Coupons how do you start????

[starving_student]

I was reading thisarticle http://www.grocerycouponguide.com/sa...groceries.html about a woamn who bought 300+$ of grocery for about 30$.

I bought the newspaper this week-end for coupon and found out maybe 10$ worth of coupon for stuff that we could use but don't normally buy. It took me about 1 hour to go through the whole paper. This wasn't enjoyable time. I tried couponing once before but quit after 2 weeks. I want to try to give it a second chance....

I usually look for sale and buy the cheapest items in 3-4 stores (2 are on the way home so it is not really extra gas). I spend about 60$ a week on gorcery.

1) Is couponing worth the time needed to do it?
2) WHERE do you find the coupons?
3) How do you manage your coupons so they are easy to find in the store?
I tried an enveloppe but it was really hard to find anything in this pile of easily tearable paper....
4) How do you remember what coupons you have?
5) How can you find coupons for health /organic food?

Thanks for any insight...

[jacquelynrose]

That is the same question I was wondering! THANK YOU for asking it!

[simpleselu]

1) Is couponing worth the time needed to do it?
It takes me 10-15 minutes per week.

2) WHERE do you find the coupons?
I buy the Sunday newspaper if I know I will recoup the cost with the coupons I will use later from the inserts. Mambo Sprouts, free health mags at the health food stores, write the organic companies I like and ask for coupons (Organic Valley always sends). I check Sundays flyers online here. I also coupon trade with family.

3) How do you manage your coupons so they are easy to find in the store?
I bought a plastic file the size of a letter envelope for less than $1. I labled each section.

4) How do you remember what coupons you have?
I don't cut for anything I don't buy OR could get free that week (to give away, etc.) so I don't have a TON. I do tend to remember what I have a pile of and I will flip through as I make my list from the sales fliers.

5) How can you find coupons for health /organic food?
Yes. There is actually a good post by Jeffrey on the issue in the food forum. Mambo sprouts will even send to your house.

[Ima saver]

I don't get a paper. I pick up coupons in the store and save all the ones that are printed out with the receipt. I save a lot using my advantage and bi lo store cards.

[PrincessPerky]

if you fail to recoup huge amounts know you are not alone!

Amy dsomething form the tightwad gazette never really used them either.

[flash]

Originally Posted by simpleselu

5) How can you find coupons for health /organic food?
Yes. There is actually a good post by Jeffrey on the issue in the food forum. Mambo sprouts will even send to your house.

We (Jeffrey and Flash) have an entire site on all of this, from where to find coupons, not just newspapers; how to get started; etc. More articles will be coming out.


www.GroceryCouponGuide.com

There is a build up time. You can't just sit down with the Sunday paper and go out shopping and expect to save 90% off your bill. It's like any other savings project, athletic sport...but once you get "in shape", it's pretty easy, and it CAN save quite a bit. It's really what fits best into YOUR lifestyle.

[jeffrey]

For me personally, the newspaper has been the least likely place to find good coupons (note - I'm just starting with my wife doing this, so am far from an expert). Contacting manufacturers directly has been a great way to get coupons.

I look at it as any other skill. You wouldn't expect to be a great basketball player the first time you walked onto the court, but with practice, you get better and learn new tricks. The final goal may be to get huge savings, but the weekly goal should be to lower your spending through coupons from the week before.

Just as budgeting and saving money take time and effort, apply those same skills and resources to couponing and you'll find that in time you will have developed the skills necessary to achieve worthwhile savings when grocery shopping.

[PrincessPerky]

DUH! how come I keep thinking I would be good at it if I just knew how? I know how to sew a straight line but fail miserably! I know I already posted my 2 cents, but thanks for reminding me that it takes time, and practice.

I was just lamenting that DH bought some really good sale meat with a 'wine tag' thing and got a great price (assuming the rebate comes in) but that was once in the last 6 months..I shouldn't be lamenting that I should be celebrating that! (it was Flahs wine tag article that made him walk down the beer asile - and no he didn't buy any beer)

[Amorphous02]

Hello everyone,
Couponers have to fight a war , not a battle. One step at a time.
I remember seeing a SIXTY YR old woman using coupons , WITH HER DAUGHTER. If necessary, sit with a veteran to plan you shopping trip.

[Amorphous02]

http://www.savingadvice.com/forums/s...9103#post79103
May be the posts here will inspire you. Especially the one from LISA178!

[rob62521]

I think the coupons from the newspaper have been pretty sad lately. Very little food and mostly ads for other stuff. I notice that different papers have some different coupons. Our local paper has fewer coupons in the supplements than the Chicago Trib does.

[Saving in So Cal]

Most of mine come from the Sunday newspaper. I also get some from boodle.com, smartsource.com, and bettycrocker.com, although these tend to be repeats. WalMart's in-house magazine, All You, usually has some good ones, too.

$60 a week without coupons seems pretty good to me. It suggests you don't buy a lot of pre-packaged food and cook from scratch. It seems like the more you cook from scratch, the less impact couponing will have on your grocery bill.