Finding Coupons
I have had a lot of reader questions lately about coupons. Where do I get them, how do I organize them, how do I decide which ones to use and when, the list goes on.
This is the first of many posts I plan to write about coupons and hope to answer everyone’s questions in the process.
When I started using coupons, I did what I think everyone does: I bought a Sunday paper and clipped some coupons out. At the time, I had no idea how many coupons really were out there, just waiting for me to clip or print. There are so many ways to get coupons, I think they are all worth sharing:
1. The Sunday Paper
This is usually #1 on everyone’s list of coupon sources. Sunday papers usually have at least some coupons, sometimes (like Holidays) they have a lot of coupons and a few times a year they may have none. I subscribe to both our local paper and the “Big City” paper, so I end up with a good selection. Subscribing is cheaper than buying at the newsstand, so consider ordering the Sunday Edition if you are not a current subscriber.
2 . Printable Coupon Websites
There are a number of these free sites online that allow you to choose and print the coupons you want right at home. Most grocery stores accept them ( I have never had a problem, but check with your local store if you are unsure) and they can be very high value at times up to $5.00 off. Some of my favorites, and the most popular are:
3. Store Coupons
Many stores have their own coupons, and they can really be a super saver. Whether they are clipped out of the weekly flier or printed out for you at the register, the store coupons can (in most cases) be used in conjunction with manufacturers coupons. Have both on double coupon day and you are one happy shopper!
4. Manufacturers Websites
Many companies have “special offers” or “promotions” pages on their sites that can have printable coupons, free samples and more. I suggest signing up for any mailing lists that they offer- these almost always result in emails for free trial size products, coupons in the mail and emails about upcoming sales. Definitely worth the extra time to check out. A great one is Procter and Gamble, you can also go to places like Kimberly-Clark and Unilever for lists of their underlying brands and visit those websites for promotions.
5. 800 Numbers
Call those numbers on the back of a product and just plain ask for coupons. I know it sounds rude or like you are begging, but they would love to send you coupons, free samples and anything else that will make you buy more of their product. Trust me. Just call up and say “Hi! I really like your Brand X yada yada and would like to be put on your mailing list for stuff like coupons and new products” Easy as pie. They will send you tons and it only takes one phone call. I did this with my first baby, sort of by accident. I called Pampers to complain about an entire package of diapers missing the tabs, lovely, right? They sent me 50$ in coupons for free diapers and continued to send me coupons periodically for years. It is worth it to make the phone call.
Coupons can save you a lot of money, you just need to find them and use them. I hope this has given you some ideas on getting your own coupon collection started and I hope you will come back for my next post about organizing all those coupons you are accumulating.
Happy Couponing!
Topics: Shop Smart |
February 13th, 2008
YAY! Your back, and with more helpful stuff. I have been trying and trying to figure out how and when to use coupons, but I just seem to either miss the dates, or not need the products. What I want to know, and Im sure your gonna tell us is, how do those ladies show up to the check out lane with tons of stuff and end up paying only $3, for it all. If I could get to that point, OH what a happy momma I would be, and you know, if momma is happy, everybody is happy. I cant wait to read more on this topic. I’ll certainly be back for more.
Thank you
February 13th, 2008
We have also recently discovered that many “clippers” sell coupons on EBay (actually, they are selling their service of clipping the coupons, not the coupons themselves). My wife and I typically order a lot of 10 each week on an item with a rock-bottom price at our local grocery store. We stock up using these.
February 13th, 2008
Frugal Dad-That is a great idea! Thank you for sharing, I had never heard of that before!
February 13th, 2008
Melissa-Yes, I am finally back to posting regular stuff, I had so many bugs to work out, I was a mess! You can expect a lot more from me coming up as I get back on track!
I’ll be posting a lot more tips on coupons, so stick around and hopefully I’ll turn you into a Coupon Queen!
February 14th, 2008
[...] There are so many ways to accumulate coupons, that you can quickly become overwhelmed by the stacks … Coupons can save you a lot of money, but the key to using them properly begins with organization. If you have a stack of coupons in your purse or pocket, rifling through them at the checkout can be a mess. In order to be prepared BEFORE you hit the supermarket, it’s best to have your coupons organized and ready to work for you. [...]
February 15th, 2008
[...] you have started accumulating a collection of coupons and you have them organized to suit your needs, how does this translate into dollars [...]
February 18th, 2008
[...] johanson presents Finding Coupons posted at Mommy Gets [...]
March 22nd, 2008
You are such a great resource for coupons! Thanks for the tips
March 29th, 2008
[...] All Women Blogging Carnival is up at All for Women. My article Finding Coupons was among the submissions. There are a lot of great articles all written by women, so be sure to [...]