When I started, how did I decide WHAT TO BUY?
1. The first rule of thumb was that since I didn’t know how much the average price of items was between stores, I only bought something if I could get it for free, or if it was a larger item, for less than 50 cents. This way I was sure that I was not paying more than I should.
2. I only did one store at a time until I mastered that store. I started with Rite Aid (since these are straight forward with rebates). Then I moved on to CVS. I do Walgreens if they have a great deal, but Walgreens if definitely for the more advanced couponers because there are a lot of ways that you can end up getting trapped with their program. So, I would not recommend this one until you have mastered the other stores. Also, while I use coupons at the grocery stores for my week to week shopping, I typically do my stock-ups only on Triple Coupon Weekends, or blow-out sales.
[...] you need right now to save later)- a new way of shopping. 2. Balancing Coupons with Life: part 1, part 2, part 3 3. A Newbie Success Story 4. Store Policies 5. Additional ways to get coupons 6. Budget [...]