discouraged

[desmunoz]

I just joined and am trying to get into couponing however I've been pretty discouraged so far because it doesn't seem as any of my grocery stores offer the same great deals as others! I went shopping yesterday and still spent about $60 the highlight of that was that I shopped around (went to three different stores to get better deals) and was able to get GM Cereal for $1.40. How long does everyone usually hold on to their coupons?

[meggers]

Until they expire.

You may not get the same deals as others, but a deal is still a deal. And every little bit helps. Hang in there!

[$Saving!]

Couponing takes some time to learn how to best combine the sales with coupons you have. And don't get discouraged

Take each ad each week, look for the best deals on things you need and match those up with coupons you have.

Over time you'll be able to spot a good 'price' and know it's time to buy that item. If there is an exceptionally good price and you have coupons to match, buy as many as you have coupons for (providing for length of expiration on the product use by date) and slowly build a stockpile of things you use regularly.

Over a period of a few months, you'll find that you don't need to buy something (due to your stockpile) until it comes on at a very decent sale price again. That increases your savings over the long haul.

Coupons are kept until they expire - you never know when a deal will come along to match up with a coupon. Heck, I know a couple times this year I threw out coupons that only had two or three days left and darn, I was digging through the trash because a store ran a special the last day the coupon was valid

Just take your time, look through the ads for really great prices on items you want that you have coupons for and shop those deals.

I look at couponing in a baseball scenario:

1st base is an item on sale
2nd base is an item on sale with a coupon
3rd base is an item on sale with a coupon that doubles or buying it gives me back a catalina offer for $ off my next purchase
Homerun is getting an item free with any combination of sale/coupon/doubles/catalinas etc.

I can't afford not to get on base

[wookin]

First think of the stores you shop at. Then search the forum to find those stores. Chances are you will find the deals there. If you find a deal on your own, don't hesitate to post it as long as it is within the guidlines of your store. It takes a village to get the good deals.

to our world. Have fun with it. The savings will come.

[ioncewasamjskeptic]

You will get a system down, it just takes practice :-D When I 1st started, I was spending HOURS going over paper ads then site posts for m/ups, then, I will stop LOL but once you get a system down You will LOVE couponing!:-D My self, I only peek at paper ads now if there are store coupons to clip now, and ad match IF you can. I too was driveing all over, not good for a handful of items, per trip! Well, sometimes, depends, LOL. The stores, IDK, here in WA. we dont even have 1 store that dbls....:-( but we work it! :-) ASK, ASK, ASk if you have any questions, all mods and members that have been here awhile are MORE than willing to help! Lorrie

[Jen1]

also, maybe try other grocery stores outside of your normal pattern. I try never to be store/brand specific to get the best deals!

[motherofmolly]

yup, look at every store in your area. dollar stores, drug stores, discount stores, and even mom and pop stores. read the forums on them all. no forums? get their flyer and look. match up their ads by using our database. you can flip thru pretty quick and see what is a deal or not.

start getting your stores coupon policies. do they price match? if so who and what? keep note of that. then instead of going to 5 stores, you can price match some of those at that one store.

doubles? if not dont worry, this should not stop you.

dont forget clearance piles. every store has them somewhere.

dont give up. give it a month and you will start to see the savings add up. any savings is better than none. this week might only be $5. but next week might be $8. then in two months it might be $40 a week.

[JulieDB]

I keep most coupons until they expire. I just went through my coupon caddy and did get rid of some unexpired coupons and here's why.

Had some for 50 cents off of toilet paper. I just bought toilet paper at Costco. Yes, I know some people would say this is too expensive. However the only coupons I have gotten recently were for 50 cents off and it was for expensive toilet paper. Yes, I can use an Albertson's doubler and get $1.00 off, when the doublers are available. But... That still only gets me 4 rolls of toilet paper. I just bought the mega huge things of toilet paper and paper towels at Costco and now I don't have to worry about those two items for a very long time. Yes, if I get really good coupons or find really good sales, I might still buy more. For instance, I was getting coupons from places like Hytop and Western Family that could be used on any item. I used them to get free paper towels.

I got rid of some yogurt coupons. They require me to buy 10 yogurts to use the coupon. I hate yogurt. Daughter does eat it but maybe 2 cups per week. There was no way I was going to need that much yogurt before the coupons expired.

Cheese. I had quite a few for a small amount of money off of expensive cheese. I never used them because I could always find a store brand or other brand for cheaper. Now if I found that brand of cheese to be far superior to any other I would likely still use the coupons. But I don't. So I got rid of them.

Toothpaste. I am picky about what I use and had a ton of coupons for the stuff I use. I have enough now for a very long time. I don't need any more.

Cleaning supplies. Same as the toothpaste.

Razors. Same as the toothpaste.

But most of the coupons I have are for things I want and can't find! I did have one for Reynolds pan lining paper that I came close to throwing out. Then all of a sudden I found it in a store. Same thing for some flavored beans. Sometimes I find the item just before the coupon will expire.

[desmunoz]

Thanks Everyone! I haven't given up yet, I always get a circular in my mail on Tuesdays so I sat there while catching up on my DVR to go through the Ads and pick out what I need or what I can stock pile on. I'm preping for Thanksgiving early so I've been searching for items that won't go bad by next month. I have to hit two different grocery stores but lucky for me I don't have to make those trips on the same day and the money I'm saving is helping!

[wookin]

Way to go. However, you may find the prices closer to Thanksgiving better than they are now. I find around here that turkey's, yams, Stove Top and cranberry sauce to name a few go sale with great prices. I usually stock up then for a few months.