You may be wondering where those of us who always seem to have a ton of coupons FIND them all.
The first and most obvious source of coupons is your Sunday paper. Each week there are anywhere from 0 (on holiday weekends) to 3 (the weeks that the Proctor & Gamble insert is published) coupon inserts. If you are just starting out and are mainly shopping for yourself and your family, it is best to just get 1-2 copies each week. Don't overwhelm yourself! Once you get more experience, you can be a nut like me and get up to 10 copies (but I do quite a bit of couponing in order to donate to a food pantry as well as stock my own). To see how many inserts and what specific coupons will be in your paper each week, visit this site. For instance, I know from looking at it that I will only be buying 5 papers this week....there is only 1 insert and only a few coupons that I HAVE to have and with which I know I can make some great deals.
I wish that I could tell you that I get all the coupons that I need from just the Sunday paper. Alas, that is oftentimes NOT where the really good ones are to be found.
So where do I go? Online, baby!
Some of my favorite sites are:
- www.Coupons.com
- www.CoolSavings.com
- www.Boodle.com
- www.EatBetterAmerica.com
- www.SmartSource.com
- www.BoxTops4Education
In all cases, you will be prompted to download a "Coupon Printer" program if this is the first time you are printing off Internet coupons. Don't be afraid to download the program. I have never heard of anyone having a problem with their computer as a result of this program...and you won't be able to print coupons from any site without it! Most sites will only let you print 2 copies of each coupon before it tells you that you have reached your print limit. Don't despair! Many of the good ones will refresh every 30 days and you can print some more!
One thing I have to say right here....if you find yourself wanting more copies of a coupon, DO NOT photocopy them. That is coupon fraud and is against the law. While I am all about getting the deals, I will never advocate getting them illegally. My integrity is worth more than another $.55 off a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and I hope yours is as well!
Other sources of coupons:
Ask your neighbors, friends, family etc to give you any coupons from their paper that they aren't using. Unfortunately, this doesn't work for me as my family lives far enough away that I don't see them often enough to pick them up...and I've "turned on" most of my neighbors to couponing so they are keeping them for themselves!
Visit the websites for some of your favorite products! Often there will be a coupon on there for one of their newest products
Call, write or email your favorite companies and ask them for coupons. I have a list of about 150 companies and I make an effort to contact 2-3 per day. As a result, I now get coupons (sometimes with free samples as well) in the mail about 3-5 days per week!
Darla
Thanks for all the coupon sites! I'm having a hard time getting the coupons.com site to let me print the coupons (and they have the BEST ones right now). *sigh* I'll keep trying.
Darlas last blog post..“N” is for No Lights
Daisy
One measly little insert of coupons in today's Philadelphia Inquirer. Drove to the Dollar Store to buy a paper. Spent $8 on other crap. Brought home paper - opened with anticipation and high hopes. WILDLY disappointed. Ranting lunatic post is forthcoming at my blog including my disastrous attempt at CVS-ing yesterday EVEN WITH Mindi's kind and generous efforts to help me. And also showing some big-time Aldi love.
Daisys last blog post..Names and Faces
Mindi
Darla: what troubles are you having? Perhaps I can help?
Daisy - yeah - it was a disappointing week. According to Taylortown, the next 2 weeks should have 2 inserts each. I just got home and have to head out to a barbeque, but should have the whole "coupon organizing" post up later tonight
Daisy
I have apparently calmed down too much to go on my coupon/CVS rant. But am still basking in the glow of Aldi Love.
I DID, however, manage to save over $30 at our local Grocery store with coupons - some from online, some from last week's more lucrative circulars and even some from the cash register over the last few months. I do believe this very elementary version of couponing is all my poor little sensory-overloaded brain can muster.
[It's just like Flylady....baby steps! You'll get there! - Mindi]
Daisys last blog post..Aldi Love