~Getting Started~

Listed below are a few pointers to the concept of couponing:

1. STOCKPILE - The idea behind this is not simply to get a good deal, but to stockpile. Once you have a stockpile, you will never again have to pay full price for items you use on a regular basis. You can now decide at what price YOU chose to pay - not what the retailers want you to pay.
2. NEWSPAPERS - Buy multiple newspapers. At least for the first few months of building your stockpile, so you have a variety of coupons and many of them to load up on the good deals.
3. BRANDS - Be willing to try new brands to get in on the best deals. There will always be things you just can't bend on, but it's important to try new things and with this, you will see HUGE savings galore.
4. SIZE DOES MATTER - A larger size may be less expensive, but the smaller item may be FREE after Q. I always bought in bulk (larger packages)...until now. Why get something cheaper when you can get it free? The idea is to diminish your OOP (out of pocket) and spend as little of your hard earned cash as possible.
5. ORGANIZE - Be organized. Sort your Q's. I use a binder filled with baseball card inserts so I can easily flip through and see (very quickly) what Q's I have available. Also, have your q's ready when you get to the register.
6. EDUCATE YOURSELF - Make sure you learn the stores coupon policy.
8. GIVE IT TIME! - Allow yourself 3 months of doing this before you give up. Once you start saving big, you will become addicted! It is work, but so worth it. Each week presents a new challenge for me!