SweetH

bethyla

Tell me about your couponing please.  I am trying to get more into it in order to save money.  Are there certain stores you go to?  Are there certain websites you use? 

CaniacMom

I've been couponing for years...

I use the following two sites a lot - www.weusecoupons.com & www.afullcup.com to search deals at specific stores.  If you play the drugstores right (Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid) you can get most common toiletries for cheap or free.  It just takes time to get the deals.

I have saved a ton on diapers.  I have never paid more than half price for a package of diapers. 

Rainchecks can be your best friend.  One of our local stores runs a buy 2 get 3 free on soft drink 12 packs every 4-6 weeks. I go early in the week and get what we need at that moment & then I always go on the last day of the sale hoping they will be out so I can get a raincheck to extend the deal.  That way if no one has a sale I can use my raincheck.

SweetHurricane

I shop at Publix. I haven't gotten into couponing drug stores yet, but I plan to soon.

The most important thing is to pick a store and learn their policies. Awesome things about my store: they double coupons that are 50 cents or less (if I have a 75 cent coupon and a 50 cent coupon, I use the 50 cent one knowing that I'll save $1), BOGO items do not need to be purchased in pairs (I can buy one, or any odd number, and they charge me 50% of the original price), they accept competitor stores coupons (I have a list of stores they accept and I keep that in my coupon binder).

To maximize your savings:

- Save your coupons for when the item is on sale. The idea is to stockpile enough of each item to get you through until the next sale. Sales are in cycles, you will learn how often your favorite items go on sale and how many of things you need.

- Pair store coupons with manufacturer coupons. My store usually has 2-3 circulars at any given time with store coupons in it. These are sometimes on a shelf with the weekly ad when you walk in, they are sometimes at customer service (coupon hoarders tend to grab these in bulk and not leave any for others so they try to do quantity control).

- www.Coupons.com is a great resource for printable coupons. They reset on the first of the month, so try to get up early and be ready to print. Also, check different zip codes other than your own. Different areas get different deals. You can also find printable coupons on www.redplum.com, www.allyou.com, and www.smartsource.com

- Sign up for Swagbucks if you haven't already. You can access coupons.com from there and earn Swagbucks (redeemable for all sorts of stuff, I get Amazon.com gift cards) for every coupon you redeem. It takes a few weeks for your account to be credited, but they will eventually show up.

- Buy coupons. This has been THE biggest help. I was buying the paper week after week for $1.50, always wondering if the cost was outweighing the savings. As I said before, different areas get different deals. Coupon sales sites get their coupon from different areas than you and thus have more variety. I use www.thecouponclippers.com They have a minimum order amount of $4, but there is no minimum on number of coupons. Most coupon sales sites sell them in quantities of 10, which for me is just too much.

- For really rare coupons, I will occasionally buy from EBay. Most of the coupons on their are ones people get when they write in and complain to the company, so you won't find these on regular couponing sites.

- Find a site that is devoted to the store you plan on shopping at. I use www.iheartpublix.com. She also runs www.iheartkroger.com . She posts coupon booklets that people find in store, special deals, clearance finds, coupon match ups etc.

- A lot of people like this site: https://thekrazycouponlady.com/ I have found it to be a bit outdated at times, but you might like it.

- I like searching here for printables: https://slickdeals.net/f/3740182-Printable-Manufacturer-s-Coupon-Listing-PLEASE-DO-NOT-EDIT-THE-WIKIS There are often links there that I don't find on other couponing sites.

- Don't even try to be like those people on tv. It'll never happen. The stores bend the rules and accept coupons they shouldn't just to make the show interesting. The people also buy sh*t I would never feed my family.

bethyla

Thanks ladies!  I will have to check out those websites when I have some time later.  I had been using the krazy coupon lady website, but I thought it was kind of a pita and doesn't always load right.  I have not even watched the coupon show.  I have seen the previews and heard the stories.  I think those people are nuts!  I have mainly couponed at Walgreens and Meijer.  I don't have much time to devote to it, but I would like to save as much as I can.  I have heard of swagbucks before, but I don't know much about it.  I will also have to check it out later.  Thanks again.  I may be bugging you guys later if I have more questions.

SweetHurricane

bethyla:

I may be bugging you guys later if I have more questions.

You know where to find me