1. Subscribe to multiple papers- There are only 3 good newspapers that I know of in my area that offer coupon inserts in the Sunday paper. The St. Louis Post Dispatch, the Alton Telegraph and the Belleville News Democrat. I am going to begin my couponing adventures subscribing to these papers. To save money, however, I will only be subscribing to the Sunday editions.
2. Print coupons online- there are hundreds of free coupon websites like www.swagbucks.com, www.coupons.com, www.redplum.com, www.couponmom.com, and more. Print coupons for items online. Each site typically lets you print up to two like coupons per IP address. If you have multiple computers in your home or you are able to use computers at your job, you can obtain more like coupons.
3. Start a coupon binder- You'll need a large 3-ring binder, subject dividers, and clear baseball card or photo album inserts. Categorize your coupons with toiletries, household, meat, dairy, baking, pet, snacks, beverage, breakfast, soups/sauces/spreads, and beauty categories. Place coupons in the inserts to where you can see the front of the coupon. Place like coupons behind that initial coupon in the same insert pocket. Make sure you are rotating your coupons to the coupons that expire first are being used first.
4. Ask for unused coupons- Ask your friends, family, and co-workers to save their unused coupons for you. Most are happy to do it. I get some from my mom on a weekly basis. You can also ask around online on sites like Craigslist. Some people will gladly place their unused coupons on their doorsteps for you to pick up. Just be careful. I have never had any frightening experiences with Craigslist, but I also never go to sell or pick up anything alone!
5. Take advantage of in store coupons- Whenever I see in store coupons I always take several, especially if the expiration date is a long way off. I will add them to my coupon binder and wait for that item to go on sale to stock up.
6. Keep a price notebook- Keep track of the items you normally buy and how much they cost. Sometimes stores will raise prices before a big sale week to trick you into thinking you're getting a good deal when in actuality you are paying the same everyday price.
7. Keep printed versions of your store's coupon policies on hand. Grab a couple of clear pocket sheets and keep these in your binder. Be sure you check the policies on a regular basis in case the store has updated their policy. Having these on hand will allow you to avoid confrontation at the checkout counter when there is a disagreement on coupon usage between you and a cashier or you and a manager. These things are bound to happen when you are using coupons on an extreme level.
8. Buy the smallest size your coupon will allow- Usually we are taught to buy the larger package when the price per ounce is cheaper. However, when couponing you should buy the smallest size your coupon will allow. This usually means you get the item for pennies on the dollar if not free.
9. Buy in bulk- Extreme couponers do not purchase products when they need them. Instead they purchase the products when they are extremely cheap. This way they are on hand whenever you need them. Think of it this way: if you run out of toilet paper or laundry detergent, you are stuck paying whatever price the store is selling that product at this week. If you had stocked up on those products when you could have paired a sale with coupons, you could avoid an expensive emergency trip to the grocery store.
10. Forget about brand loyalty- Do not wait until you have a coupon for your specific brand of pasta sauce before you'll stock up. If you can get if for free or pennies on the dollar, stock up on whatever brand for which you have coupons. Free is free!
11. Go where the sales are- Check all of the store circulars in your area to see which items are on sale and match those sales with the coupons you have. If the sales are worth the time and money, shop at different stores. We are fortunate enough to live within a 5 mile radius of a Schnucks, Walmart, and Shop n' Save. So I will typically hit up at least two of those stores each month.
12. Do not purchase things you won't use unless they are free- do not buy cans of tuna just because you can get them for 10 cents each if you will not use the tuna. If you get it for free, you may be able to stock it up and experiment with new recipes and products later. You could also use these products to help out a family in your community, help other members of your own family that may be struggling, or donate the items to your local food bank or soup kitchen.
13. Organize your list- Organize your shopping list according to the layout of the store. List how many of the items you need and place the coupons in a separate envelope or sleeve so you know exactly which ones you will be using. This will help reduce the time you spend in the store. If you have ever watched TLC's Extreme Couponing, you know some of those people spend anywhere from 6 to 10 hours in the grocery store. Who has time for that? I am a full-time student, I work part-time, and I am planning a wedding...so I know I do not have time to spend an entire day in the store!
14. If your coupon inserts are skimpy- You can purchase coupon inserts online at sites like www.thecouponclippers.com or www.coupondede.com.
15. Find stores that double- Some stores will double coupons. The Schnuck's stores in the St. Louis area will double your first 15 coupons valued at 40 cents or less. Check your store's website to read up on their coupon policy!
16. Shop with a Friend- shopping with a friend makes the experience more fun. Four eyes are also better than two for spotting things like in store coupons, errors at the register, or extra deals. You could also each do your own hauls and then trade products.
17. Rain Checks- If your store is out of an advertised sale product, many times you can get a rain check and get that item for the sale price after the store is restocked. If you are using coupons to get these items even cheaper, make sure your coupons will not expire before the store is restocked.
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