If you are reading this Beginner’s Guide to Coupons, you are probably hoping to save some money. The good news is that you will save money. The bad news is that you will have to work at it, at least a little.
Extreme Couponing can be a little scary at first. I originally decided to write this series after several friends contacted me to ask for advice on how to start using coupons. They would see me saving 70-90% or more on my grocery bill each week, and would leave this site inspired, determined to try it for themselves. But then, as soon as they started to look at all those coupons, they would quickly get stuck over how to begin, suddenly overwhelmed.
If this sounds like you, I’m here to help! This is my 8 week “baby steps” series on how to start extreme couponing. Each week I break down the process into a manageable bite, complete with assignments for specific tasks that will help you get going.
If you follow these steps, by the end of the eight weeks, you will not only have a firm grasp on using coupons to save 60% (or more!) off your weekly grocery bill, you will also have an impressive stockpile of food and toiletries for your family to use.
Now for a few disclaimers: There are a lot of websites and “coupon experts” with a lot of different ideas for saving money. Many of them are excellent. Some I will even refer you to. I don’t claim to have all the answers or even the very best or most perfect system for saving money with coupons. But I do save a ton of money with coupons, and I post all of those results right here on my blog.
What I will share with you during the course of this series is what works for me. Feel free to tweak as necessary to make it work for you, particularly if you are reading from a different region and have access to different grocery and drug stores.
The purpose of this series is to break the process down, step by step, and to take it slowly so that it is not too overwhelming. If you are catching on quickly, feel free to speed up the process. If you are having trouble, slow down and go back and re-read the previous week’s assignment.
Extreme couponing doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Any savings are better than none, so even if you only employ some of the techniques found here, you will still be saving your family money each week.
So without further ado, let’s begin with week one’s topic: How to Start.
Starting anything new is hard. We’ve all heard the saying, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” And so it is with coupons. Many people try to start saving with coupons. However, after putting in a lot of effort and only saving a few dollars they simply give up and say it’s not worth it. And I have to say, that kind of coupon shopping–clipping a few coupons here and there for things already on your list–probably isn’t worth the effort.
To save, really save, with coupons, you have to change your thinking. That’s step one. Instead of making a list for the things you need or want each week, and then buying them regardless of whether they are on sale or you have a coupon, you need buy what’s on sale, and as much as possible, buy ONLY what’s on sale (and lots of it.) Extreme couponing is a cumulative process, not an instant magic formula. You have to commit and you have to have a little patience.
(“But what will we eat?” you ask, and that is a valid question. I’m not going to lie. Figuring out what to eat, especially at the beginning, can be tricky, especially if you are used to shopping based on your weekly meal plan. For now, you’ll just have to trust me when I say that once you have a stockpile, figuring out what to eat gets much, much easier. (And for weekly ideas on cooking from your stockpile, check out my stockpile meals series here. But for simplicity’s sake, let’s not worry about that yet.)
Instead, let’s worry about the beginning. This week our focus will be on just getting set up.
To save money with coupons, you have to have….coupons. (duh!) It is also pretty critical to have some way of organizing said coupons so that you can find them in order to use them. Thus, this week’s assignment is to start collecting coupons and to set up your coupon organizing system.
(“But how will that save me any money this week?” you ask, and that is also a valid question. The short answer is that it probably won’t. Remember, this is a cumulative process. Be patient, you’ll get there.)
Week One Assignment:
- Establish your coupon sources.There are 2 main sources of coupons: newspaper inserts and printable coupons. (There are also a few secondary sources of coupons, such as free coupon booklets (often found at the front of grocery stores or in the mail), store flyers, “peelies,” (coupons stuck to the product you are buying), and coupons that come inside a product.)It used to be that most coupons came from the Sunday paper, but that is no longer the case. I estimate that these days at least 80% of the coupons I use each week are now printable coupons. However, the Sunday paper is also an important source of coupons.This week you should find out which of your local paper’s has the best coupon inserts. The easiest way to do this, if there is more than one option in your area, is buy one of each and then compare. For example, in my area, there are 3 different papers for me to choose from. Of those 3, two get all the coupon inserts each week and one doesn’t. Thus, I only buy the two papers that include all the coupons.For printable coupons, the main sources are Coupons.com, Coupon Network, Red Plum, and Smart Source. There are also coupons available quite often on company websites and Facebook pages. You will generally only print coupons when you need them. Most printable coupons have a limit of 2 per computer, so it helps to have more than one computer.
- Start a subscription to the Sunday paper. (Or figure out where you will get your paper from each week.) It may seem weird at first, but to save a lot of money with coupons you will probably want to get multiple copies of the same paper. I never get less than 2 in a given week, and sometimes I even get 4 or more if there is a coupon I really like.Try asking friends, family, neighbors, or local businesses for their unused inserts. Some areas even have free local papers that include coupon inserts. BE SURE to subscribe to or buy the local paper that has the best coupons. Not all Sunday papers are equal!!
- Consider buying a cheap B&W laser printer.You will be printing a LOT of coupons, so I can’t recommend this option strongly enough. An inexpensive laser printer can literally save you hundreds of dollars over the course of a year. I bought my Brother HL-2240 almost 3 years ago and it is still going strong.
- Get organized. Your system need not be elaborate; on the contrary, the simpler it is, the easier it will be to maintain. (And trust me, it will need regular maintenance!) Ultimately you need to figure out what works for you when it comes to organizing your coupons, but there are a two main options, each with its own pros and cons:
The Filing Method:
The filing system is probably the easiest to set and requires the least amount of time and effort to maintain. However, it will take you longer to plan your shopping trips each week, and you will always have to plan your trip before going to the store.
The filing system is two-fold. For my weekly newspaper inserts, I use a portable file box
with hanging folders. Each folder is labeled with the date, and then each Sunday I just plop the whole stack of inserts in the folder. It’s easy-peasy and requires no clipping. (I also have a folder labeled “to sort,” which is handy for keeping track of coupons I’ve printed or clipped but then not used but haven’t yet had time to put away.)
The second part of my system is for loose coupons, which come from a variety of sources. For my loose coupons, I have used my trusty Couponizer
binder, which I just love. I can sort by category, and it is small enough to fit in my purse so that I can bring it with me to the store. However, a small accordion file
would probably work just as well.
To see the filing system in action, you can watch my Quick & Easy Coupon Organization video here
The Binder Method
The binder method takes a little more time to set up and maintain each week, but planning and gathering your coupons for a shopping trip is much faster. Coupons are organized by category instead of date and it is portable, which means you can take all your coupons with you each time you go to the store.
I use the Qubie Coupon Organization System, which includes the QubiePro Binder for all your grocery coupons, as well as two smaller binders for specialty store coupons and store cards & gift cards. It arrives ready-to-fill, with plenty of clear 9-pocket “baseball card” sheets and pre-divided into sections. You can also make one yourself using a 2″ or 3″ heavy duty binder
, 3-ring binder dividers
, and baseball card pages
.
This week your task is to set up your own system. Buy or re-purpose a file box, label your folders for the next 8 weeks, and then buy the Couponizer
Part One Wrap Up
This week your BIG task is to set up your own coupon system. I have used both systems extensively, and now I actually use a combination of the two—filing my inserts and using the Qubie to hold my many, many, many printed coupons.
I honestly can’t say I prefer one over the other. I love the simplicity of the filing system, and the fact that it is so low-maintenance, but I also like being able to see all my coupons and to take them with me on a shopping trip. Ultimately, it is really a matter of personal preference.
For help completing this assignment I created a “Cheat Sheet” that includes quick links to all the items I’ve listed here. You can find the cheat sheet at:
http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/beginners-guide-to-coupons/cheatsheet/
So that’s it for this week. Just to recap: Figure out where to get your coupons, set up a newspaper subscription, figure out how to print coupons more cheaply, and get organized.
It might not seem like much, but this is the baby steps program, remember?
We’ll start saving very soon….
Click here to go to Part 2: Your First Shopping List
{But before you do, I’d love a vote. Just click the image below!}
Affiliate links may be used in this post. Printing a coupon or ordering a product through this link may result in a commission, which helps pay for the cost of running this site and keeps the content free. Read my full disclosure policy here.
Devin Kelley January 13, 2011 at 9:37 pm
Thank you so so so much, this is the first site i have found that has actually answered the questions i’ve been wondering about.
Zuzannak December 30, 2011 at 9:11 am
I know what you mean! Ruth you’re great!!
kimberly April 7, 2011 at 2:27 am
I agree Devin, this is a great step by step that i have been looking for to get started
Danielle April 14, 2011 at 9:16 pm
wow this is the best.I didt know what I was going to do..And I found this site..Wow your just the best..I feel I CAN DO THIS…YOUR THE BEST..
Ashlee November 14, 2011 at 1:25 pm
you’re** not your..
Bill November 18, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Grammar, the difference between knowing your sh!z and knowing you’re sh!z
Tina April 9, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Wow! This is wonderful. It is so refresing to find a site that will explain in detail and not try to sell a book to get the answers. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. God bless.
Michelle April 13, 2011 at 4:01 am
I’m confused about the combining of coupons for one item. How does that work exactly? Like if you have a coupon that says “Save $1.00 on five” and the store has the items on sale for $1.00 a piece. Do you just print/clip five of the same coupon? Sorry if this is an obvious question. I’m just slightly intimidated…
Ruth April 14, 2011 at 10:56 am
There are no stupid or obvious questions…it can be overwhelming at first! $1 off 5 means you must buy 5 to use the coupon, and you can only use 1 coupon per 5 items.
Kellie Evensen May 21, 2011 at 7:47 pm
How do those people get things where they use five coupons and end up getting the item for free. . I decided as an at home mom to start trying this. I am going to have a lot of stupid questions
Jaime July 26, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Here’s my take on it. A lot of what they show you on that show I try not to buy into. When they are being hogs and dumping a whole container into their cart or clearing the shelves they are just being hoggish and have ruined couponing for the rest of us becuase now stores are cracking down, and manufacturers are being more specific on the coupons they manufacture. The only stores I know of where you can use more than manufacturer coupons and store coupons is Rite Aid and Walgreens, and I think CVS too. At stores like these when you purchase certain items the registers print out a coupon for a certain amount of dollars off your next purchase so this basically is like giving you cash back and you can use them on top of coupons to bring your total down even more. hope that helps
Ana January 15, 2012 at 5:21 pm
I went to Walmart last week and was going to use a coupon to buy a Kashi Protein bar to try out. As I approached the aisle with the bars, I saw a young couple clearing out almost all of the bars and putting them into a shopping cart. I assumed they were the manufacturers reps because they were both dressed rather professionally and had binders with them! I noticed there were no Kashi bars left! I asked them if they were product reps…they laughed at me and said NO..we are couponers! The only reason they were hanging around the aisle was because one had spilled her coffee and the other was looking for something to clean it up with. Honest to God! I had never seen the Extreme Coupon Show on TV…and I had never seen anyone take all the products like this. I asked where did she GET all these coupons? She explained how it worked: She went on some website and promised to “pledge to recycle” the Kashi boxes.. Yes just PROMISE to recycle future boxes of Kashi products. Every time she made a pledge she got a coupon for $1.25 per bar. Walmart sold the bars for $1.10 or something like that….Walmart has policy of refunding excess money from coupon. So if she buys 100 bars she makes $15 cash and gets the bars free. I told her point blank: that is stealing! She laughed at me and said I was crazy and everyone was doing it. She said why should she get a job when she can click all day and make $$$. For one thing, she had to be making up fake email addresses to do all the pledging. (that right there is cheating & lying..and equals STEALING). Second, because there were NO bars left, I was not able to use my coupon legitimately and TRY the product. I’m all for using coupons, but to me this is like an OCD type behaviour. Just my 2 cents here.
Ruth January 17, 2012 at 2:04 pm
I’m glad you realize how unacceptable that type of behavior is! It is people like that who ruin it for everyone.
Jaymi April 13, 2011 at 5:55 pm
I agree…I watched the new Extreme Couponing tv show and I’ve looked at all kinds of websites. You are the first to step-by-step help us learn how to actually do it for ourselves without trying to sell something or just brag about what you did without enabling us to do the same thing! Thank you sooo much for your website!!!
Ruth April 14, 2011 at 10:55 am
You’re welcome!
fabian November 15, 2012 at 3:31 pm
I’m only 13 and I want to start couponing any advice.
Reanna March 11, 2013 at 9:15 pm
same here! i dont have a printer at my house so it is hard to get coupons
Sory April 14, 2011 at 4:28 am
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. You are the best!!
Ruth April 14, 2011 at 10:55 am
Thanks Sory, that is very sweet!
Rayvon Hartzog April 14, 2011 at 5:16 pm
I’m a total beginner and I’m hungry for all the information I can get. I think you live in Florida and so do I, it seems that the stores in other states seem to be giving better coupon deals than we can get so I’m glad to get your insight for our perspective. I love your videos but I would only ask that you not use the light teal text on the tan backgrounds because it’s so hard to read (I have 51 year old eyes). I want to thank you for doing this and sharing your information.
Rayvon
Michele April 14, 2011 at 10:25 pm
Thank you so much for the tips, I have 5 children which is costly especially when grocery shopping. I look forward to getting started with coupons. I am so excited about this thank you for all the information.
Tuesday April 15, 2011 at 12:38 pm
I have to tell you, just watching your videos gets me excited about couponing. Here is the bad news, I live in Switzerland and we do not use coupons here. I am going to tell my mama who lives in the USA to watch your videos and hope she too will get excited. You make it look so easy and your step by step really helps a lot. Thanks so much!
Amy B April 16, 2011 at 12:56 am
I wanted to add a small Tid bit for anyone wanting to pursue this option.
I just recently started trying to save money by clipping coupons. And I recently discovered that my Brother Laser Printer will let print multiple coupons. It has a microchip in the the printer so i remembers the last document that was printed. So by simply holding the “GO” button down and waiting for four orange lights i can then release and press the Go button to indicate the number of copies i want of that current document. So I can print endless copies of any given coupon as long as I don’t tell anything new to print from my computer… Ruth you may look into whether your brother printer has this capability… =o)
Myra April 29, 2011 at 6:22 am
Hi Amy, I was reading thru the comments and came across yours. Just thought I should mention that what you are doing is technically illegal. Basically what your printer is doing is it’s scanning and then storing the coupons that you print. It then prints the file that it saved. Scanning a coupon and printing multiples is illegal, just like making copies of coupons. Thought I’d point it out since a lot of people don’t know this, especially if they are new couponers.
Michele June 12, 2011 at 1:17 pm
I just wanted to let everyone know that some recycling places will allow you to just have there newspaper inserts.. They have to seperate them out to recycle the papers anyway so if you are looking for extra inserts check out this option.. Free is always better even if you have to spend a little in gas money to go pick up an endless amount of coupons.
violeta October 30, 2012 at 12:37 pm
Our local-business grocery store refuses all printable coupons bc of individuals doing this. You are reproducing fraudulent coupons when doing this
Cierra April 14, 2013 at 2:13 am
im sry to but in butt to me it seems like wat she is doing is legal bc it would be just the same as printing the coupon several times
Ashleigh April 17, 2013 at 11:54 pm
Actually it is illegal to copy coupons, and it is completely different than printing the coupon several times. For online coupon sites you can only print a coupon up to two times per computer, and that is the limit the manufacturer’s, who have generously supplied us with these coupons, have set. It is most certainly considered a crime to copy coupons, but if you have more than one computer, like many extreme couponers do, then that is the only exception to the rule.
Lisa April 17, 2011 at 7:00 pm
I found your site while reading some viewer reactions to TLC’s Extreme Couponing show (which I saw last week). Is extreme couponing practical for someone who is single? I don’t load up on a lot of non-perishable food items (or multiples of those items) because of lack of storage space in my apartment and because I try to keep a fresher diet. I’m also vegetarian and rarely find coupons on the soy or veggie protein products in the freezer sections. I live in NJ and noticed how much higher our grocery prices are (even in Shop Rite) compared to other states (when I’ve traveled). But I’m not sold on stockpiling tons of pantry or junk food. What’s the best way to reduce my bill on fresh produce? Any suggestions you have are appreciated!
E. G. May 18, 2011 at 9:52 pm
If I were you I think I would look for coupons for such things as paper towels, shampoos, bath soap, laundry soap and such. That way you’re still saving money but you’ll have more cash to spend on fresh food. I also often find coupons for eggs, milk, cottage cheese, orange juice and yogurt.
Rachel June 2, 2011 at 8:48 pm
Lisa — I agree with E.G. If you stockpile things you will use that are non-food, you will save. Check out the coupon policy at your local stores. Some will let you use the coupon overage toward your overall purchase which will help you save on the fresher diet you are accustomed to.
Bonny April 19, 2011 at 9:04 pm
Thank you you answered all my question…I love your website I’m new to this so it might be a little frustrating but I will take it one step at a time like you say.
Laura April 20, 2011 at 7:44 pm
Thank you! This is just slow enough for me to grasp. I look forward to learning more!
Fran V April 21, 2011 at 1:34 pm
I have to agree with all the comments. This is just what I have been looking for to help me get started.
Your newest FAN!
Joy April 21, 2011 at 5:00 pm
I am a little confused on how to use multiple coupons to stock pile a single item for a small cost. For example, I am clipping coupons for laundry detergent. I found one that gives me 1.50 off each one purchased. Do I clip multiple copies of the coupon, find a store that has the item on sale and then purchase? I am confused on how people are able to purchase an item that cost $2.25 and for .35 each. Please provide advice.
Ruth April 21, 2011 at 6:16 pm
You can only use one manufacturer’s coupon per item, but you can sometimes “stack” a store coupon with a manufacturer’s coupon for additional savings.
Kelly June 11, 2011 at 3:47 am
What is the difference between a manufacturer’s coupon and a store coupon? Were do I get store coupons? I get that a manufacturer’s coupons are the ones in the sunday paper but not sure of the difference?
Jaime July 26, 2011 at 3:31 pm
the store that you shop at may release coupons specific to that store in either the weekly flyer or sometimes a booklet at the front of the store. For example if you are shopping at Target, they have Target coupons (which because they say Target on them are store coupons) which you can print from their website. Let’s say you have a target store coupon for $1 off 3 boxes of Pop Tarts, let’s say you also have a manufacturer’s coupon for $3 off 3 boxes of Pop Tarts, you can use both coupons since the item quantity matches up (or if you had $1 off 1 box you could use 3 of those) so you would then receive $4 off of 3 boxes. Hope this helps.
Megan M. April 21, 2011 at 8:29 pm
Ruth,
Do you find that a lot of your coupons expire before the item goes on sale? What to do in that situation?
Ruth April 21, 2011 at 8:36 pm
Actually, the vast majority of my coupons expire before I can use them! I only end up using the coupons that match up to store sales to make great deals; sometimes that works out & sometimes a particular item doesn’t go on sale before the corresponding coupon expires. It doesn’t worry me too much, though, because there will always be more coupons and new deals.
You can mail your expired coupons to the troops overseas who are allowed to use their coupons for 6 months past the expiration date!
Sarah May 3, 2011 at 12:23 am
where can i find the address to mail these expired coupons?
Jaime July 26, 2011 at 3:50 pm
they have a Facebook page called “coups for troops” I believe
Kate April 21, 2011 at 11:22 pm
I have a really stupid question. I’m very new to this….thank you for all the really valuable information on your site, especially your videos.
So I’m trying to figure out how to get organized. When I was watching your video about filing/binders/etc I saw that you were filing your 9 months of Red Plum type coupon inserts in the hanging files. But then I see those type of coupons in the binder. Are you buying an additional paper and keeping the coupon inserts from that paper in tact and that’s what’s going into your hanging files? Then the other coupon inserts from other papers are being clipped and filed in your binder?
Or is this an either/or idea for coupon organization?
Thanks for your help!
LaTeacher April 22, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Thanks for this infomation. I have been searching for this for about three weeks and finally I found a great plan of attack. Thank you very much and also to the people who give great comments like the one about printing multiple copies using you Brother printer. Thank your for starting me on the path to financial stability.
armywifenstudent April 23, 2011 at 2:57 am
Thank you so much..I am sooo excited about learning the coupon craze. It will help us out so very much. I thank you for being a great person and sharing what you know. You are right…it is extremely overwhelming, but I will hang in there.
Bill November 18, 2012 at 1:02 pm
I would like to to say Thank You to you and your husband for the service to our country.
Mindy P April 25, 2011 at 5:15 am
I just wanted to say thank you so much for this great website and all the wonderful information. I am a relatively knew to all of this and find this so helpful. I know you mentioned getting a subscription to the local newspapers that have the coupons in them, but I was not sure if you knew that many of the local stores that sell items for a dollar or less sell our Sunday paper for a dollar. If you do not mind going out on Sunday mornings and have a store with this deal relatively close by it could be a good savings. For me this is a savings of $1.50 per paper! Hope this helps and thanks again for putting everything!!!
crystal April 26, 2011 at 3:57 am
So.. it is okay for me to change my printer settings to blk & whi only? Will the printed coupons still be accepted?
Ruth April 26, 2011 at 8:40 am
I only use a B&W printer and I have never had a problem.
Babs April 26, 2011 at 12:27 pm
My sister showed this website to me and I fell in love immediately. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your knowledge. I’m having a bit of trouble right now though. I have about 5 different newspapers to choose from in my area, problem is, 2 don’t have Sunday or Weekend editions and 3 won’t add any extra inserts unless you buy another paper. I’m kind of at a stand still right now. Any suggestions?
Lani July 26, 2011 at 8:49 pm
If you have a Starbucks by you check out if they will give you left over papers at the end of the day. Some they just recycle so they are happy to give them away. But some they do have to turn in for credit back, it’s worth checking out though!
chris brown April 26, 2011 at 10:41 pm
A pleasure learning about all of your organizational skills and enthusiasm. I look forward tolearning and earning!!! Thank you
Carrie April 28, 2011 at 4:25 am
I am just getting started. I think it looks like fun and exciting. I watched a show of extreme couponing and it looked very intimidating. You are making it really simple. Thanks for taking your time to help us new comers.
ArmyWifenMomo4 April 28, 2011 at 4:27 am
YOU ARE AMAZING! Thank you for this guide I’m officially obsessed with trying to extreme coupon. I just didn’t understand how to take it past what I’ve already been doing. I’ve been banging my head on the wall even by taking notes during each Extreme Coupon episode, I even rewatch them trying to figure it out how to spend $.55 on $600 worth of stuff. But like you said “it’s a process”.
I really wish I would have known about this whole “coupon thing” this time last year while my husband was in bootcamp. He didn’t get paid for the first 4 months he was in training and I’m sitting at home pregnant with 3 small children and there’s no way for me to afford daycare to work. If it wasn’t for my family and church we would have been on the street, starving. ANYWAYS, I recently started and my husband already sees how much more food we get for $300 every two weeks now that I started this…I’ve about doubled the amount of food I buy. every two weeks. And that’s just by stacking a coupon on top of the store deals. I sit down each Wed when I get the weekly store ads in the mail and compare. What’s also nice is that I usually would be shopping at Walmart if the stores weren’t having deals so I can just take the ads to Walmart and they will match the price EVEN if it’s not the same exact brand (like potatoes which they did for me)…so I don’t have to do as much running around trying to get the best deal. But Safeway has been having a great deal on milk for $1.79 a gallon (limit 2) so I go back through the checkout line about 4 times. Man, I can’t wait to get a freezer so I can stock up and freeze the milk when I get it on sale like that. I’ve also just realized that between payweeks they ALWAYS have other awesome deals like 4 for $5 on the maltomeal bagged cereals and I had the $1 off 2 coupons so that would have been 4 for $3! I totally missed out on that, I was FURIOUS but we were out of money by the second week. SO , I’ve learned my lesson that I’m going to have to keep like $50 between pay periods for the best deals that come up like that…not too often would that happen and we go through 5 bags every 2 weeks. Good luck to all you beginners like myself and please share your little tidbits on your own “extreme couponing” tactics.
Anonymous February 18, 2013 at 1:26 pm
Commissary is 30% less and you van use your coupon in addition to that.
Courtney April 28, 2011 at 7:12 pm
I’ve clipped coupons in the past but never really saved much. Stumbling onto your site
Has gotten me excited about starting it again! Thank you for this info, it’s so helpful!
Courtney
Tucson, AZ
Amy Nay April 29, 2011 at 1:27 am
how do you file and where do u file your printed coupons? In the file box-but then you don’t have a date? do u clip each one and keep it in the acordian? I’m confused. Also where do u keep your coupons that come in the mail like the red plum?- in the file or acordian. And if i get this straight the systems are a file box and acordian or a binder? Please clarify. Thanks
Rebecca May 1, 2011 at 12:24 am
If I have an online coupon that says “all items must be purchased in one shopping order. Limited to product in stock” – does this mean that I can print as many of those coupons as I want or can they rescan the same one?
Rebecca May 1, 2011 at 1:11 am
Also – when it says “limit one coupon per purchase” does this mean per transaction or per product?
Elodie Legos May 1, 2011 at 1:28 pm
I used to use coupons before but after a while it starting getting frustrating because of the time I needed to spend clipping and organizing. With this new show Extreme Couponing I believe that it certainly opened my eyes that I can do this again. I am now trying to browse all the valuable sites out there that can help me with get a good grip and organized on this. Some good website that I liked was your website, southernsavers, pricible, frugalshopper. if I combine all these techniques I and read more articles, I think that I can succeed now! Wish me luck!
Thank you for doing this!
quinn May 2, 2011 at 12:07 am
What does manufatuer coupon mean? And can I use my coupons at any supermarket or walmart? I love this website I’m also a beginner.
Robbyn May 2, 2011 at 5:19 am
This is exactly what i’ve been looking for. Thank you.
Jennifer Walker-Warren May 4, 2011 at 6:43 am
I love this site. Thank you for your help. Thank you for not charging for the information, your kindness is refreshing in a world that a lot of times is every man for himself.
Marie Cossey Daniel May 27, 2011 at 7:16 pm
I agree with Jennifer. I truly appreciate all this helpful information given from the heart!
Alison G. May 4, 2011 at 6:15 pm
THANK YOU!!! This is my new favorite site. I have been wanting to start couponing, but everywhere I look/read is just mumbo jumbo to me. I LOVE how your site gives the “newbees” a place to start, without starting out like they have already failed. This is EXACTLY what I have been looking for! Another plus is that the information is free. Thank you for helping my family save money!!
carlos May 4, 2011 at 11:17 pm
thanks for this website is really help i going to follow you for now on
Cassy May 10, 2011 at 2:22 am
here’s a problem for you – I live in a very rural town. The closest town to me that even has a newspaper is a small one that would not even think of putting coupon inserts in it. The “big papers” don’t even have newstands down here because it is not “economically feesable”. Even if I do get my hands on coupons the only place to use them in town is W-M. The closest big town that has an Albertsons, Walgreens, CVS, and Kroger is a 45 minute drive. Therefore just running over there for a few things will not work with gas prices so high. Any advice? To top it off my daughter has a food allergy so most things you get coupons for would not be allowed in our household. I am looking more at doing the coupon shopping to help stock our local food pantry in a severe poverty stricken town. I would love and welcome any suggestions – also thank you for sharing your information to the public without charging for it like many other sites.
Cassy May 13, 2011 at 12:33 am
After re-reading my comment I sound like such a complainer!! I really want to be a coupon user (money saver) but these are some speed bumps I face. As with other speed bumps in my life I will find a way to roll over them – It just may take a while. ( since my first comment I have found the wonder life of internet coupons!!) Good luck to other beginners as I know we will soon be overtaking the stores!!
Mallory Mills May 26, 2011 at 7:54 am
I hope this helps out just a little bit. You may want to call and ask your kroger store if they do the fuel points when you use there loylaty card. We have a Fry’s and that is part of the Kroger store family. When we use our frys card it says on the recipt how many fuel points we have earned, we go to shell or circle k and use the points along with cash. I have an older subribin…I save on gas however I can! It is worth some looking into.
Cassy June 7, 2011 at 3:39 am
okay thanks – I didn’t know that.
Toni Cook January 21, 2012 at 2:44 pm
I go to coupondede.com and order my coupons,they come in two to three days for a very small fee.
Lanette February 16, 2012 at 3:23 pm
Wal*Mart price maches in Ohio you should ask if they will there if so just print off adds from other stores and circle the less amount of item you are wanting and walmart will make it that price… its worth a try because I use price match to the fullest then use my coupons thats how I get a lot of things cheap or for free some times.
Kayla January 19, 2013 at 11:02 pm
Hello,
I am gong to do the file system with my inserts as well as the little couponizer; however, I already have a one of the check type holders so I was going to save some $$ and just use it. But I would like to know what couponizers sections are labeled, example…canned goods, condiments, etc..I would like to do my as close to the couponizer as possible, so if someone could give me those section titles that would be great. Thanks in advanced!!
Foz M May 11, 2011 at 4:34 am
hi, this is the first time ever i will be using coupons and i want to learn
and i love how you break it down. thanks for the tips and the website.
Len May 12, 2011 at 5:33 am
Thank you so much! I’ve been wanting to do this but have no idea where to start.
Melissa May 14, 2011 at 1:32 am
With the binder system, do you find it better to organize your specific store coupons separately, or put them in with the correct categories? Do you sort them by expiration date, brand, etc?
Michelle May 17, 2011 at 1:54 pm
Hi Ruth! I have always used coupons for everything! Since I have been watching Extreme Couponing, I use more coupons. I have a couple questions. When a store has a sale for example salad dressing and 2/$4 and I have a coupon save $1.50 on 2 can I use 2 of those coupons? I would like to start a stock pile but am unsure where and how to begin that. I hope to hear from you. Thanks!
Also, I am so glad I found your website! I have purchased a binder and inserts and have all my couons organized!
layla May 18, 2011 at 6:31 am
I am a 23 year old college student so I wanted to learn how to start “extreme couponing” and have been scouring the internet for some easy how to guides and saw your video on youtube. So now here I am and I have to be honest….I LOVE your site! It is very user friendly and comprehensive and makes me feel like this can really be a possibility for me! Thank you for taking the time to do this! Your are changing lives one coupon at a time, lol!
emmy October 1, 2011 at 1:45 pm
Hahahaaaa Good one! : )
Tammy May 19, 2011 at 3:20 pm
I have heard alot recently about saving money using this method, but could never find out “how”. Thank you for dedicating your time to helping others find a way to save money
I just started the tutorial, but so far, it’s very user-friendly & easy to understand. My husband & I are venturing out together…lol & I’m so excited to get started!!
Again…THANK YOU!
Ruth May 20, 2011 at 8:51 am
You’re very welcome. I hope it helps your family!
carolyn johnson May 20, 2011 at 11:46 am
IM so excited about your site,I watch extereme couponing on t.l.c. and they only drop hints on how to do the coupons like its some sort of secret or something and they never tell you what websites to go to. Im so glad i found this, im just starting havent got my coupons yet, however this is very informative.Thanks so much. carolyn
Kim Alonzo May 20, 2011 at 7:20 pm
thanks just getting started but i still feel really overwhelmed and intimidated! thanks for sharing your info with us!
Kellie May 21, 2011 at 7:49 pm
Does anyone live in the Dupage County area in Illinois that would want to pair up with me. . Preferably another at home mom that has time to come over and put our heads together . . Maybe shop together. . .Ps you site is amazing and I am glad I found it
Amanda May 22, 2011 at 2:04 am
How much time do you spend working with coupons? I primarily stay at home with my children, and don’t want to sacrifice quality time with cutting out coupons and hunting for deals. Another concern of mine would be that it would be addictive and consume lots of time and thoughts? What do you think? Thanks! Glad I found your site.
MARIA FRYE May 22, 2011 at 9:48 pm
OK WE JUST GOT STARTED THIS WEEK WITH OUR COUPON GATHERING. AND NOW WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THINGS BEFORE OUR MONTHLY GROCERY SHOP. PLEASE FEEL FREEL TO EMAIL ME WITH ANY TIPS THANK U SO MUCH U R AN INSPIRATION
Angela Salmon-Collins May 23, 2011 at 4:34 pm
Thank you a million!!!!!!!!
Toni May 24, 2011 at 7:07 pm
Wanted to try doing all this and I am overwhelmed by all the coupons. Do you clip all coupons or just ones you know you will use for sure I have a tone ogf maybies too? Ahhh Help!
Ruth May 24, 2011 at 8:38 pm
I file all my newspaper coupons by date. I don’t clip them at all until I need them, I just throw the entire insert into the folder for that date, and then just clip the ones I need when I need them. For internet printables and other random coupons, I cut those out and file them in my Qubie binder. I made a video on my filing system that you can view here: http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2011/01/12/quick-easy-coupon-organization/ Hope that helps!
Danyell May 25, 2011 at 7:35 pm
Ruth,
Years ago I used to coupon alot and saved tons of money. I was a newspaper distributor and was able to pull all the slicks out before sending the stacks of unsold papers to the recycle bin. Since I am recently unemployed and decided to give couponing a try again, now my resources have turned to the newspaper recycle bins scattered around my town. I have found several mother loads of discarded coupons so I think I have my source in check.
My biggest concern is I live in California (central to be exact) and there are ZERO stores locally or even in neighboring cities that double or triple coupons. Do you have any additional suggestions for me so I can still be successful?
Any help you or your readers can give me would be appreciated. Thanks so much for the work you have put into your website and your step by step training.
Danyell
Leslie Hankins May 26, 2011 at 4:18 pm
Hi! I am new to the couponing life! We are a single income family and are not able to make it on our income. You have inspired me to do this!! Our little town only has one news paper and only Internet is on my cellphone so I can’t really print any but I’m going to try anyway!! Thanks for the inspiration!!
Norma Gennaro May 26, 2011 at 9:38 pm
As far as labeling your file with a date….what date do you use? The actual day your filing in the file or the date on the paper that the coupons came in?I wasn’t sure.Thanks so much for your help.
Janelle May 26, 2011 at 9:56 pm
I over think things all the time and this is probably a silly question about filling. I get how you put the coupons per month in seperate files but when is the best time to use the coupon…when an item is on sale or just before the coupon expires??
Ruth May 27, 2011 at 10:39 am
Try to only use coupons that match up with sales. You will have lots & lots of coupons that expire before you use them but try not to worry about that–it means you are doing it right! There will always be more coupons that come along.
Sheryle May 28, 2011 at 12:54 pm
I love, love, love your website! Very helpful information & visually beautiful. I’m a person who does really well if I can see how things work. Thank you so much. I’m a fan & am encouraged to stick w/the process of coupons & SAVING MONEY $$$$$$.
Mary Ledford May 29, 2011 at 4:26 am
Thanks so much! I’ve been using coupons for about 6 weeks, but I’m just not getting it. (well, I don’t think I am) This is great! Week 1…here we go!
Melissa May 31, 2011 at 5:30 am
Thanks for all the info! I have been watching Extreme Couponing and am ready to start saving (though I realize it will not be to that extent) and so happy to have found your 8 week course. BLESS you for sharing the info and get us all started off right
connie May 31, 2011 at 3:46 pm
wow, thanks alot, this helps
vicky May 31, 2011 at 3:59 pm
im so happy i found ur blog im so gonna try doing dis
Jennifer June 2, 2011 at 2:04 am
I am slightly intimidated to begin couponing, but very eager to learn! Can’t wait until i have the whole system down where i can feel confident understanding about everything. thanks for the step-by-step instructions
Curtis June 2, 2011 at 9:52 pm
All, please help me figure this out. I have a coupon for $1.50 off any “Xbrand” shampo. The “xbrand” shampoo is on sale for $300. Thats great i can not buy this at 1/2 price. However, how would anyone ever get product for free? Even with 100 duplicate coupon and buying 100 quantity of the shampoo the best you can to is 1/2 price right?!?!?!
I just cant seem to understand how this is done. Any info would be greatly appricated.
Olga June 19, 2011 at 1:27 am
curtis you could get it for free if:
1. you have a store coupon for $1.5 AND a manufacturer coupon for $1.5 for this product.
OR
2. if your store will double a coupon
if somebody knows other ways I’d love to know too!!
Pauline June 4, 2011 at 11:11 pm
Thanks so much for the information. I plan to use this site to help me become a good coupon shopper and saver. We live on one income and need a way to start making ends meet.
DOMINIQUE June 5, 2011 at 8:51 am
wow ive been looking every where for some simple directions and an easy couponing site to use and i finally found one im 12 and i just got interested in couponing because my family needs extra money so we can buy a house my mom dad brothers and sister all support me but it has been difficult to find an easy way to do it thank u
WXYZ June 19, 2011 at 10:30 pm
That is very interesting to know. I’m 15 and I’m trying to help my family, too, since we’re broke half the time and I’m not old enough to get a job. Extreme couponing sure helps but you sure don’t get healthy food from it. Not all the time, anyway. Things like cereal, cheese, crackers etc are great to get for cheap, but things for real meals (healthy baking supplies) are a stretch to coupon for.
Lanette February 16, 2012 at 3:44 pm
To WXYZ please ask your school teachers if they can save you the coupon inserts, all or most get papers I am sure to read on luch brake and most just throw them away and old teachers that I had got the sunday paper and would bring it to me on Monday. Thats what I did when I was in school growing up. About not being old enough to get a job if you wanted to and if your parents will let you hun a paper rout is a great way to go as well. When I was 13 I had one and at the end of the week I always asked to help recyle them, this helped me get free coupns plus have extra money for my mom and siblings. Sorry for poor spelling.
emmy October 1, 2011 at 2:15 pm
Omg, Dominique and WXYZ you two are awesome for wanting to help reduce financial stress on your family. : ) teenagers like you are very rare. Your parents are obviously doing an excellent job of raising you…Hurray!
Stacey June 6, 2011 at 2:06 pm
Thank you, thank you for all of your great tips and help! I am so excited about learning how to save some bucks off of my grocery bill! You’re awesome!!
Jill June 9, 2011 at 7:30 pm
I am planning on using my accordian file but don’t know what to label the categories. What categories are there in the couponizer?
Amy June 13, 2011 at 11:14 pm
I love this website! One question and its very confusing and makes you stressed all the time trying to think lol…but my biggest thing is how can these people have all these coupons on one purchase and get things free. For example is you can only use one coupon for get $1.00 off 5 , how do these people get those 5 items for free or for little cost? Sorry if its stupid im a beginner
Olga June 19, 2011 at 1:24 am
I think they stack the store coupon with a store sale with a manufacturer coupon.
Rie - Atlanta June 23, 2011 at 10:50 pm
That’s a great question Amy. I’ve been wondering the same thing. LOL
Janay October 29, 2011 at 10:21 am
What I find so ientresntig is you could never find this anywhere else.
yolanda June 14, 2011 at 2:01 am
If you have a Dollar Tree in your area Sunday Newspapers or only a dollar.
Olga June 19, 2011 at 1:23 am
that’s an AMAZING tip!! I haven’t even thought about it and we do have a dollar tree 3 blocks from our house. I am so excited now!!!
olga June 19, 2011 at 8:37 pm
Yolanda,
Checked the Dollar Tree today – they dont carry the Sunday papers. This sucks!
yolanda June 27, 2011 at 2:50 am
where i live they do, Indiana
Brandi May July 1, 2011 at 4:18 pm
My dollar tree here in North Carolina sells the Sunday paper, they’re a dollar on Sunday and usually two for a dollar on Monday! Since I live close to Fayetteville they usually have the Fayetteville paper and our local paper.
Kristyn June 14, 2011 at 8:33 pm
Like everyone else, I’m SO happy to have come across your site. As a new stay-at-home mom in charge of setting up our monthly budget via nerdy spreadsheet, I’ve calculated that we (just 2 of us plus 8-month old baby) spend between $600-$700 per month on groceries. :/ This number is too high for our budget, so I’ve been looking for ways to save… I think the number is high in part because we often buy organic…. So, that brings me to my question. Since most of the food we buy tends to be the veggie/fruit/natural dairy/baking staples (rarely processed unless it’s cereal, crackers, or the occasional mayo), it seems as if coupon-ing may not be as fruitful for us? Any hints on if/where/how stores and manufacturers offer coupons for fruits, veggies, & natural? cheers!
WXYZ June 19, 2011 at 10:27 pm
Thank you! I have been so eager to coupon for my family but I’m not interested in living on TV dinners and frozen cholesterol. The only problem I feel holding me back from couponing is the fact that it’s so hard to eat right or healthy at all because there are simply no coupons for fresh food or organics. I read that you could use coupons for non edible things such as cosmetics, cleaning supplies etc to save money for groceries but it’s hard to find coupons for that, too. I’m such a noob at this, maybe more time will help with this problem, too.
Debra June 15, 2011 at 10:10 pm
Hello, thank you so much I have been watching extreme couponing but I didnot know how to get started nor what steps to take. you have provided me will a lot of information and now I feel I can do it.
Olga June 19, 2011 at 1:22 am
I feel the same way. I love the assignments
It makes me feel that somebody is actually telling me WHAT to do to learn instead of just dumping bunch of new information on me 
Stacey June 16, 2011 at 1:30 pm
I am just starting and was organizing the notebook and wanted to ask if there were categories you suggest to group the coupons into for the dividers?
Olga June 19, 2011 at 1:20 am
Stacey,
I am new too, just like you, and some veteran couponers gave me the advice of dividing the binder in alphabetical order instead of categories. When you start getting a lot of coupons it might be confusing where the Ragu belongs in canned goods or sauces. But if you file under R for Ragu you might be able to find it easier. Just a thought
Shelly August 3, 2011 at 4:05 am
I like that idea. I just order my binder system, and was wondering what might be an easy way to set it up. Thanks for the tip.
WXYZ June 19, 2011 at 3:44 am
I would like to ask fellow couponers to use their brain and please not make multiple unpaid (illegal!!) copies of coupons and especially POST it on the web because with coupons becoming more and more popular stores are getting stricter and stricter with their policies and might even discontinue usage of them.
To the author of these articles: You are a saint.
anna June 20, 2011 at 12:33 am
Hi, I am new to couponing. All Ive been doing is buying papers trying to build a stockpile of coupons. Then it dawned on me My family we eat mostly fresh items. meat fres or frozen veggies very little junk. so I try to stock up on tolitries and personal hygiene. the problem is the stuff rarely goes on a rock bottom sale i live in chicago and its very expensive here. We dont have stores that double coupons were lucky they take regular ones!! my other issue is i use the binder method which was difficult. I found coupons were all over. how can i organizze them in a way where it makes sense and it will work? Thanks for all your help. I thought of numbering them with numbers for ex. 1 breads,2oils 3.cookies u get the idea.do u think this way is fine or do u have a better way. dating them wont work for me thanks Anna
Cassy June 20, 2011 at 11:29 pm
I am so excited – I went to Wal-Mart today to get some knit pants made by Just My Size. I used my $5 off JMS coupon that I received in the All You magazine (May I think) and found the pants I want on the clearance rack for $3. I purchased the pants and a candy for $1 and they had to pay me 67 cents to leave the store with my items!!! Don’t you just love overage?!?
Amanda June 21, 2011 at 12:57 pm
I was wondering how exactly you set up the file folder. Is it by each week or by the month?
Rie - Atlanta June 23, 2011 at 10:35 pm
I’ve been couponing for the past few weeks. It’s been hard being consistant, finding the right coupons, web sites to print coupons etc. I have already set up a small binder and organized it by types of products ie; dairy, meats, snacks, breakfast foods etc. I have managed to save a little money, but not nearly as much as I’d hoped. I was about to give up, when my sister referred me to your website. Thank you for motivating me to give it another try.
!!!
Stockpile here I come
mary June 25, 2011 at 4:51 pm
Me gustaria saver si hablas espanol o conoces alguna amistad que pueda ayudarme con esto de los extreme couponing, porque entiendo algo de ingles pero no lo suficiente. Hay ciertos terminos y palabras que aveces se me hacen dificiles. Muchisimas gracias por toda la alluda que me puedas ofrecer, que Dios te bendiga y nos allude a todos. GRACIAS………..Un saludo.
MARY.Chao……………………………………..
Lauren S. June 27, 2011 at 7:48 pm
Wow! Thanks, my mom and I are starting!!
Amie June 28, 2011 at 3:07 am
Well I’m going to give it a try….baby steps and by the way I love the way you explain moment to moment. I was frustrated and really did know even how to begin but reading this is really going to help and I’m going to give it a try….I’ll let you know next week on my first step!!
JAMIE June 28, 2011 at 4:22 pm
i LOVE ur website! i am new to the coupon world & while i am nowhere near “extreme” i have had a few really successful shopping trips!
i love the fact you have taken the time to break the process down into steps so ANYONE can coupon! as a young married woman & new mommy, im a stong believer in couponing b/c things cost way too much these days!!
to those who are curious about couponing or new to the system: it CAN BE done!! yes, it takes a little time & patience to get organized, but once you see a grocery cart full of food for 1/2 of what you usually spend…. its addicting! coupons really are $$$ that grows on trees!
happy couponing!
Michelle June 28, 2011 at 6:15 pm
I have heard about websites where you can sign up to purchase coupons. Is this legal and does anyone ever use a service like this? It seems like it would be easier than purchasing multiple papers in a week.
TeamBebehko July 1, 2011 at 11:50 pm
thank you soo much!!! this means a lot… we will keep in touch through your website. Thank you for the baby steps!!! extreme couponing.. here we come!!!
Rebeca July 3, 2011 at 4:24 am
Hi i stumbled across your site through youtube,and i do apreciate that you are helping us newbe
couponers,step by step,i already have my binder and have been collecting coupons i take the sunday paper,i did get some great deals at a harris teeter when they super doubled ,their coupons
but i to am wondering about my coupons expiring before i can use them,or before something goes on sale,it seems a waste to cut all of them out,when you have mutiple inserts,and they expire.
it confuses me as to what store to use?…i do not have a kroger or a publix,walmart will let u use as many coupons as u want,harris teeter only allowes 20,so each store has their own policy,and way of such things as bogo free. i was told to just use one store and one drug store?
its just feels overwhelming,i find myself looking at so many sites for coupons,that time is wasted.
do you have any recomendations for me.
thank you,
Rebecca north carolina
Yanderin July 10, 2011 at 11:49 pm
Hi, I have a quick question it might sound dumb but what does it mean when the coupon; lets say a can of fruit says at the bottom (limit 3 )?
Jennifer July 19, 2011 at 1:30 am
I have been trying to coupon for the last 2 months and I am confused and upset that I am spending more then I am saving. I am really not getting the concept of SAVING. I spend about 250 in groceries every two weeks. There has to be a way to cut that cost in half. I just dont know what I am doing wrong. I hope with taking the baby steps I can figure out where I am going wrong and fix it.
Suzanne July 19, 2011 at 4:40 am
Love it! It’s actual instructions on how to start. Thank you so much!
Aleda Haynes July 24, 2011 at 8:57 pm
Thanks for ALL this valuable information. Is it practical to buy multiple inserts from people on the internet? Thanks again.
Traci July 25, 2011 at 9:01 pm
I have been searching and searching the web for a site like yours. I had sooo many questions and you made this simple. Thank you for sharing your great knowledge with us. You’re the best. God bless you.
jacklyn July 31, 2011 at 6:22 pm
Hi, thank you for doing this step by step on beginners couponing. I just finsh my first week! Now, on to the 2nd step ! I found my self paying attention to how much things cost, which i never did that before;). I did use the sites that you pointed out. I live in PA so i used couponmom.com. I was very excited i used two grocery coupons, a staples coupon, and Jcpennys coupon i saved 50 bucks on stuff i was buying anyway. I cant wait till the next step !
Shelly August 3, 2011 at 3:59 am
So happy I came across this site. I ordered my organizer and can’t wait until it gets here. I went on to step two and tried a small shopping trip. I ran into trouble when the checker would not let me use my coupons like I wanted. I wanted to buy 4 boxes of Cinnamon Toast Crunch and had 4 coupons for those boxes. She told me it was a manufacturer policy that I could not use all of them on the same visit. I asked her if I needed to go out in the parking lot and return 4 times in a row and go through the line 4 times, but she did not approve of that either. I had several items with several coupons. After she burst my bubble, I ended up leaving with nothing. I had went to a different store in town to purchase some of the items and had no problem using my coupons like that. I have emailed General Mills to try and find out just what their policy is, and I have contacted the company of the store to let them know of my disappointing store experience. It was awful, the line backed up and other customers were getting mad at me. The thing was, I spent a lot of time preparing for my first shopping trip and had everything organized!
Dana August 4, 2011 at 2:57 pm
you need to make sure of the fine print on the coupons, Ruth explains the verbage on here and what the difference is between “transaction” and “purchase”. However, I have found that some stores just are not receptive to couponers and do whatever they can to try and make it difficult for you – if you havent yet I would watch some of her videos that give you tips on picking a cashier that might be more helpful. Also, many companies don’t train their employees on coupons and such so they just don’t really know. Hope this helps and good luck – it only gets better from here on out!!!
Shelly August 5, 2011 at 4:38 am
I am sure it was just that store. Went to the same company different location and saved about 60 bucks. I had no problem using my coupons. I bought 8 boxes of cereal that was on sale. I had a coupon for each box and was able to use them all! I will have to watch the videos. I want to learn as much as I can. Thanks.
Dana August 4, 2011 at 2:49 pm
Thanks so much for all of your advice, I have shared your site with many friends. . . I did follow your advice about buying a printer and I bought the Brother 2240, I have printed a fair amount but I have only had it about a week or so and my toner is already low! Did you run into this on the first cartridge you recieved with the printer? I’m thinking that maybe they just sent an initial one without much ink, would you recommend buying a high yield cartridge? BTW – thanks to you I made sure I shopped around before I bought it and with my rewards card and coupon from Staples, I got it for $59 shipped to my door!!! Thanks for any info.
Ruth August 4, 2011 at 2:53 pm
Dana, try putting scotch tape over the sensor on the cartridge. Your toner will last MUCH longer! Here is a YouTube video that explains it. It is what I did!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPCGZZIdXyM
Dana August 5, 2011 at 6:20 am
thanks so much, I will check that out! I can’t believe how much you do – as a mom of two boys, one 20 monthsand the other5 year, I feel like I am always going and then adding couponing on top of it, I feel like I am doing it ALL the time – though I do love it. Thanks for all of your hard work and help, not only is it wonderful to save money, it feels great doing it too!!!
Lori August 5, 2011 at 2:11 am
Ruth,
I just wanted to say thank you for all that you do. You are the person who originally inspired me to start saving money. New to couponing, I have done a good deal of research on many different sites and blogs seeking advice. I find yours to be the absolute best! I love that I can print a shopping list of the deals I want to take advantage of right here. Completely genious. You do all of the research for eveyone- amazing! Thank you so much, and please know that your efforts are greatly appreciated!!
Justin August 10, 2011 at 5:12 pm
Thanks very much for your system on couponing. I’m definitely in the market to save money every week. With the cost of living going up so much, your tips and system is absolutely brilliant.
LaDanea August 11, 2011 at 8:07 pm
I get paid on the 1st of each month of 604.00 to pay my bill and fod and cat and 2dogs.
Can you tell me how to do this.
Micah Pullen August 14, 2011 at 11:15 pm
Thank you so much! I have been on the fencepost about couponing for about a year now. I am a single mom and struggling college student needing to save money EVERY way I can but there are NO other sites that walk you through this process like this so I truly do appreciate this! Very excited about getting off the fence and finally getting started.
Michelle August 14, 2011 at 11:20 pm
I live in Oregon and I don’t think there are any stores here that double coupons. I know stores like Albertsons, Safeway and Winco do not do this. So, how can someone like me save money when I can’t double the coupon? Also, does anyone purchase coupons from websites? Our Sunday paper does not have many coupons.
Ruth August 16, 2011 at 8:39 am
Hi Michelle. Here in Florida we don’t have double coupons either, and I do just fine. It is definitely very possible to save tons of money without double coupons. You can purchase coupons from a clipping service if you want, but there are so many printable coupons available these days that even if your Sunday coupons aren’t great, you should still be able to save a lot. You can check out my daily Coupons to Print Now list over at my new sister website, http://www.printhotcoupons.com.
Amanda August 15, 2011 at 9:51 pm
Thanks alot, this was very helpful. I have tried before but just got overwhelmed, but I love the steps you have provided:)
Peggy August 16, 2011 at 12:29 am
watched all your vids on youtube now i am here. question if i want to set up binder method and npt spend a lot on quubie so want to set up myself do you have a list to use for catagories
Ruth August 16, 2011 at 8:33 am
Hi Peggy–You can do whatever sections make the most sense to you, but I would include Refrigerated/Dairy, Frozen, Dry Goods, Canned Goods, Breakfast Foods, Baking Supplies, Baby, Household, Laundry, Personal Hygiene, & Health categories for sure.
Kylie August 16, 2011 at 3:47 am
Thank you SO much!! This is the most helpful website I’ve found on getting started!!! I’m a new stay at home mommy and my husband will love that I’m going to start saving us money so we can spend it in areas we WANT not HAVE to
This is a WONDERFUL website! Thanks!!!
Ruth August 16, 2011 at 8:31 am
You’re welcome!
SusanM August 17, 2011 at 3:30 pm
Wow! Love your website and videos. I am new to this and was beginning to feel overwhelmed until I found your website. Thank you for sharing! I am still confused as to why you would need 4-6 copies of the newspaper inserts but am on week 1 and in the gathering stage so hopefully it’ll all fall into place. Your website is visually appealing and very easy to navigate. Thanks again!
Erika August 17, 2011 at 11:00 pm
This might seem silly but just so I understand… in order to “stock up” and say buy 15 bags of chips with an online coupon, you have to physically have 15 coupons in tow? How do people stock up on so many things when you can only print 2 of each coupon?
MeggieB August 22, 2011 at 2:41 am
Thank you SO MUCH for your site! I’m lovin’ it.
I’ve always wanted to get more into couponing but have been intimidated by all the information. This is great! I really want to be able to stay home with my kids and so I’m exploring all kinds of ways to save money.
My question may be kind of obvious, but do all stores accept coupons? The ones from Redplum, etc, I mean. Thanks!
Abby August 29, 2011 at 4:16 pm
Thank you so much for helping me out! I am on a tight budget and need to save money. I love your blog and I have to say that when I read your stockpile recipes I was SO happy! I am a vegetarian and was so nervous that it would complicate things! Thanks again!
Crista September 4, 2011 at 3:53 pm
I am trying to get started on couponing. I do almost all of my shopping at Walmart so I decided to check out their coupon policy. It says specifically, “Only one coupon per item.” I take this to mean that you can’t stack store coupons and manufacturer coupons. Is this correct?
If that’s the case, then I may have to shop at Target so I looked at their coupon policy. They allow stacking and price-match, but you can’t price-match with “competitors coupon-required offers”. Just thought I’d share that info.
siera September 5, 2011 at 5:25 pm
hi i have a question about how to use coupons. for example, if i have a coupon for $1.00 off 3 boxes of cereal that i get from one website, if i get the same coupon from other coupon websites could i use those together to make my purchase free?
siera September 5, 2011 at 5:27 pm
never mind. crista answered my question.
JessKev&JJ September 7, 2011 at 12:39 am
i have been watching your stuff on couponing on YouTube. I’m in the middle of trying to find work and my husband mentioned me “saving” money by couponing while in the process of job searching so im actually WANTING to learn as much as possible to save us money on grocerys especially after watching your clips.. any tips??
Claudine Vitti September 13, 2011 at 4:11 pm
I found your website from watching your video on youtube. I tried couponing for a few weeks some years ago but gave up because either I couldn’t find coupons for items we normally use or I just couldn’t get my printer to print up the coupons I wanted. But after watching your video, I’m going to give it another shot.
April Hollander October 4, 2011 at 10:47 pm
I’m so excited to do this new change in my family’s live. I’m so new at this but thank you thank so much for the amazing explaining and the showing how to get started. So here I go.
Alysha October 21, 2011 at 5:04 pm
ok so i have a coupon for $2 off 3 of a product, and then another coupon for $1 off of 2 of that same product and another coupon for 50 cents off, all manufacturers coupons, can i use all 3 of these on the same items?
Alma Rice October 25, 2011 at 12:29 am
hello there
I just wont to ask you how to use the coupons that you have to bye 3 or 2 items or more like I have to bye 3 box’s of ceral to use this coupon? so do I use 3 or 4 sets of same coupons and if there on sale too? so this bag of frozen potatoes that 24 oz is 4.50 its on sale for 3.50 and I have a coupon that 0.55 off. so I’m tring to ask is the one’s that have to save 0.50 or less or must by 2 or 3 items good to use or wast of my time and, I would love shop to for 500.00 or more for my family and spending just 50.00 or less do you know how to do that?
Chasiti November 4, 2011 at 4:35 pm
I have been trying to get into this couponing and it is so overwelming. Most of the coupons that come in the paper are for personal hygeine not food. So when it comes to saving on the grocery bill will most of coupons come from printable coupons? With the printable coupons do they have to be in color to be accepted by the grocery stores?
In need of help desperately,
Chasiti
Amanda November 11, 2011 at 8:30 am
Excellent Website! I am very grateful! I’ve been wondering how to start.. Thank you !
Josephine November 14, 2011 at 2:42 am
Love your site!
I was laidoff work and cutting back on our spending and finding your site is a huge help… My first purchased was V8 juice normally cost 2/$5 but it was onsale for 2/$4 and lucky enough to collect 10 buy one get one coupon and endup paying $1 each for getting 20 bottle. Can’t go wrong with that deal since my family go through it soo much.
Thank you for all the tips!!!
Sue Y November 14, 2011 at 3:17 am
I have been thinking about couponing for months now; doing better than I ever have but nowhere near where I want to be in the savings department. This information makes it seem possible…we have a lot of research to do, but everyone’s comments and tips are priceless. I wish everyone much success in there couponing and hope it enables everyone to feel a little better at the end of the day….
Danielle November 16, 2011 at 1:25 am
Me and my fiance want to coupon for our families as there Christmas present this year, but I do not really understand how you get things for free and have really good savings on things you can’t. more advice?
Marie November 21, 2011 at 5:37 am
Hey there! How do you know that those printable coupons that you get from different websites are actually not fake??
cherilyn November 25, 2011 at 7:23 am
what if the coupons are stuff you dont use?where do you find coupond you use? like gain, soda,meat.
C. W. December 1, 2011 at 2:36 pm
I just came across your website doing a such on extreme couponing. I’ve always been an avid couponer but never gotten to the level of “extreme” or even to a “stockpile”. I look forward to following your tips and saving my family money. Thanks for being so thorough in your descriptions and suggestions!
Laurie Liber December 5, 2011 at 7:23 am
Good morning, Ruth,
I’m 57 and live w/2 small dogs who are my only family. I’ve used coupons for years–since I was still in my teens. Reducing my grocery bill by just 15% used to be enough, but now I need more, so I’ve spiffed up my coupon stash, learned how to shop CVS, and accumulated a small stockpile of mostly non-perishables for either my own use, or for donation.
I can’t afford internet service at home, and am not permitted to install a coupon printer here at work, so my question is this: are there sites that don’t require that in order to access printable coupons? If not, what can you tell us all about the sites that sell coupons–what to look for, what to avoid, etc?
Ashley December 8, 2011 at 10:14 am
I just wanted to say thank you!!!
Being a stay at home mom, I want to contribute to the family in some way and also have 100% of my time devoted to my daughter.
With the guide you gave I can contribute my time to lowering the costs of food for our family!
Today I will be doing my biggest savings!! Hopefully 18 jars of baby food for 2 dollars!!
I just want to tell you thank you so much for this user friendly method of explanation!
kaitlyn keith December 11, 2011 at 12:50 pm
this is awsome i am so excited i have wanted to do this for a while and ouhave been the most helpful thanks so much love this website great job and happy savings lets do this thanks again and god bless kaitlyn
jamie December 12, 2011 at 8:00 pm
i have been couponing for 15 years now i havea stock pile witch includes around 6,000 dollars of food and other products i got for about 200 dollars it includes various types of frozen deserts,pastas frozen meals,hot drinks,cold drinks,soups,toothbrushes,pads,tampons,shampoo,conditioner,deoderent,meatsspices,sesonings,breackfast foods, packed lunches,snacks and much more i hav about 9,000 coupons i always keep track i check them in and out just like u would for work
cherilyn December 29, 2011 at 5:46 pm
would you care to help me?
S.H. December 14, 2011 at 3:34 pm
Thanks so much for this website and these tips- I just started doing this and AM hooked. For those mega-sale food items, that I know that I cannot use up in 12 months (or before they expire), I donate those bulk items to the local food shelf in the inner city. I have a separate stash accumulating just for those specific food shelf trips. This is a fun project and is for a good cause. Thanks for making me rethink savings and couponing.
jennifer December 18, 2011 at 1:09 pm
I am curious about something: I have been collecting coupons from newspapers and printing them online. However I have yet to find deals that save me 60 percent or more at the stores. I look at the circulars and cannot find anything that is really good with the coupons…I was thinking that it may take up to 3 months of collecting coupons….but I wanted to make sure that is a correct time frame…how long did it take you guys? I have no problems waiting and being patient but I just want to make sure I am doing it right and not wasting too much time. Thanks for your help.
mom December 28, 2011 at 1:55 am
so i live in a small town and i do not have acess to a newspaper that includes any coupons
and i dont have acess to a printer is there another way to get coupons…
Skylar January 9, 2012 at 1:46 pm
You can order newspapers that do & have them delivered directly to your house. Most have the option listed on the website. Also, Proctor & Gamble will send you coupons directly through the mail & free samples. Just use their website as well.
Skylar January 9, 2012 at 1:44 pm
Such great & Useful advice! Im 21 & I just decided to start couponing to help my fiancee pay for college, A lot of information you included I hadn’t even considered before! Thank you so much for the tips!!
Christina L. Kimble February 5, 2012 at 12:25 am
To Whom it may conern:
I really know how to coupon. I have a househole of 5, and we are vert poor, AND WE REWLLU
Cindy February 7, 2012 at 1:19 pm
My son runs a paper route. On Monday, he picks up all the papers that didn’t sell. They are his to do with as he wishes. I get 25-30 sets of coupons every week. He buys the papers to sell since he is an independent contractor so it isn’t stealing.
robert February 13, 2012 at 9:15 pm
how come there are no beer coupons? I would like to try alot of beers out there , but they are a little high.If there was a coupon for beer that was $ 9.00 a six pack that brought it down to like $6.00 a six pack I would try it. If it was really good I would buy it for $9.00 a six pack.
Lanette February 16, 2012 at 4:06 pm
I love your site and have been learning as I age on different ways to save. I use price matching, in store coupons, manfactur, and peelys, just learning about online coupons. I am from Chillicothe, Ohio and found out our Krogers will dubble our coupons (not instore), and Walmart will price match to all local store adds. I have a $337. monthly spending limit so I must streach as fair as I can to feed a three persons household. Would love to get house hold stocked up… great tips keep sending out all the help you can and thankyou so much you are my favorit person to make such a great site!
Kelly February 27, 2012 at 10:10 am
I must say that I am a little intimidated by this, but I am going to try this. I see all my friends in FaceBook doing this and the savings that they post are unreal. Thank you for creating this website for beginners. This will definatly come in handy for me!!!!! I am as we speak, getting all my organizational items ready. I hope that I too can save like my friends and family have.
Thank you again.
Andriana February 27, 2012 at 4:06 pm
I have to say this sounds great especially if you think about whats happening with all prices going sky high. I would love to try coupling but unfortunately here in Cyprus we don’t have coupons which is really unfair
If ever go abroad though and have a chance to coupon I will. Thank you for the easy baby steps 
Val March 27, 2012 at 8:17 am
So glad to see that there is good assistance on couping. Wow I feel so excited!
Naomi April 2, 2012 at 9:41 pm
HELLO EVERYONE
JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME COUPON INFO @PUBLIX AND WINN DIXE LOTS OF BUY ONE GET ONE FREE ITEMS PLUS U CAN USE COUPON…I AM SAVING SO MUCH USING COUPONS….I ALSO BUY THE NEWSPAPER ON SATURDAY (SEVERAL OF THEM) THEY CHEAPER …..I ALSO SAVE ON MY GAS @ WINN DIXIE WHEN U SPEND $50 OR PURCHASE THEIR BONUS ITEMS IT’S CALLED FUEL PERKS…. I GOT 1.15 OFF PER GALLON (SHELL GAS STATION ONLY) SO I AM SAVING ON MY GROCERIES AND GAS … I HAVE STOCKED UP ON CEREAL WITH BUY ONE GET ONE FREE PLUS COUPON, TISSUE,LAUNDRY DETERGENT, DISHWASHING LIQUID …PALMOLIVE WAS BOGO PLUS I HAD A COUPON…WALGREENS /CVS ALSO ALLOW U TO USE THEIR COUPON PLUS MANUFACTURE COUPON I LOVE IT … PLUS @ CVS U GET MONEY BACK TO USE ON YOUR NEXT PURCHASE IF U HAVE THE CVS CARD
Nicki April 7, 2012 at 1:27 am
thank you so much for the step by step process. im so excited to start doing this. my future hubby ( will be in 21 days) and i only go shopping once a month and we do pretty good for just once a month. we spend around $250 a month at the store, sometimes more. but i dont get everything that i want and what he wants. we try and only get the “what we need”. we live in west texas and in a oilfield town the economy and town is booming so the prices are going up. even though he works in the oilfield i want to start saving as much as we can “just in case” something happens and we have another crash. im so excited to start this cant wait to see the results.
Sueann November 26, 2012 at 10:32 am
Nicki, have you had any success? We live down in the Eagle Ford Shale where there’s only Wal-Mart and HEB. I want to start couponing, but may end up shopping in San Antonio to make it work.
Tina April 13, 2012 at 7:27 pm
Thank you so much! This is my first real atempt at this kind of couponing…..WOW!
tashana May 15, 2012 at 6:59 pm
Thank you for putting out a way to learn how to get started, I will start it today.
Tina Bonet May 29, 2012 at 5:39 pm
Thank you sooo much for sharing your information! I am excited to get started on saving!!!! I watched my first extreme couponing show last night and I think they are just a little overboard there….but if I can save enough on groceries, then I can pay for gas once in awhile to go see my grandkids! Thank you again!
Tinamarie June 10, 2012 at 12:29 pm
Thank you for offering this step-by-step process. This is my first visit and I really like what I see and cannot wait for the outcome after 8 weeks. Thanks again.
Kyara Bryant June 12, 2012 at 2:40 am
i am only 13 and this has helped me out alot thanks!!!!!
Cynthia June 19, 2012 at 1:49 am
Do the “Doubling up” coupons rule still work in Illinois?
Samantha June 25, 2012 at 3:55 pm
Ok, i have a store coupon for 1$ off 3 boxes of general mills, i also have mq for 25 cents of a single box of general mills, can i use the one store coupon and 3 mq coupon for the 3 boxses? or can i only use one of each?
mariah June 25, 2012 at 9:46 pm
thankyou for the eaey steps im 11 and i heard about couponing and im trying to help my family save monny and im relly looking forward to it
A June 26, 2012 at 8:55 am
This is the first site that I’ve found that actually explains how to start couponing–thank you! It’s definitely a bit overwhelming at first, but this is very helpful.
Ruth June 27, 2012 at 7:58 am
You’re welcome! Couponing is definitely a little overwhelming at first–it seems like there is so much to learn–but I encourage you to stick with it! The payoff is worth it!
letty June 30, 2012 at 12:28 am
OMG!!!!!! Thanks alot for this…. I LOVE IT. I watch TLC ALOT, and my husband always tells me “why are you watching that stuff” I say “because I’m going to do it!”. I never started cause I didn’t know where to start. Thanks to you, I see now how they get the BIG book of coupons… so I need to look for coupons now
I put this journey in GODS hands, with His help and your I hope to put this into practice and follow with it to the end and see some SAVINGS!!!!! Here I go. Thanks.
restaurant coupons August 5, 2012 at 4:07 am
Hi, all is going well here and ofcourse every one is
sharing data, that’s truly fine, keep up writing.
Cinda September 4, 2012 at 2:39 am
What’s up every one, here every person is sharing these experience, therefore it’s good to read this weblog,
and I used to visit this blog all the time.
Rose September 6, 2012 at 11:07 pm
Ruth ,
i just wanted to personally take the time and thank you sooo much(:
im soo new at this and i feel like im in good hands with your website!
Mariah September 14, 2012 at 2:56 am
Hi I have started to read your steps of how to coupon. However I am really having a hard to time to find coupons from where i live. (ps: I live in Malta) ( I f you never heard of it, it is lower down from Sicily) What could I do to find coupons?
Thanks
Evelyn September 23, 2012 at 5:44 pm
Hi Ruth,
AAAAHHHHH! That is my scream of joy. I just started extreme couponing and it worked for me the very first time following your lead. I started with CVS today, I looked through the add and gathered coupons I had or printed coupons off the internet. Between my card, the sales and coupons I spent $106 but I only paid $58.40 Out of pocket. And I got $13 in bucks to use later. OH YEAH!
I am grinning from ear to ear.
Thank you so much.
ashley December 29, 2012 at 1:41 pm
Did you have to pay to print out coupons?? Many of the sites I went on say you must “subscribe” first?? Thanks!
Michele September 28, 2012 at 6:00 pm
Just beginning my journey and no NOTHING about couponing. So glad your site is here to help! My husband is a skeptic, so I’m off to prove him wrong! haha Looking forward to the next 8 weeks!
Rusty October 7, 2012 at 7:20 pm
I am having a problem finding stores that will take printed coupons. the only one that we found is wal-mart but they will not dubble. any idea on what to do???
Jaye October 16, 2012 at 7:17 pm
Like others here, I am new to this. My problem…. Where do you get coupons without having to buy a newspaper? The online ones that you print aren’t accepted in most places. To be honest I am a single mother, and after my budget each week, I am in the negative and having to rob Peter to pay Paul each week! Especially when it comes to buying gas for my car. Any helpful hints as far as someone who sucks at math, who has no money to buy papers, and where I can use printed coupons? Please help!!
Vivian October 17, 2012 at 12:09 am
Hi Ruth,
Am so glad with the info and the comments I’ve read so far, pls kindly help me. the whole things seems a bit confusing, can I use only the manufacturer’s coupons for purchases without the store coupons cos what am seeing from TLC station , seems that people use manufacturer’s coupons from the newspapers to shop.
Teachers Day Quotes in hindi October 17, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Great goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely wonderful. I actually like what you’ve acquired here, really like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it smart. I cant wait to read much more from you. This is really a tremendous website.
Lauren October 25, 2012 at 12:33 pm
QUESTION: I’m on week four & getting a bit frustrated because I get my coupon matchups online and then my inserts don’t have the specific coupon I need. Any ideas why? I’m excited to move onto week 5 and tackle the drugstores but feel I need to get this figured out first. Thanks in advance for the help!! You’re website is so great!
sarah November 5, 2012 at 8:07 pm
I love you website first off. I’m in the process of starting week 2. But I have 1 concern. The coupons I keep finding most are buy 2 of a product and save 30 cents. I just don’t see how you can save hundreds of dollars with majority of coupons saving only 30 or 40 cents off of a $6 purchase. I’m using coupon.com and the newspaper.
Taylor November 6, 2012 at 4:48 pm
This was so helpful because wee are having problems with money and this helps a lot!
Jodi November 6, 2012 at 8:14 pm
Im trying to get into couponing and I was just wonder how you can stock up on these things but yet everything has an expiration date? Im just trying to get as much info as possible.
Deborah November 10, 2012 at 10:28 pm
Hi, thank you so much for taking your time and help learn the coupon system. I’m looking forward to start couponing. I have two questions, 1) If I have one coupon for an item be it manufacturers, from the newspaper or printable coupon and I need more can I make copies of that one or it does not work that way.?2) If an item is on sale lets say 2 for $3 and I can get two coupon for that item can I use them and have the deduction?
Deborah November 10, 2012 at 11:26 pm
Sorry I have another question. If an item is on sale for example I have the Dole pineapples on sale 4 for $5 and I found a coupon $1 off a purchase of 3 cans of dole pineapples, can i get 4 coupons for this and still get discount.
Lee Jordan November 11, 2012 at 3:25 pm
Hi there, I’m going to try to start this coupon thing. Thank you for all the information. I have one question. Might sound silly but how do you know where to use or redeem these coupons? Do I have to go to specific markets or can I just use them wherever I want? I just cut a few from the Sunday’s paper and I want to start this week. Thanks so much!
Laura Budd November 12, 2012 at 10:50 am
Hi there, I’m a first time couponer and your free e-book was very helpful. So, lastnight I had planned on shopping at Food Lion the next day but I saw their deals ended yesterday and I got a little upset cause I had planned on doing a little shopping trip. But I figured I tried out the new Dollar Tree Market; half the items in the store are under a one dollar. Since I didn’t know what I would find I brought my whole binder with some of the clipped coupons I had cut out of the Sunday paper the prior day.
I loved the results I got; Pamalive buy two get one dollar off, both small botles were $1.00 so I got one free. The next item was Tabasco sauce, $1.75 and I had a $1.00 off coupon so .75 cents! The last item I got was some Taquitos $3.50 but a $1.00 off coupon made them $2.50 instead. The retail price before coupons was $7.25 and after coupons it was $4.25, so in the long run I saved $3.00 not bad for a first try. =3
Matty November 13, 2012 at 8:52 pm
Just want to say thanks for the website. My partner and i are just starting to get into couponing and well didn’t know how extensive it really got. Thanks for making it simpler to get a grasp of.
Ruth November 15, 2012 at 1:26 pm
You’re welcome! I’m glad it is helping!
Larissa November 16, 2012 at 12:02 pm
I just want to start by thanking you, this guide is the key to my family’s happiness. We been struggling with providing food for our home since last year, worst of all is that I been pregnant all along with no job and my daughter is only two years old. It’s really heartbraeking when she goes up to me and tells me she’s hungry, and really theres not much I can offer her. We are currently cut off foodstamps and it’s made our situation worst, I’m really hoping my skills in couponing will get better and I can provide a little more doing what I love the best “Shopping”. I appreciate what you do for other people, especially those that are really in need. Thank you
Lydia November 16, 2012 at 11:45 pm
I love this site. Thank you so much for doing this. I do have a question, which may seem a bit silly. If there is a sale say 10 for $10 do you have to buy 10 of that item to get the sale? Or can you buy just what you need say like 4 of the same item?
rhonda November 22, 2012 at 12:31 pm
thank you this is informational
rachel bedrock November 25, 2012 at 11:06 pm
this is my first time on this site and im just trying to learn how to start couponing without being overwhelmed and i love the way you read my mind as im reading lol so far so good
kara November 28, 2012 at 12:04 pm
I am just starting the coupon process and I think you are amazing! Wish me luck here in Tennessee
Happy shopping! & I look forward to more tips.
Peace & Blessings,
Kara
anjell November 28, 2012 at 5:46 pm
Im in TN too couponing…..its great!
online spiele free ab 18 December 12, 2012 at 1:48 am
You really make it appear really easy together with
your presentation however I find this topic to be really one thing that I
think I might never understand. It sort of feels too complex and extremely broad for
me. I’m looking ahead for your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the grasp of it!
ashley December 29, 2012 at 1:37 pm
I am looking into this whole couponing thing to save money as I recently lost my job. On the show, most of the purchases, the couponers say they double (x2) their coupons which saves them more…how is this so and how is it done???
Denise December 31, 2012 at 10:00 pm
I’m so glad I found this site. It’s exactly what I’ve been looking for. Thank you so much for creating this and for this approach.
mabel January 1, 2013 at 12:04 pm
Please put me on your mailing list, I am new to this couponing and I have been reading your information and I am very impressed. I am learning a lot and any other info you have would be great. Thanks, have a great day.
Lindsay January 2, 2013 at 2:21 pm
Hi!! I am so excited to get started =) I am working on step one and just have a quick question… I have subscribed to the Sunday paper and also set up a pickup for neighbors inserts, but my question is: from the online sources, do I just start printing everything?
thanks!
-Lindsay
Sara January 5, 2013 at 3:39 pm
I love this website! I have been wanting to get into couponing but it is so overwhelming at first. This step by step breakdown is just what I needed! I have completed week one’s assignment but I have a question already. When you are gathering coupons using the binder method, do you clip ALL of the coupons you collect or just certain ones? There are just so many. Thanks so much!
diana January 12, 2013 at 1:58 pm
ok so you know hoe you gave us online sites for coupons!! can we use those coupons at any local store! ? sorry im a begginer only 14 willing to help my mom!
Kyndria January 13, 2013 at 8:49 pm
I am a 20 year old single mother & am a lil petrified of starting this process….its hard seeing how my weekly budget for food wont go over when I worry bout how I am going to buy the necessary items. When starting out, is there certain things I should refrain from so I can stay in my budget?
Anna Justin January 19, 2013 at 4:22 pm
I recently became a stay at home mom and have watched the TV show extreme couponing and this inspired me to try couponing again. This step by step has really helped me get started. Today is the first day that I’ve started and I am getting really excited to try this again. Thank you!!
Amy S. January 22, 2013 at 1:24 pm
i am totally clueless about couponing. any help is welcome but… i don’t want to buy things just because i have a coupon. my kids and husband are picky eaters and only eat certain things. sometimes it seems cheaper to me to buy store brand items instead of using a coupon. i need lots of info and help. i don’t even know where to begin to get coupons and how do you combine them?
cash for diamonds January 24, 2013 at 9:34 pm
Have you ever considered about adding a little bit more than just your articles?
I mean, what you say is fundamental and everything.
But think of if you added some great photos or video clips to give your posts more, “pop”!
Your content is excellent but with pics and clips, this site could undeniably be one of the most beneficial in its niche.
Superb blog!
Kristen Howing January 25, 2013 at 12:42 am
I what some help because by just reading it I dont get it I just lost my job and I have a 9 yesr old .And I live with my parents I moved back to help by know I can’t so I would love for some help and to get showing how to do this wll u plz help
Amy S. January 25, 2013 at 6:31 pm
what do i have to do to get a response to my questions?
Ruth January 28, 2013 at 7:36 am
Hi Amy,
You’ll get there eventually, I promise!
I apologize that I don’t always get a chance to answer every comment. I did see your email and sent you a reply this morning. Hopefully as you keep reading you’ll find that many of the questions you have are answered within the Beginner’s Guide to Coupons, as well as on many of my You Tube videos. Couponing can be overwhelming at first. Try to take it slow and don’t skip steps!
alexis January 31, 2013 at 8:39 pm
how do you know when your coupons can double?
Jasmine February 18, 2013 at 8:21 am
I am very excited I found this page and cant wait to get started!!!!!! =)
Amy S. February 20, 2013 at 4:20 pm
I am so frustrated. The coupons i print are not working at my store. I can’t find any coupons for things i need like soft drinks, meat and snacks. It seems most of the time i can save money by buying the store brand insteas of the name brand with a coupon. The store i use most will not let me use a coupon and my value card. I NEED HELP! I am about to give up but shouldn’t because we are on a very limited income at this time and saving money on groceries would help a lot.
Diana February 20, 2013 at 11:43 pm
How often are coupon sites like coupon.com, red plum, even target updated? Should I be looking everyday, once a week?
Thanks, this is such an easy tutorial to get started! I already bought cheap cat food, tampons and cheese. It made for a very strange combination at Target!
Ruth Soukup February 23, 2013 at 6:13 am
LOL yes, that is a strange combination!
If Target is your main store to shop at, you might want to follow a coupon matchup site devoted entirely to Target such as http://www.totallytarget.com. You can sign up for email alerts and then get a daily email that will let you know if there are new coupons you should be grabbing. http://www.SouthernSavers.com also sends out a daily email of all the latest coupons that you can sign up for. Hope that helps!
HannahBell February 25, 2013 at 12:49 pm
Well I think your advice could really help people save some money. It sure helped my family. We used to spend over $600.00 on groceries every week. now we have a whole room for our stockpile and 99.99% was free.
Thanks again,
HannahBell
Steven February 25, 2013 at 6:59 pm
When a coupon has save $1.00 on ten yogurts what does that mean do I get each item for a dollar
yesenia February 28, 2013 at 11:49 pm
Im trying to start couponing but im wondering do you have alot of coupons to get alot of the same items??
Cierra Phillips March 6, 2013 at 11:24 am
Love Love Love!!!
I been wanting to try this especially with being a single mother of 4 girls && I am so excited to get started!!
Mark March 9, 2013 at 5:57 pm
Hello Ruth
What is your favorite website for printing Manufactured coupons? I also have trouble finding stuff that is actually worth buying like chicken..macaroni and cheese..yogurt..pasta..etc. All i find isSave $1.00 on any (2) Lysol sprays. I dont see much money saving there. Im 25 years old just moved into a condo with girlfriend and we spend to much on food. I am just looking to save 50%+…Like getting 115$ worth of food for lets say 49$. Could you please email me? I would greatly appreciate that.
Trish March 14, 2013 at 8:33 pm
I love your blog, it is so helpful.
Lina March 14, 2013 at 10:36 pm
this is great i cant wait to get started , i am a newly wed with a toddler and a stepson that is 10 and this kids can eat . i want to stock up for them and save i hope i can do it.i will appreciate it if you can email me tips thanx
Amy A. March 19, 2013 at 6:50 pm
I live in a studio apartment and my pantry is a bit smaller than a linen closet. When you say “stockpile” how big of a stockpile are we talking about?
Kysa March 23, 2013 at 12:41 am
I have been talking about couponing for months and had no idea where to start or how u actually save $ this is awesome!!!!! Also dollar tree has everything u need for starting they have a mini accordion folder that will fit in your purse and its already labeled also have the card holders 10 in a pack if u choose the folder filing method. Thanks so much for making this site it’s a lifesaver
Angela March 23, 2013 at 11:06 pm
This is great. I can now cut down on my spending efficiently like I always knew deep down inside that I should be. The first time I learned about extreme couponing it was from the TLC series recently, and it was a complete “aha!” moment. I spend way too much money on food, and miss out on spending on getting out of the house and doing fun things. (At 22 years old, this practically a death sentence, I’m sure you know.) I’ve been kind of using coupons, and buying generic names instead of buying brand names, but it always felt like I could be doing more. I could see my goal, but now I have a way to achieve it. The best part is, I already receive some coupon services because the last tenant at the place I’m renting never told them to send them to her new address. I don’t know why I didn’t come to this conclusion sooner.
Mika Kemmet March 24, 2013 at 4:57 pm
WOW! This first week went great. Went to Albertsons Market with only a handful of coupons and saved over $50. Not bad for my first ‘couponing adventure’. Thanks so much for this WONDERFUL website. I look forward to starting week two and saving even more!
kyle March 25, 2013 at 10:16 pm
So I have a question about what coupons I should keep. Obviously I want to keep coupons for items that I normally buy in hopes that they may go on sale, but the great deals may be on items that I do not normally buy. I have found a supply of about 6 papers a week, but now I have six papers worth of coupons and do not know which ones to keep and which ones to throw to the recycling bin. I do not want to throw aways coupons that may get me a good deal, but should I be clipping all of the coupons out and saving them all? I have a binder with baseball card sleeves that I use to organize the coupons into categories but so far I just clip everything and saving it. Is that how you are suppose to do it?
Angela March 28, 2013 at 10:42 pm
If you think you might use the product it’s for, keep it.
Ramona Tiz March 26, 2013 at 9:39 pm
I am very excited to start extreme couponing!!! But I do have one thought. If I use a coupon at one store, for .75 cents, how do I know I am going to the store with the best price in the first place. i.e.
I have a coupons for toilet paper do I go to Meijers or do I go to Krogers, or Kmart or Target.
Is there an easier way to find the best price prior to using a store or brand coupon? Thank you
Anonymous March 28, 2013 at 2:52 pm
can you make copies of the coupons you print online?
Brittany H April 14, 2013 at 3:51 pm
I have tried saving more on my grocery trips now but it seems impossible where I live. ( Around Wilkes Barre, PA)I currently am in need for this more than ever due to the loss of my high paying job, leading up to the possible homelessness in the near future. I have found that if I shop at walmart they accept other store coupons in addition to manufacturer coupons. They unfortunately do not double. But most other stores do. I cannot seem to find a happy medium where I can save more than than 1.00 on something thats more than double that price.(The stores that do double will not double over a dollar.) It’s very frustrating to try to save as much as possible when shopping and the coupons do not help as much as not buying the item at all. If anyone near wilkes barre, pa that has any extra information, it would be greatly appreciated.
Matt April 22, 2013 at 8:38 am
Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thank you, However I
am going through issues with your RSS. I don’t understand the reason why I cannot subscribe to it. Is there anybody else having identical RSS issues? Anybody who knows the solution will you kindly respond? Thanks!!
Steven April 27, 2013 at 9:27 pm
I have been trying to get this whole couponing thing down for quite some time so i am excited to see the results. I’m only a teen so I’ve got more time to the clipping and organizing. I will definitely be blogging about this so make sure to check it out.
Jamie April 28, 2013 at 3:50 pm
I started printing out coupons from the internet, but its getting a little overwhelming. How much should I print out, weekly? And to organize them do I just put them in with my weekly newspaper inserts folder or put them in a separate folder?
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christine April 29, 2013 at 6:00 am
hello my name is Christine and i want to give couponing a try and see how it works because me and my fiancee are having trouble with paying bills and i think that if i try couponing this might help us but i would like help in getting all kinds grocery coupons and any other coupons like for household items and high gene personal items i wanna know how i can get coupons by mail because I don’t have computer or printer at home to be able to print the coupons out and i don’t wanna have to spend money on the Arizona republic just to get the coupon books out of them please i am asking for help
Paeslee May 2, 2013 at 8:51 pm
Another good idea is since you can only print 2 coupons per computer, is if it is a really good deal you can go to the library and print 2 off of each computer. You can decide if that is cheating or not.
Kristin Blanton April 30, 2013 at 11:55 pm
Thank You so much for this guide online…. I just ordered my tools to begin paying with coupons.
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Paeslee May 2, 2013 at 8:50 pm
Another good idea is since you can only print 2 coupons per computer, is if it is a really good deal you can go to the library and print 2 off of each computer. You can decide if that is cheating or not.
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Lisa May 8, 2013 at 12:31 am
I just want to thank you for going over on how to coupon. I have wanted to start couponing and get things at a cheaper cost or for free and haven’t found anyone to really explain it to me. I just read step one and can’t wait to get started. I probably will have a lot of questions. I hope that I wont be annoying you with them. Thanks again!
Tammy May 13, 2013 at 3:30 pm
Thank you for taking the time and pointing out the key notes to saving. I took off shopping and spent lots of money , I used coupons but I didn’t just buy what as on sale, I bought what I had for coupons. I will start all over with baby steps to make this work.
Lexi S. May 15, 2013 at 6:22 pm
I just started couponing and I am having such a hard time. All the stores in my area are much higher priced than in other places and this includes Wal-Mart. I get to the store and sometimes the sale is not even going on for an item I’ve researched. The price tags for a lot of items say they haven’t been changed since Jan. I just moved from Brooklyn to Newark,NJ and I am looking for resources on deals in this area.
Carolyn May 15, 2013 at 8:40 pm
i just have to say that i truly LOVE your beginner’s guide, i have experienced the being flustered and just ready to throw in the towel. I came across your page and was just reading away and thought ok NOW that makes more sense and just they way you explain in detail and step by step brought that spark of wanting to coupon. Thank you very much!!! you’ve made a fan outta me =) i’m almost tempted to print your guide and send it to a good friend of mine(who doesn’t have internet access) to help her out as well. thank you again! i better get to working on my first assignment =)
north carolina brochure May 20, 2013 at 10:11 pm
Awesome post. I really find it so useful. Thank you so much and do keep it up.
gabrielle September 18, 2012 at 12:59 am
tinlenciegO—Why did u take up all that space? I don’t see why u want to post something soooo lonnnnnggg and VERY boring on a site meant to be simplifing couponing?? WHAT WHAT?? Really dude!? The word coupon isnt even in this long article, NOT AT ALL Helpful. not to couponing anyway. I have a feeling ig we clicked on of ur links, its a pyramid type scheme deal or something like one! shame on u, using a nice site for personal game when it helps NOone else but u.
gabrielle September 18, 2012 at 1:01 am
Also, i might add, Your misuse of periods and commas create incomplete sentences which make it senseless to try and read if we did have a clue what u were talking about.
HannahBell February 25, 2013 at 12:51 pm
That isnt very nice.