[medic2midwife]

I disagree with buying items you don't need and donating them. Its great to donate, but when you wipe out a shelf of 50 items and go donate it somewhere, the couponer or average person that comes behind you can't get in on a good sale/freebie with q's because the item has already been completely wiped out.

I also disagree with leaving only 1 or 2. I feel that everyone should have a general limit. If there are 'x' amount on the shelf, no couponer should take more than half. Again, the general public often is uneducated in couponing and depend on sales/bogos to survive in this great recession. I cringe thinking of the people wiping out the tide travel packs and the soldier who now can't take soap with him overseas on his deployment because they're all gone. Or the elderly who live on pensions and can't get their supplements because someone took them all because they were free/mm and 'donated' them.

[jonsgurl0531]

I love the binder method. Too many times I have missed out on clearance or mark down deals because I didn't get around to cutting those inserts. Sometimes these are the best deals I have gotten all week.

I also feel people do not post deals they find as much anymore. I remember checking on my phone while I was out shopping and would see a bunch of new deals posted. Not so much anymore. People will post match ups to the inserts.. but I see less and less unadvertised deals or clearance deals.

[mkrmylove]

I'm always happy to see people sharing their experiences.

I have used coupons my entire life, but last year in April was the first time I started to get really serious. I begin to shop weekly instead of monthly and I stopped shopping just Walmart and discovered Kroger they double!

I also added CVS & Staples to the mix and now after only one year I have managed to stock pile 95% of all of the H&B products my family uses along with about 75% of food items and about 65% of other household items cleaning, paper goods etc...

I didn't realize I had been missing out on price matching, double coupons, money makers, as well as stocking up on items we need and use most at a fraction of the cost.

I also put that deep freezer and food saver of mine to good use.

This community has been a God sent especially during these tough economic times.

The best advice and tips I can give to anyone couponing is as follows:

1. Get and stay organized.

2. Coupon with a purpose and have fun.

3. Get or create a price book, sale cycle list and a stock up list.

4. Invest in a deep freezer, food saver and set aside specific space for your stockpile and stick with that plan.

5. Remember that there will always be another deal and a better one sometimes. Just be patient.