[babycakes3]

I just signed up today but I'm so lost. It all looks so confusing but I want to save money.

Any pointers? How to navigate? How to make a shopping list? How do I find a list of abbreviations? etc.

What is an ISO list & how do I do one? How do people know their YTD savings?

[FlyLadyFan]

It is overwhelming at first. But if you start small, you'll get the hang of it quick, and in just a few weeks, like 3 or 4 even, you'll be rolling along with ever-bigger savings.

Start with maybe 2 copies of your Sunday paper with inserted coupons. Cut them out and alphabetize them (I personally find by brand name the easiest, i.e. Kraft cheese is under K, Betty Crocker cookie mix is under B).

Then using either the forum here on AFC for your store or using the sales paper for your store, see if any Qs (coupons) match the sale items. Buy those items if they are something you might reasonably use one day (i.e. don't buy milk if you are allergic to it or don't buy spinach if you can't stand it).

If you repeat this every week, you will soon have a little supply of your own stocking yoru pantry.

Gotta run pick up kids from VBS. Hope that's a start for you. There is soooo much helpful info here. Good luck!

FLF

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[CARRIEMB2]

Hi and welcome! We are glad you are here. Things will get easier. Just take them slowly.

Here are some answers/links to answers to your Questions:
Acronyms and Terms used here

An ISO is an In Search Of list, meaning the coupons you are looking for. You can post in the ISO forum under FSOT (for sale or trade) or you can go throught the coupon Database and select which coupons you would like to add to your ISO, then go to your profile settings and SHOW the ISO list and it will be under your name.

Some people have been tracking the YTD savings and simply type it in a field on their profile settings. HTH

[NinaJo]

Hi and welcome! I love this site so much and I'm sure if you keep at it you will learn so much. To get you started here is a list of common acronyms. Acronyms & Abbreviations- A Full Cup - Coupons

[dixiemedic911]

Go under the FSOT forum, and find the Wishlists forum. Post a new thread and put down everything you can think of that you would like coupons for. Then visit the forum for Coupon Trains, and join one or two of those and you'll a stash going for a lot of the things that you regularly buy.

I have found everyone here to be SO helpful and more than willing to answer questions. Welcome!

[robsreason]

Hello and welcome. I know it seems like a lot now, but you will be a pro (or pretty close) in no time.

there aren't as many secrets as you would think. I know my year to date savings, because I add up my savings on each receipt once a month or so and add it to my total.

I stopped cutting all the coupons some time ago, because it was too time consuming. I buy 8 to 10 papers each week, cut what I KNOW I would use if there was a deal on it. And the rest I leave in the inserts until I need them. Then I just cut the coupons when I am making my shopping list. I store the whole inserts in a back office room out of the way.

There are lots of great places to start. I love to check new post to see what deals are popular. And then move on to store forums, for stores near my area. It will get easier in time.

good luck, and don't forget to post if you need help, there are lots of helpful people here
~Ashley

[corilee20]

It does get easier! I know everyone will tell you this but it really does! I was so lost and so confused when I first started but it's so much fun once you get going with it!

[michariella]

Welcome... I am new as well ... not new to couponing but new to AFC and I agree with everyone else... you will just keep learning every week and growing a stockpile and saving more and more money.

[JanB1956]

I'm very new to this site, just found it today, but i've been using coupons over 20 yrs now, and get very excited when I save alot of $$$, especially these days. I finally found a few other forums, where others had written in about being so new, and what did all the codes mean, so thankfully I found them, started reading them & this is where I received some help in this site. It is quite over whelming, but i'm excited about learning a new way to save. Thanks, Thanks, Thanks to all you wonderful people out there that take the time to go into detail & explain some of this, we NEW people truly appreciate it.
Happy savings to all

[Ocean26]

Thanks for the tips guys! I'm new myself.