know what's on sale and need to get coupons for it leaves little time for gathering them in bigger quanitities. For example if toothpaste is on sale and I have 3 coupons but it's such a good deal I would want/need 10 or more coupons. Well by the time I either find them online (not always available) or trade in my swap group or order them from a service and then have them shipped the sale is either over or almost over and everything is gone.

So I guess my question for the experts is how do you know which coupons to really stockpile at any certain time? I have a ton of coupons just very few in bulk to really be able to capatilize on sales/clearence items.

Should I be hoarding coupons for everything we use in the house (seems like a waste if they will expire before I use them if they don't go on sale)?

Please let me know your tricks for coupon hoarding. Or let me know how you find out which sales are comming up in the future.

[Mothernature]

My philosophy is to obtain the number of coupons that you will need for the product before the products expire (i.e. only purchase what you will use). This differs from person to person.

This site has the upcoming two -three weeks worth of sales ads with match up for CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens. You may need to search for a blog that specializes on your local grocers.

The easiest thing to do is get a rain check. A rain check allows time to obtain enough coupons.

Some stores like Target allow one to return three to four days post sales with coupons.

[434Teresa]

This is a fast way to get the ones you need sometimes if you have paypal to pay with...I know some dont like to buy coupons on ebay and I refuse to pay what some ask on there but often I find a buy now price that I can deal with when I need the coupons ASAP. If you check out ebay as soon as the ad is out then you should have time to get the coupons you need in the mail, usually takes me about 5 days to get them in the mail which is just in time to use them..There is also clippping sites that you can buy from also those often you can but what amount you will use instead of 10 or 20 like ebay...

If you have a news paper recycle place I would drop by there and see if they mind if you look in the papers..this way you can stock up and not have to pay for the coupons you need. Not all states will let you but some do...so you need to check..

Also you may want to keep track as to how often products such as toothpaste go on sale as to where you can get it for free with coupons for here I have found that alot of those products go on sale often but there is some that dont.

[CW&M Mom]

What grocery stores are they?

Many of the online forums here find ways to get the ad early.

[VAS1326]

I typically shop at Meijer, Kroger, VG's and Target.

I also shop at the commissary but their sales last at least 2 weeks so it gives me plenty of time to get coupons.

I have bought coupons on e-bay. Some sellers ship real fast others do not. I find though that it's cheeper on e-bay usually then to buy them at a clipping site if you want them in bulk.