Unrealistic expectations?

[vannfamily5]

my best advice - read, read, read......take notes if you need to. I am not new to couponing, been doing that since I got married 10 yrs ago. BUT......I'm new to making a "game plan" when it comes to shopping certain stores, rolling ECB's & RR to get things for free or extremely cheap.

the ladies (and gents) here are a wonderful resource!!!

oh and ebay for coupons - I typically can get 20 of the same coupon for 99 cents or $1. Just ordered some for a sale at Walgreens!

[hellokittygirl]

I just started couponing in April. It took me a while to get enough coupons that I would actually use and I was impatient at first because the inserts would come out and I'd only see maybe 3 coupons I could use. But then I discovered the trading system on here, and that's how I've gotten the coupons that *I* want! If I can't get it myself, I just trade for it. The best advice in the beginning is to not throw away those coupons you won't use- somebody here will use them, and you can swap! I could kick myself for tossing all those coupons back then because I thought I'd never use them. Well, I never did use them, but I traded them and got what I wanted.

Honestly, seeing the pictures posted on the brag threads here made me feel like such a failure! I thought I'd never be able to get, for example, 90% savings. I was totally in awe of some of these deals here, and I just couldn't fathom being able to pull that off. And that really pulled me down. Don't let it get to you. Start out slow and get deals on things you can, and work your way up. I began by using just a couple of coupons each week and saving maybe $5, and then after these few months, it has gotten better and better each week. I'm not an expert by any means, and I'm still learning and improving, but it's all part of the art of couponing. The ladies here are so, so helpful and supportive. I have learned so much! Ask and you shall receive!

Joining the Trader in Training Group was the first step for me. Once that took off, it has gotten easier and better to save more and get more.
And as for finding the deals, I think most of them are already here, right at your fingertips. The members of this site are SO keen and you can pretty much visit each store's forum and check out the hot deals for each week in an efficient manner.

[runfast]

Hi there,

It is overwhelming at first, especially if you are trying to start with "all" of the stores and lack of coupons.
My main focus was saving on my grocery bill. So I started in the Publix forum. Learned all I could about that store. I read about the other stores I was interested in like CVS and WAGs. I waited for stellar deals at those stores and jumped in then.

So my advice is start small and work your way up. You will see the difference with in the next few months, because you will have good coupons to do the deals.

HTH
Katie

[TiffanyHope]

Thanks everyone! That is so encouraging and I feel better already! Going to keep at it!

[loveebella]

..uuhhmmm exactly what she said...lol j/k
In all honesty everything everyone has posted to you is right on.I just started using q's and the first week I got 2 Gilette Shavers at CVS for the price of one and I also got 8 ecb back:) So the 2 newspapers I bought paid for themselves and then some. It gets easier! Read read read.

[shoebottom]

Ask your local library if they have a coupon basket, most do and you can get what you want from them. Also ask people at work, chruch, neighbors, family if you can have theirs if they don't use them or have got out what they want.