Unrealistic expectations?

[TiffanyHope]

Hello all!

So today I bought my first Sunday paper, sat down and clipped all the coupons for things I knew we would use, and studied the store fliers. Still, I just don't feel like I'm finding any really good deals. At best I think I'm breaking even with the kind of deals I would find at Walmart on any regular day. For example:

I really need to buy some mascara. I use Cover Girl Last Blast. This week Walgreens has buy one Cover Girl product, get one 50% off. Plus, I found a $2/2 manufacturer's coupon. I don't know what that mascara retails at Walgreens because I haven't been yet, but I think in the end I would be paying about $7 for two mascaras, as apposed to maybe 1 for about $6 at Walmart. Definitely cheaper, but still not cheap and SO much studying, and that was the best deal I found on just about anything.

I guess what I'm wondering, is this a realistic, good deal? Should I go for something like this since I need it anyway, or hold out for something better? Any insight/encouragement that any of you veteran couponers can give me would be much appreciated! Thank you!

[chitownmelli]

Hey Tiffany!
Well, if you REALLY need it, then yes, go for it. If not, just wait. Most of us rarely pay much (if any) oop for makeup.

You will begin to collect the coupons over the next few weeks, and the sales will come, they always do. Just not always the same week as the coupon that you want to use. ;) There is actually a thread floating around here somewhere about sales cycles - and you can find info about the best times to buy a lot of things.

As far as the studying goes, you will get used to it, and it will get easier. You get used to looking over the ads at the stores you shop, and the deals really start to pop out at you after a few weeks when you get better at looking for them. Also, maybe you should consider joining traders in training, and learning the finer points of trading... that's a good way to get more of the coupons that you need, too.

It's too late for me, and I am rambling lol - feel free to PM me any time if you have some questions. :)

[loladooder99]

This is how i have found the best deals.

1. Keep a price log of items from your usual stores. Right down regular price and or the best price. Right down the price per oz ,etc.

2. I buy my coupons off ebay because alot of times the paper may only have one 1.00 coupon i'll use and then i paid 1.00 for a coupon. So I saved nothing.

3. I find alot of great deals at kmart double days on cleaners. So I stockpile when I find a great deal.

4. Sign up for all the mailing list possible. (huggies,gerber,kraft,etc)

I live where no stores double so I only find great deals when their is a high dollar coupon ,etc. For example I always get femine stuff dirt cheap and sometimes get trials for free when the coupon wording doesn't mention "exclude trials". Combining your store coupon with your manu coupon is a great deal too. Knowing your unit prices is the key for me.

[judeshoney]

I'm not really a make-up person, but I think if you really need it - like can't wait another day, let alone a week - and that's the cheapest anybody has the mascara you want, then it's probably a good deal. But if you're willing to do a little digging or be flexible in your brand/type, you may find something better.

I think CVS and Wags discounts their makeup on fairly frequent intervals so you may be able to find a better deal if you buy another brand or wait it out a bit.

When I started, I began by stockpiling things I was buying frequently but never getting a really good deal. Like I'd use a $1/1 coupon on toothpaste if I had the coupon and needed the toothpaste, but was still paying 1 or 2 dollars for it.

Then I found that geesh - Wags and CVS were either giving away or paying me to take toothpaste almost every week. That's where I started. Toothpaste. It ain't sexy, but it worked for me. Soon, I had enough toothpaste to choke a horse. It doesn't take up a lot of room in my bathroom cupboard and best of all, I didn't pay anything for it.

Then toilet paper deals came along, and shampoo/conditioner, and razors/razor blades and soon I was getting really good at getting things that didn't expire and we'd definitely use for free or at a really cheap price.

Sometimes I buy things just to donate them to others just so I can get the Wags RRs or the CVS ECBs and use them on other things. If I were you, that's what I'd do for your mascara. In two weeks, Wags is having the same B1G1 50% off deal on Cover Girl.

If you can wait that long, then you can get a better deal. Next week there's a deal on St. Ives bodywash (buy one for $2.99 and get $3 back in RR). If you have the coupon from the 5/10 insert, you can get the bodywash for $1.50 and get back $3. Save that RR for the following week.

Then the week of 6/21, they're also having a deal on Aquafresh (buy 1 at $3 and get $3 in RR back). There's a $1/1 coupon on aquafresh.com. On your first transaction, buy one toothpaste and a $1 filler. Use the $1/1 coupon and the $3 RR from the St. Ives deal and get them both for free.

Then on your second transaction, buy 2 mascaras. Use your $2/2 coupon and your $3 RR. You calculated $7 after coupon for the two of them in your OP, so going with that, you'd pay $4 out of pocket for that transaction. Now you have a bodywash, a tube of toothpaste and 2 mascaras for $5.50 (plus tax, depending on where you live).

Couponing is like anything else....you try it for a while, you make some errors, you have some successes and then eventually you find you're getting good at it. Don't get discouraged and feel free to ask questions when you need help. There's a lot of folks here with great advice to give.

Good luck!

[ILv2Shop]

Judeshoney~
What an awesome, awesome post that was. Your kindness to help OP and show her the deals is why hcw people rock!! I'm so glad to be a part of a site that is so helpful.

[TiffanyHope]

chitownmelli, judeshoney, and loladooder99,

Thank you so much for you responses!!! Like ILv2Shop, I am so amazed and thankful to be a part of such a kind, helpful group of people!

I think that I've only skimmed the surface of this whole thing. I need to figure out a way to get more coupons without shelling out $1.50 once a week for a Sunday paper. I've signed up on a bunch of websites for mailers and stuff, and there are so many online coupons that you can print, but I know a lot of the stores don't take them.

I also need to find the posts and threads that announce sales before they come out. I'm also trying to wrap my head around the planning and the math of using the store's bonus bucks (ha ha, I can't remember what they're actually called, but you know what I mean) to get the good deals on what I need. I read the thread on CVS, but I'm curious if there is one our there on Walgreens.

My stores that I will be shopping at here in town will include Walgreens, CVS, Albertsons, Smiths, and Walmart.

Thanks again for all your help and any direction you can push me in as far us the forums go.

Thanks!

[loladooder99]

Originally Posted by TiffanyHope chitownmelli, judeshoney, and loladooder99, Thank you so much for you responses!!! Like ILv2Shop, I am so amazed and thankful to be a part of such a kind, helpful group of people! I think that I've only skimmed the surface of this whole thing. I need to figure out a way to get more coupons without shelling out $1.50 once a week for a Sunday paper. I've signed up on a bunch of websites for mailers and stuff, and there are so many online coupons that you can print, but I know a lot of the stores don't take them. I also need to find the posts and threads that announce sales before they come out. I'm also trying to wrap my head around the planning and the math of using the store's bonus bucks (ha ha, I can't remember what they're actually called, but you know what I mean) to get the good deals on what I need. I read the thread on CVS, but I'm curious if there is one our there on Walgreens. My stores that I will be shopping at here in town will include Walgreens, CVS, Albertsons, Smiths, and Walmart. Thanks again for all your help and any direction you can push me in as far us the forums go. Thanks!

There are threads on all the stores you have. If you sign up on smith's website to recieve their weekly ad in your inbox you can usually get coupons mailed to your house. I have been getting them ever since then. Also All you magazine has some great coupons in it. Ebay is alot better for coupons you can pay 2.50 for 20 coupons. for example awhile back i bought 1.00 off beechnut mini meal coupons. It made the meals 6 cents for my son so i bought 150 of them. I found out about this through one of the threads either walmart or the coupon one.

[tmsmalley]

I would go for it and actually, when you can, buy extras at a good price. So, I'm not a big makeup user, but let's say you go through 1 mascara every 4 months. Buy a year's worth when you get a good sale and coupon combo. Even if you find a better sale later, you'll still be doing well and the stockpile will give you the fudge room to wait for that perfect storm combo. Apply that to everything you get on a regular basis, save coupons from week to week and build them up and you'll be on your way!

Tess

[Maxie1101]

Everyone here has given you some great advice. I've only been couponing for 3 months, so I remember very clearly what it's like to start out. I'm still starting out! It can seem mind boggling, but it really isn't with some time.

The most important thing is to build up your coupon stash and know what a good price is for a product. I used to buy a lot of things at Costco, so when I started out I took a pad of paper and pen to Costco and wrote down all the prices of the products that I normally bought. It sounds like you could do the same thing at Walmart since that is where you normally shop. I figured if I could get it for a better price at normal stores with coupons than Costco's prices, then it was a good deal. Well after three months of couponing, I walk through Costco and can't believe how expensive their stuff is! If you wait with your coupons for the right sale, you will get things for very cheap, free, or they will pay you to take it out of the store! Do not use your coupons the minute they come out in the paper unless there is a great deal going on. Usually, it will be another week or two before you find a great sale that the coupons will come in very handy!

There is a thread on this site for just about every store out there. I would suggest reading all of them for the stores in your area to find the deals. Pay attention to the sneak peaks for future ads at those stores as you will find that something you want to buy this week will be much cheaper the following week at another store.

I was so frustrated when I started out because all the good coupons I needed came out in February, and I didn't start collecting coupons until March. I didn't feel right about buying them from e-bay or clipping services at the time, but they are definitely worth it for a good deal. It took almost a month of saving coupons and searching all the threads here to figure out what good deals were and what I had coupons for. Don't give up! It takes awhile to figure this out. When I first started, thank goodness I found Hot Coupon World right away, I spent about 5 hours a day reading all the threads and trying to figure it out. I was obsessed! Now I can just check in real quick for deals, and usually spend more time on fun threads.

To get the best deals, you need to get multiple inserts each week. We get two Sunday papers each week (one is free with our local paper subscription) and my parents give me their inserts from one or two papers each week. Some people buy multiple papers each week. If there are really good coupons I want, then I go "dumpster diving" check out the thread here: http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums...-tool-kit.html.

I have a recycling yard about 3 minutes from my house. They have two big open, waist high, dumpsters that all the papers that are recycled are put in. I ask the recycle yard workers when I show up if I can poke around and take the Sunday paper coupons and they always say sure! I can usually get about 10 - 15 full sets of inserts in less than an hour. I usually don't have to dig much, and it is a newspaper only dumpster, so no yucky stuff. I still wear gloves though, just in case. I will be hitting them up this week because I want the Kellogg's and Fusion razor coupons!

I'm sorry that I've gone on so long! Just read, read, read, and join the traders in training forum so that you can trade with others for coupons you need. It is a great way to learn how to trade.

You will find the nicest bunch of people on this forum. Good luck with your journey into couponing, and if you have any questions feel free to ask them, or pm me!

[Lmnde]

If I may say this - if you can't find freeinserts - the $1.50 or $3 or $4.50 you do spend to buy your Sunday paper[s] is/are a sound investment, because you get waymore savings out of it than you put in. If you have decent inserts in your papers, it's money well spend as you get multiple frees and low price deals once you are rolling for each dollar or two you spend on your papers.

If your inserts suck, you are possibly better off trading for [or outright buying] the actual coupons you need for the sales. This is why it is so important to study upcoming sales when they are announced in the store threads, so you can get your coupons ahead of time and have them handy when the sales roll in.

There is a bit of a learning curve to top notch couponing, but once you got it going it can sustain you for ever. And the longer you stockpile [the better/larger of a stockpile you have] the bigger your savings will get. I can literally [and have done so several times] go for months when I don't feel like shopping or am too broke to spend money on groceries, without setting a foot into a store...