[queen1976]

I was wondering how long does everyone spend finding coupons on the internet and cutting them out and planning? Also where is a good place to find coupons, I get the sunday newspaper and get those inserts but are there other places as well? If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. Thanks

[tnchickie]

Hi. I am relatively new to this as well. I mentioned to some people I work with that I use coupons. Then we cut out the coupons that are in the paper and bring the left over ones to work with us.... everyone just passes them around. (There are 3 of us) My sister in law is a couponing queen... she is so good. Because my cute nephew is still a baby, I save her all the baby coupons and she saves me the pet food coupons. I am still learning. I bet others have more ideas. Hope this helps some

[mtdt3237]

At first I was spending sooo much time trying to get organized but the longer you coupon, the fast you get!

I spend maybe 20 minutes or so each day checking this forum and another site. I spend maybe 10 minutes or so each day clipping my internet prints and I spend about 30 minutes clipping and organizing my newspaper inserts (my son helps).

On Thursday nite I have collected all the store flyers and am able to go thru fairly quickly and write down what is on sale and match them with my coupons. It's so much easier to get a bunch of coupons then use them on a sale rather than finding a sale then hunting for coupons!

I am also on 2 trains which helps with coupons I wouldn't normally come across.

Good luck!

[sugarprincess]

My advice is get organized and once you are it won't take you long to to maintain it all. I am in a mess right now cuz I have been slacking, I am on a train and buy the paper every week and usually at least one all you magazine a month and I have just been clipping and tossing them in a box or ones I see I will use right away like diapers or certain foods I put into an envelope to take to the store with me and I haven't been doing great, back a year ago when I had all my coupons where they belonged it didn't take me long at all to sit down and go through ads and this website to find the deals and pull the coupons to match the deals. I have started this weekend trying to get everything organized again.

[brook6]

you need to get a routine going that works for you...

if you time is limited, here are the basics
- get Sunday paper and clip the Qs you know you want to use, leave the others in a stack for now [by date]
- read the sale flyers for the stores you shop at
- read the shopping list/deal threads for the stores you shop at
- make a list of items you need to shop for that week
- match Qs to shopping list items, using the Coupon database to find them [which insert, printables, booklets, etc]

...GO SHOPPING!

if I had to, I could do all the clipping/reading/matching/etc in ~ 2 hrs

you don't have to read every thread, every deal that someone else found...make it work for YOU!

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE Qs you need, this will take more time...to find them and 'acquire' them

[meyermv]

Top Priority is to get organized. Second to that is don't get discouraged when something doesn't work out. I am currently revising my strategy for the third time.

My first strategy was very easy. I got an accordian folder, organized a-z. I organized alphabetically by brand name. At first I did it by canned goods, and boxed goods...that didn't work out so well.

I didn't want to overload my little folder with all these coupons, so I only clipped coupons I know for sure I would like to use. I found that I missed out on a few really good deals, b/c I didn't clip the coupons I didn't think I would use. And I kept missing out on good rebates, b/c I didn't have anywhere to put them, and didn't want to start another folder.

So now I have a 1/2" binder. All coupons, rebates and stores flyers are in there.

It used to only take me 10 minutes a week to cut coupons. 10-15 minutes to organize and match to flyers. Now it takes probably 10-15 minutes every couple of days.

What ever you do, how ever long you do it realize this:
In the time it took for you to cut and organize, could you have MADE the same amount of money that you SAVED? My answer is always, no.

Also, whatever amount I saved or didn't spend, I don't have to work to pay for.

[quickclips4money]

Organization is key! if binder is not right I am not saving money!!!

[jlaporte]

Organize! I have a large 3 ring binder I keep my q's in. I suggest you go to the sites of the products u do use and see if u can find some there. There are many lists of sites on here. Do searches and just ask. You are on ur way.

[blmgtneeg]

I worked hours it seemed like in the beginning. I started with a small coupon organizer then went alittle bigger to finally my 3 ring binder. Now I have it set up with dividers/cagatories -- even store names for q's that I get from them ( catalina- print out from registers). I spend an evening going thru sales ads, q's for week, I am lucky in one way. It's just me.... so I am not loyal to any certain product although there are some that I favor. You just have to find what works for you.

[brook6]

I don't have a binder and don't think I ever will...just doesn't fit me

I know people love their binders, but you have to figure out what you can manage in the time you want to spend on this

[darh75]

I am a newbie at this too! I usually just get the sunday paper but now I found out that "All You" magazine has some great coupons too! I always hear how people buy $100 for like $20...That is my goal! I don't know how realistic it is but I am going to TRY!

[poshpoodle]

I use to be a binder girl- I clipped every coupon- whether I needed it or not. It was great- carried it with me everywhere! But, I felt that it took me forever to file all fo those coupons in those little slots- am I the only one that feels that way?

Anyway- Then I bought two of those plastic carts that have all of the drawers, labeled them how I wanted them and now I buy no less than 2 double papers a week ($ sets of inserts) and I open each insert to the same page and pull every one of the same coupon sheet from that paper. I stack the matching sheets, and staple over the picture- After I have stapled over every picture my DH cuts them out. Then I run over to my file drawer and sort. THIS IS SO MUCH QUICKER for me! When I see an ad or hear of a deal I open my drawer for the corresponding coupon, and pull it, then I paper clip to the ad and head out to buy.
THe beauty of stapling the coupons is that instead of looking for 4 coupons if I bought 4 papers is that they are all together- I can just buy one or 4 of the item- I just pull it off the staple gently as to not tear the bar code (this is why I staple over the pic).If I am using all 4 coupons I just pull the staple out at the register! HTH and hope it is not confusing- Good luck- you will find your method!

[poshpoodle]

Oh, I wanted to ad- you WILL end up buying $100- and probably for less than $20 I actually do it often at Publix! It is so much fun to me- and I am saving for my family!
I also forgot to add, I have baby wipe containers that I have saved. On one I wrote "HOT COUPONS" and put all of the ones I can not afford to not use- this would include items that I have to buy weekly- milk, lunch meat, cereal, etc.. Or high value coupons. THen I have a box for rebate forms and receipts- If I have a receipt and I know I need to print a rebate I put the receipt in a box so it does not disappear in all my madness! I also have a box for rain checks. I keep an eye out for the items I have rain checks for when I am clipping the next weeks coupons. If I find them they immediately go in the rain check box- paper clipped to the raincheck. For example- I had a rain check for BOGOF land o lakes butter ($1.89 for 2) at Publix- I got a coupon for .50 off one- at my publix they double- I used coupons for the free one and the other one- so I got 6 free land o lake butters _ used .50 off coupon on each = total of $2.00 and actually made .11 cents on every 2 since the total was only $1.89. Make sure you get rain checks- especially if you shop publix- I ALWAYS get rain checks- I can not afford not to! Good luck!