~~** Lots of GREAT couponing tips from the HCW mods!** ~~

[zoeys_mom]

What a sweet raok.
My tip:

Save free coupons for a better deal. Sure it is great you are getting free dog treats, free worchestershire etc., but wouldn't it be better to get paid to buy them!
Many times those freebie coupons are a participating item on a store promo where you have to spend so much to earn money off, or so many items to get $ off. If you save that coupon, you can get to that threshold easier. Also free coupons are great to save for bogo sales so you get 2 free instead of one!

[Cin42382]

Wow what a sweet RAOk :)

It's hard to pick just one piece of advice LOL, so I won't hahaha...I will name my top few :

1 - Take a breath and don't get overwelmed:)
2 - Don't throw away coupons - Even if you can't use them there is almost ALWAYS someone else who can - trade trade and trade some more
3 - Don't stress out over sales or coupons - Another great sale will come along and so will another great coupon - if you miss this one, catch the next

4 - Most important coupon advice ever.............................................. .................................................. .................................................. .............................................






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JOIN HOT COUPON WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But that's a no-brainer hahahaa

[nrpeace17]

Thanks for this chance!
My tip is to know the policies of the stores you shop at.
Always ask if they take competitor coupons, you will sometimes be surprised at the answers you get. Between price matching and using competotor coupons, you not only get the best deals, but you save on gas costs.

[YouPdWhat]

1st off I want to say thanks for such a generous RAOK it's greatly appreciated.

1. Save all your coupons you never know when you may need them. I use to go through & only cut & save what I thought I would use then throw the rest away. It never failed I always ended up hating myself later. After doing this numerous times I finally learned my lesson to save them all.
2. Rain checks are your best friend
3. Price Match whenever possible
4. Get as much as you can, stockpile when you can or there will be times you will say "I wish I had..."
5. Trade, Trade, Trade. Share the coupons you don't use for those you do.
6. If you don't have one buy a freezer whenever possible. I use to miss so many frozen food deals because I just didn't have the freezer space. I can not tell you have many times over I have recouped the money I spent on my freezer. It was a great investment.
7. Don't forget your dry & canned goods. If hard times should hit these will be very essential.

There are more but I will stop here.

[megan_love]

Thanks for this RAOK.

I would have to say, the best advice I could give is to help others with your free/cheap items you get. Whether it's your family, friends or donating to a charity. There is always someone who can use the item if you can't. It feels good to give to others & know you got a great deal.

You have to stay organized, if not, then you are messed up & behind for weeks, months, it seems like you never get caught up again. (I'm going through this now) :(

[cheynesnana]

This is so sweet of you.. Thank you !

Ok.. well all of the wonderful ladies ahead of me pretty much covered everything.. I would have to say, getting organized is super important... and stockpile.. stockpile.. stockpile.. if you get a good supply of HBA items that's money you can use for your groceries.. also, start slow, pick one store and learn it before moving on to another... keeps you from feeling quite so overwhelmed!

[bugface711]

Ok, here are a few of my fav tips that popped into my head, I am like cin. just cant do one!
1. TRADE TRADE TRADE for coupons you can use to stock up. Yep it was already said but its one I think is so very important
2. if you have monthly meds, move them around and get those gift cards for transfers!!
3. dont forget to do rebates. This is just about the only way I save money on meats and seafood.
4. No start is too small! Print a few coupons that are good on a current sale and just get started!
5. When people ask me how I do what I do when I am in the stores I ask this: Are you planning to spend some money in this store today? When they say yes, I say ok first grab the ad. Find something that is free after extra buck or register reward etc. Use the money you had planned to spend on your item for this first. Then use your reward, extra buck etc. on what you planned to buy when you came in. You now just doubled what you got for your money. If there is more than 1 freebie, do a few transactions. Its such a simple start its also how I resart if I take a break or spend all of my extra bucks, register rewards, gift cards. etc.



thanks for offering this

[luvmy3boys]

Whoa! How generous of you!
Everyone has such good advice, not sure what I can add here.
I think that if you find some kind of organizing system for your coupons that it will greatly help. I file them away by insert and then I have a list of all the coupons in each insert that I update. So, when I need a coupon for a deal, I look at my list to see if my area got it and then go to that date in the file box. I only clip what I know I will use and file everything else by insert date.

[Shadowchasy]

Thank you for the RAOK

Already so many good tips, but here is what I tell my coupon class at every meeting.

1) Join Hotcouponworld
2) Take it slow, and learn one store at a time. It can be over whelming.
3) Dont throw the small amount coupons away, as they come in handy on double/triple day.
4) Stock up on non perishable items when they are Free or nearly Free.
5) Don't forget to stock up on laundry supplies, baby needs if u have small ones.

[PMFan]

thanks for your generous offer !

my best couponing tip would be to find reliable sources for multiple coupons (friends, family, regular traders). you cannot use coupons if you don't have coupons :)

other tips:
if you're new to couponing/stockpiling method of saving, my number 1 piece of advice is to educate yourself. READ the couponing basics, FAQs and store policy/FAQ threads for stores in your area.

subscribe to the forums at HCW for the stores you shop at, this way you will get an email each time a new thread/deal is posted.

review the coupon previews to get a head start to trade for coupons for items you use often or "HOT" coupons. even if there is not a current deal on the item, if the coupon has a long exp date, odds are a deal will come along.

review the ad previews here at HCW, again, getting a head start on trading/clipping coupons to prepare for your shopping.