beginner’s guide to coupons

As you probably know, I live in Florida.  We have a lot of great things here in the Sunshine State–beaches, palm trees, flamingos, alligators, Walt Disney World….but there is one big thing that we lack:  Rite-Aid.   That means I am probably not the best person to try to teach you the ins and outs of Rite-Aid shopping, much as I’d like to try. Luckily for me and even more so for you, there are many talented coupon experts around the blogosphere.  Today I am  thrilled to introduce you to Jessica of Jessica’s Coupons.  Her fabulous blog is full of awesome deals, couponing information, and frugal living advice, and is one ... read more

Now that you have gotten your feet wet with drugstore shopping, you are probably anxious for more!  After tackling Walgreens and trying to wade through all those crazy rules, you will be relieved to know that CVS is, for the most part, a lot more straightforward. (If you are new to my blog or new to couponing, I strongly recommend that you start with Part One of my Beginner’s Guide to Coupons before reading any further.  It will all make a lot more sense that way!) Like Walgreens, CVS features a variety of sale specials each week that will earn you ExtraCare Bucks (ECBs) to be used on other items.   Most ... read more

Up to this point, our main focus has been on grocery store savings, and hopefully by now, with several weeks’ practice, you feel like you have a firm grasp on the process of making your list, gathering your coupons, and tackling the store. Your pantry stockpile is filling up nicely, and you’re not only starting to understand the process, you also understand the theory behind the process. (If you are new to my blog or new to couponing, I strongly recommend that you start with part one of my beginner’s guide to coupons before reading any further.  It will all make a lot more sense that way!) It is now time to ... read more

By now you should be starting to feel pretty confident about your coupon skills.  You’ve created a system for organizing your coupons, you’ve mastered the process of making your shopping list, and you are even getting good at filling your cart with sale items, and then making sure they ring up correctly.  You’re starting to save a lot of money on your grocery bill, and you like it.  You may even be surprised at how fun and addicting using coupons can be. (If you are new to my blog or new to couponing, I strongly recommend that you start with Part One of my Beginner’s Guide to Coupons before reading any ... read more

Last week you got your feet wet and [hopefully] discovered just how fun using coupons can be.  This week you are going to dive in completely! (If you are new to my blog or brand new to coupons, I strongly suggest you read Part 1: How to Start before going any further.) After 3 weeks of collecting newspaper inserts and printing coupons, you should by now have a fairly decent stash. You still won’t be able to take advantage of every single great deal that comes along, but between inserts and printable coupons, you should be able to get most of them. (As a side note, it is important to know that no ... read more

 I know you’ve all been on pins and needles, anxiously awaiting this week’s edition of my Beginner’s Guide to Coupons series. Well my friends, the wait is over.  Today’s topic?  Your first shopping list. (And if you are new to my blog and new to coupons, I strongly urge you to read Part One: How to Start before going any further.  It will all make a lot more sense that way!) Trying to use coupons without a game plan is a little like taking a cross-country road trip without a map. You may get to your destination eventually, and you might even see a few interesting sites along the way, but you ... read more

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 ... read more