If you’re anything like me, when I was first exposed to the world of budget saving couponing, I was so overwhelmed that I didn’t know where to begin. I started once, thought it was too difficult and quit. I didn’t think you could truly save the money people said they could, and it definitely didn’t seem to be worth my time. However, I have now discovered that it does work and I can save more money than people said you could save.
Some basic budget saving principles to follow are using coupons when items are on sale, stocking up on items that you frequently use and going to more than one store for your purchases. Often I buy the smallest rice, diaper package possible because I am more likely to get that item free. Most stores allow you to stack coupons. That means that you can use a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon on an item that is on sale and often get that item for pennies or even better for free. When I first began couponing, I learned how to coupon at one store at a time. This was so much easier than trying to learn how to coupon at all of the stores at the same time. Some stores can be confusing at first, but I have posted the basics for each of the stores that I have learned to coupon at. Coupons really can help you save much money and live within your budget.
To help those of you who are new with this, I’ve come up with a Weekly Plan to ease you into couponing and explain some things along the way. I hope you enjoy and start saving money.
Week 1 – Getting Organized
* Buy a Sunday paper. Cut out ALL of the coupons. This may seem overwhelming, and you may think – why do I need all of these? Start by clipping all of them because you’ll be surprised at the coupons you can use and then get paid for buying an item that you had already gotten for free. Since you don’t know which ones of these there are yet, clip all of them.
* Print all coupons from bar in the left column. (You can click “See all Coupons,” then select to print all.) (You can also print coupons from SmartSource.com and Redplum.com)
* Buy a 3 ring binder, baseball card holders, and dividers. Click here and here to see how to organize this notebook.
* Unless you’re Superman or Wonder Woman – don’t try and shop this week.
Week 2 – Get Started (Rite Aid and 1 Grocery Store)
* Buy a Sunday paper. Cut out ALL of the coupons. For reasons why see week 1.
* Print all coupons from bar in the left column. (You can click “See all Coupons,” then select to print all.) Check back at Smartsource.com and redplum.com to see if there are any new coupons to print.
* Using Budget Saving Mom’s deal finders (the drugstores should be published Sunday/Monday, and the grocery store deals will come out Monday/Wednesday/Thursday), pick a drug store and one grocery store to go to. I would suggest starting with Rite Aid because they are the easiest to follow. To see Rite Aid’s policy click here. For a list of all store policies and budget saving tips, click here. REMEMBER YOU HAVEN’T STOCKPILED VERY MANY COUPONS YET, SO YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET ALL THE DEALS THAT ARE LISTED. BE PATIENT, WITHIN 3-4 MONTHS, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THE ENTIRE LIST OF DEALS.
* BEFORE going to the stores, get two envelopes and label them with the names of the stores. Print the deals from Budget Saving Mom’s site that you plan on buying. Pull the coupons that correspond to the deals that you will be getting and put them in the envelope. You can still bring in your notebook and search for additional deals after you have gotten the items from your list in your cart (or stroller if you are like me.)
* Since you’re new at this and until you have a good idea of how much you should pay, limit yourself to buying only items that are free, less than a dollar after coupons, and things that you are pretty sure you will use. Remember, when you’re buying an item that you can get multiple sizes of, get the smallest size you can to maximize the amount of money you will save. (For example if you have a $1 off coupon for a body wash, buy the 4 oz. one that costs $1.25 as opposed to the $3.50 8 oz. one).
Week 3 – Rite Aid and another grocery store
* Buy a Sunday paper. Cut out ALL of the coupons.
* Print all the printable coupons on the sidebars.
* Go to your drug store from last week. And using Budget Saving Mom’s deals that are listed, pick the best money saving grocery store for this week to go to.
* Do the same as last week. Print your list, highlight which items you’re getting, and put your coupons in an envelope and bring your list. Also, bring along your notebook for any extra time you may have to find other deals.
Week 4 – CVS and a grocery store
* Buy a Sunday paper. Cut out ALL of the coupons.
* Print all the printable coupons on the sidebars.
* Try out CVS. When you get into the store, don’t forget to get a CVS card BEFORE you make your purchases. To see how CVS works, click here. Limit yourself to only purchasing those things that you can get Extra Care Bucks back and that will then turn out to be free or moneymakers.
* Also, pick the grocery store with the best deals for this week, print your list, pull your coupons and envelopes and hit the road. Print your list, highlight which items you’re getting, and put your coupons in an envelope. Also, bring along your notebook for any extra time you may have to find other deals.
Week 5 – CVS again with extra care bucks and a grocery store
* Buy a Sunday paper. Cut out ALL of the coupons.
* Print all the printable coupons on the sidebars.
* Do CVS again, this time you can spend some of those Extra Care Bucks, but make sure that you are also purchasing something that will replenish your Extra Care Bucks stash.
* Pick your grocery store to shop at. Print your list, highlight which items you’re getting, and put your coupons in an envelope and bring these items with you. Also, bring along your notebook for any extra time you may have to find other deals.
Week 6 – Walgreens
* Buy a Sunday paper. Cut out ALL of the coupons.
* Print all the printable coupons on the sidebars.
* If you’re feeling bold, you can try out Walgreens. Click here for instructions on how to save at Walgreens.
* Pick your grocery store. Print your list, highlight which items you’re getting, and put your coupons in an envelope and bring these items with you. Also, bring along your notebook for any extra time you may have to find other deals.
So, there you go – you’re 6 weeks into this, your stash of coupons should be building, and you should be saving money!
For additional information:
1. Stocking Up (buying more than 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 Saving Tips when shopping
7. Budget Saving Freebie Tips
For even more tips including how to organize coupons, click on basics for beginners on the right side of the site.
I hope that this helps you save money on your budget, leave a comment or e-mail if you have any questions.
Great post! I am on week 1. I love how this is all laid out for me. Thanks!! Anne
Thanks Anne! I'm glad it was helpful!
Ditto!
Im on step one or two for newbies, gathering coupons like a madwoman. I’ve heard the term “stacking”. Does that mean you can use more than one coupon per item? Which leads to my next question, once I print all the coupons from here on your site, I thought I heard or read, to print them more than once? Is this correct? Thanks -I know you’re busy!
Jenifer
Hi Jenifer,
Stacking coupons means that you are able to use a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon on the same item. For instance if you have a pack of band aids that costs $3, and you have a $1 store coupon and a $1.50 manufacturer coupon, you are able to use both. This would reduce your price to $.50 – - – You are able to print coupons 2 times per computer in general. Just hit the back button on your screen and usually it will print again. With the coupons.com bar on the side of my site you are able to click and print until the screen shows print limit reached. Also, those coupons will reset sometimes and allow you to print them again at a later time. Hope that helps!! Let me know if you have any other questions. Rene
Rene,
I have been using coupons for a long time but never at this level. I would like to take my savings to a new level but I am not the most organized person with coupons. Do you have tips on getting my notebook started and how to organize it? I never seem to have my coupons in the right place to find fast and easy. I hope I have not overlooked this info on your site somewhere.
I live in lexington and watching your site in hopes that you will soon have another evening class near by.
Thank you for all your help.
Lisa
Here is a link for the coupon notebook organization. When you read it there is a second link imbedded in the post with even more information. http://budgetsavingmom.com/2009/06/23/coupon-notebook/
Thanks so much for reading! I may be doing another class. I have had numerous requests. I will let you know via the website where and when if I am able to schedule another one soon. Have a great day and keep up the good work! Rene
I am having trouble with the coupon printer. I have printed off coupons before but now for some reason it won’t work and says I need to install the coupon printer. Well, I tried reinstalling it even though it was still on my computer and it still didn’t work. HELP! I need my coupons!!!
My computer has done that when it needed an update. Usually if I turn my computer off and then back on it works. Hope that helps! Rene
Okay so I’m starting at step one before I just get in over my head. Where is the “select all” for printing all of the internet coupons available?
I wish there was a select all. Unfortunately, you have to go through each page and select the coupons you want to print. Hope it goes well for you! Thanks so much for reading! Rene
For those of you in the Thomasville, NC area, the Mighty Dollar has the baseball card holders back in stock. you can get a pack of 10 sheets for $1!!! This is an awesome deal. They sell out fast and never know when they will have them in stock again, so if you are making a new book or you just need to add pages, get there quick! They are in the paper/school supply section.