Next Generation Couponer needs help

[BRose1594]

Hello, everyone--or anyone who reads this. My name is Bianca, I'm 17-years-old, and desperately trying to get the hang of this couponing thing! Couponing--for me--gets increasingly difficult because I don't have control over a lot of things; being an incoming senior in high school, I still live at home, so, I don't get--and cannot sign up for--the weekend subscription to my local newspaper.
TLC's 'Extreme Couponing' pulled me in, as I'm sure it's done to many others, and I've been researching and putting a binder together ever since; I really want to succeed in helping my mom save money because our groceries cost an average of $200 per week. Also, I'd like to continue on with couponing through my teen and adult life--it'd be nice to have extra spending money in college.
It'd be really great if I could get some feedback from both new and seasoned couponers; however, I really wouldn't appreciate any negative feedback about what I'm trying to do. In my opinion, more teens and young adults should be couponing, it's a great way to teach us about money management and responsibility!
So, please feel free to reply with any questions, comments, or concerns that will better help you understand my situation and lead me in the right direction to saving money; some suggestions on ways I can go about couponing without having a newspaper subscription would be great!
If it helps any, I live in the Midwest (spell check said it needed to be capitalized?) in Wisconsin, to be exact. In my city, we've got Walmart, Target, Trig's, Copps (part of Roundy's), K-Mart, and Shopko, as well as a Save-A-Lot store that just opened.
Now that you've got most of the information, please help me!!!!!

[motherofmolly]

the best place to start is the store deals forum (off the main page). go in there and find your stores (dont forget pharmacies like cvs, walgreens and rite aid if you have them and dollar stores). start reading and asking questions.

as far as insert coupons. ask friends, neighbors (tell them if they set them out, you will pick them up on say monday or tuesday), and family. ask your local gas station is if you can get their extra inserts on monday morning. sometimes you have to think outside the box.

dont forget printable coupons. print two per computer. www.printablecouponspot.com our sister site that lists printable coupons and freebie deals as they come up.

[CouponFather]

I don't get the local paper either - I still get the coupons from many places. Ask friends who do, most don't use coupons, they will save them. My bank teller saves them for me and every week I get all of hers. My absolute best source is the local newspaper recycling bin - dive on in and in 15 minutes you will have a stack of inserts 6 inches high....

[auntrae378]

I would like to say, WAY TO GO... Taking the initative to start saving YOUR MONEY now is great!!! this is something you will not regret inthe future.

I get my couponsin alot of places:
neighbors, just ask... they will most likely say yes.
recycling bins, I check 4 locations about 3 times a week...
family and coworkers. My mom actually has her coworkers save them for me.

get yourself a binder with baseball card sheets or some sort of filing system to keep the organized. Helps alot...lol

set aside time each week to sort, cut, clean out the files.

then wait for the right sales to get your best deals.

good luck with your new adventure...

[hikory]

You may want to find out if the stores near you double coupon, I live in Florida and not one store here allows double coupons. At least not one I've seen, and I'm trying to find out if there a store and where, as it would be nice to be able to save a lot of money.

[BRose1594]

Thank you all SO MUCH!!!!! One more question: Can someone break down catalinas for me? What kinds of stores use them?

[434Teresa]

My son is a senior this year and let me just say he will use a gas or fastfood coupon in a minute..now he is not into finding them for he is to busy...