So I'm new here, and I don't know where to begin.
I have a small coupon organizer

(okay so I can't post the organizer but it's the hannah hansen one with closed sides from ebay)


& I cut out coupons every Sunday, but still don't save like the experts do. So I'm I using my coupons wrong? Is there a better way to use them? Do I need to get more coupons before I start to see huge savings?
I have so many questions & have no clue where to start

I buy anywhere from 4 (my usual) to 15 (great coupon weeks) a week. taylertown preview has the new coupons preview every week, so you know how many to get. Check for places to get them free (have yet to find one personally!). then do the matchups every week. Check on here for the stores you usually shop at. I saved $45 dollars at walmart today. I went for specific items and came away with a lot of free stuff! I have gotten great deals at target, CVS, and my local grocery store. I have learned to stockpile, so that I am not buying only what we need for that week anymore. I buy ahead so that I only buy what is on sale and the stuff we need fresh! It takes a few weeks, but I have only been at it since September or late August!

1st, Breath, I felt overwhelmed when I first started. The best way that I can think of to start is to only look at the forms for the stores that you shop. So don't read the CVS forms if you don't have CVS. KWIM

2nd, each one of us will have different needs for our families. What you and your family need, my family may not. So we will all find deals that suit our needs. We just pass on to everyone the great deals that we find.

3rd, some, if not most of us already have a stockpile started, so our savings are going to vary.

4th, we don't always post all of our shopping trips. I may post that I saved over $100 at Target and paid pennies on the dollar for what I got, But, I'm not posting that I also went to walmart and spent $100, and saved only $10, on the need items that don't always have a coupon, or a sale, when you need them.

5th, Don't think that you have to buy everything that's on sale every week. The sales will come back around. Buy what you need first.

6th, Read the forms before you shop. Even though we are all over the U.S., some things are only regional sales. But, you can be on the look out, especially if it would be free or nearly.

7th, As for the newspapers, I have heard buying for as many people that are in your house. I personally have one delivered, and if the coupons are really good, to go with that weeks ads, then will go and buy more. There are other ways to get coupons, printing them, ordering from a clipper service, ebay, and ofcourse, what our members offer here, either as a RAOK (random act of kindness), or FSOT (for sale or trade), join a train.

8th, Find an organizing system that works for you, either, envelopes, acordian files, binders, box. I personally use the binder method, and use two binders, one is all food, and the other is everything else.

9th, Try to shop alone with no distractions. I know that taking all three kids with me, I always blow my trips, buying things not on my list, or things appearing in the basket all by themselves.

10th, Don't go over your budget trying to get the best deals. Using coupons is a way to cut back on the budget, to get more out of your hard earned dollars. My monthly budget is $300, but in my grocery budget is everything that is bought for the house, besides my monthly bills. So if the kids need socks or a new pair of gloves, that is counted in my grocery budget. I have kept my budget the same for a year, and am bringing home 3-4 times more than I normally would.

Welcome to AFC, everyone here is trully friendly and will answer any questions that you have. I have met so many wonderful people here that I consider to be family. I know that my 'coupon family' will understand why I just bought 20 bottles of shampoo. LOL

Lynda

thanks for all the good advice from a newbee

hmmm..... see if you can get several Sunday Inserts each week (COUPONS),, Hopefully you will have a CVS, WALGREENS, TARGET etc. in your area to watch for great bargains. I check the New Posts often on AFC. Dont hesitate to ask questions on here, these girls and guys are the BEST! Friendly, Helpful, and NICE, and man they know their coupons! You will learn as you go, and be amazed at your savings. WELCOME!!

thanks!!
Guess I'm just feeling the pressure of the holidays. LOL
I need to start off small (wonder how I can talk to the delivery guy for the paper; he's normally here before 6am) & luckily I've always been a stockpiler (But I have 4 bottles of shampoo & 20 jars of tomato sauce & boxes of pasta)

& Lynda I would love to get my budget to $300

Well now would be a good time to start, especially after the holidays. Lots of great sales, and clearance. Stockpiling isn't just food, H&B items, and cleaners. You can also stock up on gifts, school supplies, clothes, holiday items, the list is endless.

Don't try to do it all at once. You'll get there, I've been using coupons for 4 years now, stockpiling for a year, and am still learning.

Oh, and with Kmart doing super double coupons, you will be able to add a lot more to your stockpile for very little. I have done the kmart doubles twice and is such a rush. I was able to get $1012 worth of products, for only $200. Some members here did even better than that. If you have a kmart close by, might want to read the kmart forum. There is a lot of info on there. Lots of pictures and list of what others bought and prices. That's how I was able to put my list together.

Lynda

It is very overwhelming at first.. we've all been newbies once!

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Make a list of the items you regularly buy and post the list on your wishlist. Try to get coupons for the products you buy every week. For instance, I buy soymilk, raisins, and string cheese every week, so I make sure I have several coupons for each of those items. I will buy them regardless if I have a coupon or not, so having the coupons makes sense.

2. If there is a coupon that you would like extras of, just post a thread in the ISO (in search of) forum. List the details of the coupon and the date it was issued, and other members can trade with you. You can check out the upcoming coupons ahead of time on Home or The nations largest source of Grocery Coupons and maunfacturer Coupons. (click on the tracker at the top) to get ready for the Sunday paper.

3. Don't forget about store brands. Just because you have a coupon for an item, it doesn't mean it is the best price. Often I find that even with coupons (esp. for canned goods) at Walmart, it is still cheaper for my to buy the Wal-mart brand.

Yeah we're big on canned tomatoes & beans; i normally go to wal-mart but meijer just had theirs for .50 a can; so we're stocked up their.

money is so tight now (long story involves PPD & then a car accident & me still not being back at work) so even walmart can get too expensive & i don't like aldi's products

My husband: doesn't understand the "stockpiling" theory. All he can see is the dollar signs if it cost me a few dollars, if the items were not free or nearly free. He conveniently "forgets" about the original OOP price.
Example: Soon I will need to be on double if adults, quadruple if kids, vits. every day the rest of my life, after gastric by pass surgery. Combine the $1 Target Kids Centrum q along with the $3 Centrum qs, I save 50% by purchasing the 100 tab bottle & 75% by purchasing the 60 tab bottle. Yes, I made sure to look @ the bottles exprtn. date b4 I put them in the cart & all are good through Aug. 2010; All he can see in the nearly full storage box is this: "Yeah, but they still cost you money." But Not Nearly As Much Had I NOT Used Qs, & Need To Get the items while the coupon is out there, as it may never be seen again! Bottom line: SAVINGS, Original Retail Price Versus OOP using qs & sale prices.
OK, drastic measures here, folks, as he doesn't "get it"! I layed it out, plain & simple, using the vit. bottle & qs for him to see: The big bottle of kids = $8.44, this coupon = $1 & this coupon = $3, Use BOTH qs to Save $4, nearly 50% saved, & also, this bottle will only get me through 25 days, so will need a bottle & a 1/4 for the mth. Once he had the items & qs in his vision, plus the savings figures on paper, then he "got it".

Very True.
I spend all day on 12/26 just shopping, not necessarily for me, dh, teen grands, parents, etc. I look for sales & clrnc. items, anything & everything.
I have a bin that is just for baby items, like Christmas bibs, baby's first Christmas ornaments, bottles, socks, etc., for when that invitation for a baby shower comes in the mail. I can give a great gift w twice or 3 times the amount of items it would have originally cost me, & that gift basket would look bare w full price items.
I also keep an eye on the candy qs expiration dates this time of yr. Right now there are a few that will not expire until 12/31. If you don't need chocolate/candy Right Now, save those qs & use on 12/26. You will get the candy for 1/2 off, Plus use the qs to save even more. I play Coupon Fairy while in a store all the time, & last 12/26 gave several candy qs to ladies that were snapping up candy in TarJ. Oh, & this I have found to be true: last wk. we opened a pckg. kept cool & dry, of Christmas M & Ms, still fresh after almost a yr.
I also keep my eye out all yr. on items to stockpile. & one of my biggees is items for Toys For Tots. I made a donation last wk. from my stockpile collected since last 12/26. Total original retail price: $125. OOP: $15 in 4 large TarJ bags. Here are examples of what I do for plush animals: a few Christmasy ones I leave alone, others like Valentines & Easter: removed the rabbit ear headband & Easter ribbon off a dog's neck. White bears: cut off the "I luv u" little pillows between their hands. There, now they do NOT look like the respective holidays for which they were originally intended. Then into my stockpile they go, just waiting for a new home & to be loved by someone unfortunate.
Oh yeah, I have 1/2 of the "furnace room" hogged up, as dh says, for stockpile gifts & food. Well, it IS empty space!!

At times I read what others are buying, and its not things at my home we would even use. Its just DH and me living at home, so dont need the diapers, or alot of other pain relievers, etc. that others need. Hey, I am glad to say, I do NOT even need to buy any feminine products anymore. YEAH!
So there is still tons of things I could buy, and try to get multiples when possible. Had read to buy more then one paper on Sundays, or the day before even, to check out the new ads, and also time to do my clipping and organizing. I have problems never knowing for sure, if an Internet printed coupon will be accepted, as it seems it really depends on who you ask, at each store. I have several CVS and Walg near me, but seems none have the same responses on what they do and don't accept.
It is truly a learning experience, and with this site I am so grateful for all the information I have learned.
Now if I could just quit smoking, (I seem to quit every year for a couple months), that would save alot of money to go towards more other things. Please dont anyone tell me how bad or how expensive it is to be a smoker. I do understand it. And can sometimes do really well, but have a DH who has no intention of quitting, making it so hard on my part to remain smoke free.
Well anyway, hope we all have a great week with the doubles at Kmart, and our other places we shop at.
I get excited when I am shopping and see another person with their coupons in their basket. Makes me feel great!

they all have great suggestions. It will come in time. When you get your first really big saving I want to see it posted..

Hi and Welcome to AFC!!

Happy $avings!


Great suggestions above and you can see a Coupon How-To write-up as well as info about setting up a coupon binder in the link in my signatur