[kainalu55]

i've been reading the posts and see that you are able to get certain items for your stockpile for free! how do you all do this? PLEASE share...i want free or very cheap items to start a stockpile

also, i'm new to this so any other info or tips is greatly appreciated...thanks!

[carmended]

We clip lots of coupons and wait for the stores to have them on sale, then when they are we pounce with our coupons in hand. If its something you want more of free or really cheap then get more of the coupons by buying more newspapers or asking friends and family members to save them for you, or buying them online.
Welcome to the world of couponing! :-)

[maree9304]

There are a few ways. You can roll rewards that you get. Like if you shop at CVS or Walgreens.

When the ads come out, an item might be on sale for .99 and there may be a coupon for it for 1.00. People will buy and trade for more of these coupons so they can get more free products.

There are clearances where they'll mark the product down really low and when you combine it with a coupon, it will often be free or cheap.

There are other ways. Just pay attention to the forums for the stores that you shop at!

My first stockpile item was Colgate toothpaste and they were on sale for 1.50 and I had a 1.50 coupon. Or recently at my walgreens, they had Pert Plus s/c on sale for .99 and I had 1.00 and 1.50 coupons. I get a lot of things free from clearances, though.

[kainalu55]

thanks for the info! i need to really pay attention to sales and be on the lookout for those good deals!

[Henna]

One good tip for starting out is to clip ALL coupons. I used to just clip the ones for stuff I liked like Degree deodorant, Pantene shampoo, and toss the rest. Well, thanks to AFC and some great blogs I now can get deo and hair stuff for pennies or very cheap, so I am not brand loyal anymore. I clip ALL the coupons, even for stuff I never use, because it can be a money maker, or I can get freebies/cheapies/donation items with it.

[lholley]

Originally Posted by Henna

One good tip for starting out is to clip ALL coupons. I used to just clip the ones for stuff I liked like Degree deodorant, Pantene shampoo, and toss the rest. Well, thanks to AFC and some great blogs I now can get deo and hair stuff for pennies or very cheap, so I am not brand loyal anymore. I clip ALL the coupons, even for stuff I never use, because it can be a money maker, or I can get freebies/cheapies/donation items with it.

This is an EXCELLENT tip!!! I used to be VERY brand loyal, now I have found several AWESOME alternatives!!

[swillson76]

Thank you for the great tips. I am about to start my stockpile this week. Wish me luck!

[jeanettebr]

don't worry...your stockpile will grow very quickly. Just try and get the cheap/Free stuff when you can. The easiest way to do that is if you have a Walgreens (WAGS) or CVS near you. Read the forums here and they will post the weekly ads early and then we will all post coupon matchups and what items are free/cheap. Then either buy the newspapers or trade or order Q's online for the products you want. People post great transactions on here for you to follow so it makes it easier. Read alot of posts and watch what others do...in no time you will be saving that $!

Welcome to couponing!

[kainalu55]

We don't have walgreens or CVS. We have a Longs drugs that's supposed to be changing to cvs though

[CDmama]

Also, another tip is to email companies that you buy products from and either give them a compliment, complaint, or ask a question. Most will send you coupons, some of them will send coupons for FREE products. I got FREE coupons from Shout (color catchers), Pedigree dog food, and Drano. There is a long list or database on here somewhere, sorry I dont remember where or I would link it. Someone else might be able to link it for you.

[angiengary]

remember to get rainchecks if a store is out of something and you have a coupon for it. Sometimes a better coupon comes out, making your raincheck deal even better. A lot of people forget this but if your store if out of produce when its at a great price get a raincheck. I got rainchecks this week for whole seedless watermelons for $2.88 which I can use anytime.

[ebates1982]

That's a good idea about emailing the company. I want to stockpile, but I think hubby would have a heartattack.

[5zamoras]

Also....start combining Manuf. Q with a Store Coupon....often times that will get a free or nearly free product..

Good Luck & Have Fun!!

[elena_398]

Taking advantage of Kmart's double coupons this week. Have over 40 Pantene shampoo/conditioner/mousse, etc.

Over 40 Pert Plus

Etc etc etc.


Just clip or order coupons... And try to use them to your advantage. Carry your binder to every store. You just never know what coupons will match up with sales/clearances, etc.

[ebates1982]

I went to k-mart last night and got 2 boxes of advil pm's, an 80 count box of aleve, shaving cream, 4 pk dove soap bars, 2 bags of cat food and 2 bottle of listeren for 18.00. I was pretty happy about that. The aleve alone I got for 6.00. I'm sure some of you could do better, but i was happy with my start.

[fndufus]

I am new to couponing. I started with the Nivea body wash and LOVE it! Now working on Hefty one zip bags. AFC users are my heroes.

[swillson76]

My K-Mart never doubles. I could really get lots of stuff free/cheap.

[joshmamabear]

Originally Posted by swillson76

My K-Mart never doubles. I could really get lots of stuff free/cheap.

you may not have a KMart but you'll be surprise there's a lot of other frees you can get at WM (some Qs even give overage!) and Target w/o doubles.

search for the WM or Target threads and see if you have the coupons to make items cheap/free.

Good luck!

[schmidt00]

Also remember... before you started using coupons... the best way to buy items were in BULK at places like Sams, Costco because it got your COST per item to its lowest possible cost! The same is true with coupons. YES.. I COULD use a $0.75 / 1 wipe coupon on the biggest box of wipes to further its discount BUT if I can work a deal stacking a Target Q with a MFR Q and get the SMALLEST box FREE or for $0.10... then that makes the SMALLER package a better deal. Lots of my stockpile is built on SMALL sizes... (not necessarily trial size... I am not into that- but not the GIANT 900 ct size either!)

[joshmamabear]

^^ what she said makes a lot of sense.

I have tons of the $1 any Tide. I went to several stores to buy the trial size good for 1 load and have already accumulated enough to make 64 loads. DH wants his clothes washed only in Tide

if one has access to tons of coupons, it is best to use them for the trial sizes and get lots of them free rather than get a little discount on the bigger packages. another item is the rayovac alkaline batteries, I won't buy the pack of 4 or 6 that is over $5 less $1 =$4.xx when I get a pack of 2 for free with the $1 MQ.

but if you have limited coupons, even a little savings is better than nothing.