[founder]

Only been couponing for about a month...is this how it works: I have changed my shopping habits...i now only shop w/ coupons for whatever is on sale. If it's not on sale I dont buy it. I search and save all coupons for future sales, i match coupons with ALL the sale adds from ALL the stores and go forth!!! I have registered with every manufacturer I can think of, for newsletters and (hopeful) coupons, I take surveys and print coupons that i think I will use, I buys six papers at a time.....what else am I susposed to be doing?? I HAVE gotton my end bill to practically in half (if not more) It just feels like I am missing a secret? I've heard of people gettin baskets of food/stuff for 40 bucks,,,,my best quest was at Publix last week..I paid $42 but saved $76!!! I was so proud!! what else can I be doing?

[joshmamabear]

what state are you in? there are lots of beer rebates that require different purchases with no beer purchase necessary. I have gotten months supply of frozen pizza, meat, deli items, etc for free just doing these beer rebates. Many of them overlap each month so you can do several and get checks for each. Check trading boards for these beer MIR forms.

Keep an eye of TMF(try me free) rebate offers on lots of products. you can try many products for free while doing this. You can use coupons to purchase the item, submit for rebate and get full purchase price, so you make a little profit on top of getting the item free.

have you discovered drugstore deals? you can get a lot of HBA for cheap/free from these drugstores like WAGs, CVS and RiteAid. If you reach the point where you don't buy these HBAs, you will spend very little each week. Then you will really feel all the savings.

Good luck!

[founder]

thanks for the reply! I have discovered the drugstores! I never really shopped drug stores till I started couponing. The deals are great and the reciept kick-back rewards are awsome.
I live in Florida,but, no I dont drink alot of beer! I'll still look for the rebates. Are most rebate offers on products or somewhere in store?
I have alot to learn.The lingo on here is a trip...wags,q's...I'll learn it all soon.
Thanks again

[joshmamabear]

if you're in FL, I don't think you're one of the states where it is not required to purchase beer to qualify for the rebate. HOWEVER, there are other rebates that have no state exclusions, you just have to keep an eye on them.

With product TMF offers, these are usually valid in all states UNLESS disqualified like there are offers invalid in RI.

other than that, I think you've got it all covered. Just keep doing what you're doing that works for you. One important tip I can share with you ~ don't sacrifice quality over quantity. You will find out sooner or later it is the more practical choice.

[michellzey]

Do you check online here for your stores future newspaper ads? I try to find out what is going to be in the paper before it actually comes out, so I can get the coupons I need before they go on sale, so when the sale happens, I am prepared to shop the first day, that way the store won't be out of the stuff I want to buy. If they are out though, make sure to get a rain check, say, if you can't get your coupons in time for the first day of the sale. That way you can still get the stuff on sale even after the sale is over. It seems that they're always fully stocked the day after the sale's over!

[michellzey]

Another thing you could do if you're not doing it now, is to cut the cost of buying newspapers for coupons by joining a coupon train, or by trading for coupons here on afc, or by dumpster diving for coupons, or by buying newspapers only with money made at places like cvs or walgreens - RR or ecbs.

[sar1]

ONe thing that will improve with time is knowing what is a good sale price versus just a "barely-on-sale" price and how often things go on sale. You may be buying on sale and with a coupon, but 2 weeks later the item goes on sale for half price and you could have saved your coupons to use then for an even bigger savings. If you're not sure, just ask in the store forum "hey, is this week's sale a good price on Lysol wipes? Should I stock up at this price or wait?" If there's action in that forum, there's a good chance someone will fill you in. Good luck!

[founder]

dumpster-diving! . thats funny. my kids were in disbelief the other night because I pulled over to look in a recycling dumpster! I wasnt going to climb in but i could reach in to grab many inserts! next time I'll go alone and climb in!!!!

[founder]

what about coupons for meats? I heard people speak of them but do they exsist and where do they come from?

[brook6]

there is IP in the database for ground beef right now...just have to keep an eye out

I have gotten beef, chicken and pork Qs from time-to-time

Originally Posted by founder

what about coupons for meats? I heard people speak of them but do they exsist and where do they come from?

[brook6]

sounds like you are doing the right things

I wouldn't worry so much about comparing myself to others trips...
- different stores have different couponing rules and some others have access to high doubles and opportunity for overage that is just NOT available everywhere
- some of those high savings trips are mostly health/beauty/household items...not necessarily meat/veggies
- some people put more work into their Qs, including trading/buying to get more of the specific Qs they need

you ARE ahead of where you were before you started couponing and you can continue to get better

[founder]

another question...after printing many coupons from many .coms....my limit has been met. will i ever be able to print those coupons for those items again??!