Several newbie questions

[Paintbrush]

I have been reading (re-reading) here for two weeks and I'm a bit on overload. Fairly confused/uncertain about some things. And have questions that probably count for different categories/forums but not sure what goes where.

I get the jist of most of this stuff, generally. I understand that I probably want to find a source of multiple inserts. Organize my coupons in some way. Hit the store when there's a deal on that item and try to make the best of the coupon via deals and mixing mfr with store Q's (isn't that called stacking?). And for stockpiling I want to do this in multiples when there is a really really good deal.

Got that much.

What I don't get is 1. How do you know, when something is on sale, whether to use your Q's to stockpile or to wait on a better deal?

2. Same thing... How do you know which q's to use on the deal? I mean if a store is doubling/tripling up to .99, and you have some for .75 and others for 1.00-1.50, then you'd probably go with the lower one, right?

3. related to #1: if an item is not on sale, but I need it, I use one of my 5 identical q's for it and save the other 4 for stockpiling when it is on sale, right?

4. I'm a bit overwhelmed with all my options. I have several stores within 5 miles.
$ Tree
$ General
Aldi
Walmart
Target
Giant
Shopper's
Bloom
CVS
Rite Aid
Home Depot
Kohl's
Lowe's HI
Michael's
(probably a few others I can't think of)

And more within 20 miles
Family $
Walgreens
Wegmans
Harris Teeter
BJ's
Joann's
Office Depot

I think I can find a fair amount of inserts pretty easily and I'm still trying to get the chance to get to a recycling center.

My question is how do I know which stores to focus on as a newbie?

5. Trading... I'm guessing that if I can find several inserts, and not necessarily needing all of them right now (I only have so much funding to put toward stockpiling)... I may be able to trade a ton, eventually. At what point between the release of the Q and the expiration of the Q does it become too late to trade/sell?

Some I know right off the bat that I will not use. We do not have pets, so I know any and all pet q's can be traded/sold immediately. The same goes for baby/toddler items. My youngest is 8yo, so I'm past that part of life (so far). But others... say... shampoo or maybe ice cream treats... or something of similar nature, we will need from time to time, but not necessarily in lots of 30 or whatever. 30 bottles of shampoo would last me a couple years. Esp. if it's not my favorite brand, most likely I'll get 4-5 and then wait for a brand I like to enter dozens. So... at what point is it too late to decide "I'm not going to use these Q's, so I can trade/sell?

Ok... I know I had more, but all this is a lot already and if I try to think of the rest my head will explode.

I feel like I'm at the point of all this overwhelmance (I like making up words) where people say "Ok... calm down... breathe. Just take one thing at a time." But I'm trying to process all of what I've read and it wants my system to lock up. Like putting a new high tech program into a computer that was made ten years ago.

[434Teresa]

Since gas is so high I try to make the best of one trip. So I dont run to the store to buy one or two items because I have coupons and they are on sale, meaning I dont do 2 or more shopping trips a week unless I really have to or maybe have to go to the Dr, or take trash off but I try to do as much as I can in trip...

As you learn to coupon shop you will learn what the rock bottom prices are for the items you buy are, thats how you know when to stock up.

I use the sale ads in the sunday paper or go online to see the store ads to know whats on sale.. Also you can check out the store threads on here for people post things they find that are not in the ads.

Most want coupons that have at least 2 weeks or more before they date expire. It takes 3 to 7 days to get the coupon envie in the mail after its been mail out, so as soon as you know(think) you will not be useing the coupon you need to try to trade or sale them.

If the store doubles/triples then you need to do the math in your head to see which coupon is the best to use. If you have a $1.50 coupon but you have a .40 coupons and the store double then the $1.50 coupon is the way to go even if they triple the $1.50 coupon is still the better deal.

Dont be in "big" hurrry to get a stockpile going for as you learn the coupon ropes you will learn how to get the better deals then worry about a "big" stockpile. Unless the item is Free or near free and you are goint to use it. People start wanting that stockpile and go head and stock it really fast only to find 6 months later that they could have got a much better deal on the 5 bottles of shampoo they still have left..so start off slow and just focus on learning the first few months.

[blossomed]

I personally do not stockpile. I'm hoping to move sooner rather than later and I've not really found anything "for free" that I had to have. I also have a small family so even 2 jugs of laundry soap lasts me a few months. I instead focus on things I want or need and then focus on getting the best deals on those.

I also only go to one grocery store (harris teeter, which I love so much!) and then one drug store (CVS). I'll hit the dollar tree and a produce stand about once a month. For me to go to another store means getting a 2YO in and out of the car, she does not like the grocery cart right now, and then standing in some sort of line sooooo I wont do that for less than 10.00 in savings. which means if HT has eggs for 1.99 a dozen and another store for 1.00 - I'm not making the trip for .99. Sometimes we just go without - like raisins - I have not found a good deal on Raisins lately so instead we are eating the apricots, and the cranberries (u know the ones I got after christmas on sale! haha and we are living to tell about it!)

I focus my couponing on HBA, cleaning products, paper products. Make a list of all the things you need today and maybe what is your favorite brand, then search the database for a coupon for that item.

A price book also helps you determine the best price. I picked 10-15 items, I priced them at the local grocery store, costco, and then started watching the sales. at half price, I would pick up what I needed. At 75%, I got a longer supply and at Free, you take as much as you will use before it spoils. The best part of free is if you determine you cant use it, you can share with family, friend or neighbor!

[434Teresa]

I personally do not stockpile. I'm hoping to move sooner rather than later and I've not really found anything "for free" that I had to have. I also have a small family so even 2 jugs of laundry soap lasts me a few months. I instead focus on things I want or need and then focus on getting the best deals on those.

I also only go to one grocery store (harris teeter, which I love so much!) and then one drug store (CVS). I'll hit the dollar tree and a produce stand about once a month. For me to go to another store means getting a 2YO in and out of the car, she does not like the grocery cart right now, and then standing in some sort of line sooooo I wont do that for less than 10.00 in savings. which means if HT has eggs for 1.99 a dozen and another store for 1.00 - I'm not making the trip for .99. Sometimes we just go without - like raisins - I have not found a good deal on Raisins lately so instead we are eating the apricots, and the cranberries (u know the ones I got after christmas on sale! haha and we are living to tell about it!)

I focus my stockpile on HBA, cleaning products, paper products. Make a list of all the things you need today and maybe what is your favorite brand, then search the database for a coupon for that item.

A price book also helps you determine the best price. I picked 10-15 items, I priced them at the local grocery store, costco, and then started watching the sales. at half price, I would pick up what I needed. At 75%, I got a longer supply and at Free, you take as much as you will use before it spoils. The best part of free is if you determine you cant use it, you can share with family, friend or neighbor!

You say you dont stockpile then you say that you do "focus my stockpile on HBA, cleaning products, paper products".....

Also this is why we stockpile anything that we use "I instead focus on things I want or need and then focus on getting the best deals on those" most of use dont just buy things for the stockpile becuase its cheap or free, or I dont for I dont have the room....if you are buying say Ritz crackers which you eat about everyday the are on sale for $2 and you have a5- $1 coupons but only buy 1 box which will be gone in a week well then next week you will pay $3 for it - the $1 coupon if they have not expired.....so knowing we eat alot of those I would just buy all 5 when I can get them at $1 a box, instead of 1 at $1 after the sale and coupon then paY $2 the next week after the coupon or $3 if the coupons have expired.....I would not however buy 1,000 tubes of toothpast just because they were .20 a pice..


stockpiling is all about getting the items your famliy uses at the rock bottom dallar and since sales change and coupons expire you need to do it while both is there to do or you may spend more the next 2 or 3 months on the items than you had to.

[Paintbrush]

Since gas is so high I try to make the best of one trip. So I dont run to the store to buy one or two items because I have coupons and they are on sale, meaning I dont do 2 or more shopping trips a week unless I really have to or maybe have to go to the Dr, or take trash off but I try to do as much as I can in trip...

See, I'm blessed this way, because I have several stores within a 3 mile radius. All right along the main road and I pass them when I take my son to school every day. I can walk to Walmart, so there is no gas expense for that, but this walmart isn't superized yet, so it's grocery is limited.

As you learn to coupon shop you will learn what the rock bottom prices are for the items you buy are, thats how you know when to stock up.

This is very helpful, thanks. Would you recommend starting an Excel file or something?

I use the sale ads in the sunday paper or go online to see the store ads to know whats on sale.. Also you can check out the store threads on here for people post things they find that are not in the ads.

I just spent several hours looking through some of my store forums. Ya'll be good at dis stuff! Smokin' man! I think mostly the teamwork in this place is what rocks! There are TONS of stores, but each one has a designated Mod, and ... it just seems like a really great bunch here! I'm super impressed!

Most want coupons that have at least 2 weeks or more before they date expire. It takes 3 to 7 days to get the coupon envie in the mail after its been mail out, so as soon as you know(think) you will not be useing the coupon you need to try to trade or sale them.

that is very helpful. I'm taking my pet q's up to my sister this weekend and whatever she doesn't want/use, I'm filing for trade. Once I get to know my way around a bit (may take another week), then I can look at trading. I haven't even touched the info on that yet, but I'm glad my q's won't die before I'm ready for it.

If the store doubles/triples then you need to do the math in your head to see which coupon is the best to use. If you have a $1.50 coupon but you have a .40 coupons and the store double then the $1.50 coupon is the way to go even if they triple the $1.50 coupon is still the better deal.

Boy! Just that alone is enough to make one's head hurt. I'm mathy, but geez! Keeping store policies straight with coupon amounts and all the stacking rules, etc... all on top of doubling/tripling. WOW!

Dont be in "big" hurrry to get a stockpile going for as you learn the coupon ropes you will learn how to get the better deals then worry about a "big" stockpile. Unless the item is Free or near free and you are goint to use it. People start wanting that stockpile and go head and stock it really fast only to find 6 months later that they could have got a much better deal on the 5 bottles of shampoo they still have left..so start off slow and just focus on learning the first few months.

I think I'm more afraid of my q's going to waste. I'd rather pass them along if I'm not gonna use 'em, but... don't want to pass them and then have the deal show up the next week. kwim?

I'd much rather stockpile more at a higher savings than less at a lower cost, but there are several things I'm in need of now. My pantry looks like it had anorexia and my fridge looks like I starved it to death. My toiletries are holding their own, except for some paper products. But... suffice to say, much of what I buy now with my measly 4 inserts this week and 1 insert from last week... is not going to be a stockpile. It'll be necessary items.

But... as soon as I start finding some good insert sources and what not... you betcha I'm stocking. I just need to know what the best time to do so is. I heard a rumor that baking items are good to stock up on toward the end of summer/early fall. q's and sales are high with them then. (is that true?)

Like some of the financial experts say... you need 3-6 months worth of savings. Well... I want to be able to stock 3-6 months of items. kwim?

[Paintbrush]

A price book also helps you determine the best price.

Do you mean making your own price book, or some kind of store list or website or something?

[motherofmolly]

rite aid
target (if you target is coupon friendly-most are getting better)
walgreens
shoppers (facebook coupons every week..some are pretty decent)
dollar general (deals come and go, but when they come they are pretty good)
walmart-hit and miss
giant - i dont have one, but from the forum posts here, not bad deals

the best way, is make a list. if you are getting something that you use for almost nothing, use it now. especially if it is something that can sit in a stockpile and you dont have to search and trade for a q.

the stores i listed that you have are pretty good stores for deals. i wish i had a rite aid, they seem like every week is more freebie stuff. pick a day, and plan your trip out. i do mine on sunday morning and have a planned route.

as far as using your coupons now or later, this is something you will have to decide. weight the usage you get out of it, the amount you will pay out of pocket, if you need to get coupons, and if it is an easy store/deal for you to get. alot of this will come with time. you will make mistakes (we all still do) but you will start to see how often things come around on sale.

[Paintbrush]

the best way, is make a list. if you are getting something that you use for almost nothing, use it now. especially if it is something that can sit in a stockpile and you dont have to search and trade for a q.

Can you elaborate? What kind of list? Shopping list? Coupon list? (isn't that what the database is for?) Sales list? (isn't that what the store forums do?) Some other kind of list?

[motherofmolly]

Can you elaborate? What kind of list? Shopping list? Coupon list? (isn't that what the database is for?) Sales list? (isn't that what the store forums do?) Some other kind of list?

i make a list thru the week. by store and what it is that i am going to get there and use what coupon. i then separate those out and have them ready for the store...i still take my other coupons. but this way i know what i am getting and where. that way when i go from walgreens, cvs, walmart then to kroger, schnucks and target ...i do not forget anything.

this way, i get what i want on sale. i do a quick walk thru looking for coupons or unadvertised items or the clearance (especially at target, great clearance there)

if i see the sales ads in advanced, like two weeks from now wags, and there is going to be a great sale of stuff i am going to stock up on (free after rr and coupon or combo there of), then i start a list early.

i also make notes of coupons i have to use. i dont like missing good coupons, so friday or saturday i do a quick thumb thru of my envies and check for expiration dates.

like i said before, if it is under x amount and you use it, then get it. give yourself a set amount like $.50 or 80% off the original price. kwim?