Your Best Couponing Tricks of the Trade

[kmonokwe]

I love coupons. But I'm not that good at making them count. I need help! I know some of you are incredible couponers! What is your best trick?

[Sassyclass]

I have 3 favorite uses.
1. using 2 coupons on b1g1f
2. stacking a store coupon with a MFC
3. combining the above with rebate items. CVS and RiteAid are good places for
all of the above.

Cat

[dcompton]

No real tricks, but I'm lucky to have a nearby Kroger that triples to .39 and doubles .40 - .50. So I always try to use those there.There prices for close enough to other stores to come out ahead, especially on the tripled ones. That can take some seious money off an item. They only double/triple three, but I seldom have more than a couple anyway.

[SixxOfDiamonds]

I get all my coupons gathered up (there are SO many!) and see what I have coupons for. Then I make meals out of them and write down the meal on one sheet of paper, and the list of things needed for that meal on another sheet of paper.

After I have my ingredients list using as many coupon items as I can, I look to see what I already have and cross it off the list.

Then I go shopping! As I get the things from the store, I cross them off. When we check out I hand the coupons to the cashier and ta -da! I save an average of 30-40% of my entire purchases.

When I arrive home, I unpack and don't worry because I made a list of meals when planning with the coupons in front of me. Whenever dinner time rolls around I look at the list and start cooking a meal!

We save a LOT of money by coupon-menu planning.

[IntlMom]

OK, so everyone has great suggustions. I have another thing to remember, that you might actually be suprised to hear:

It is actually OK to let your coupons expire....WHAT??????

let me explain: You want to get the best use for your coupons. So you need to wait and hold on to them and wait for a really great sale/deal. Even better if you can combine with store coupons and/or doubles....... but don;t use your coupons to buy the stuff "just cause you have a coupon" if the item doesn't go on a deep discount sale......then you you are spending money that you didn't need to spend...don;t fall into the "I got it just cause I had a coupon" trap.....make those little slips of paper work FOR you, and if they ain;t gonna work for you, don;t be afraid to throw them away... (another great would-be deal will be just around the corner, I promise!)

[Contrary Housewife]

I try to use mine when the item is on sale, so I get both discounts. And like IntlMom says, I don't buy something *just* because I have a coupon for it, if it isn't something I would use.

[spyzvixxen]

Wouldn't call these tricks, as they are just a way of life for me:

Purchase multiple papers.

Order coupons in quantity off of eBay.

[Luv2Shop]

1. You Can use a manufactured coupon with a store coupon
2. Free after rebate items
3. use coupons on sale items
4. trading coupons with others to get the ones you need

[jacqueline]

I love to coupon too! I agree with others about CVS and Rite Aid if you don't already do those two. If you use coupons with their free after items you can sometimes come out earning money. Also when doing rebates, use coupons on the item(s) you have to buy--this can help you either come out ahead or pay for postage/envelopes. I always look at the ads either online or the ones that come in the paper: pair up your coupons with the loss leaders that are on sale in the ads. Use coupons on marked down items if you can find them and also on trial size products (sometimes these end up being free afterward). Use others experiences (this is the best one esp because of the internet) - there are so many people out there that are coupon divas and are willing to share their tips, tricks and "look what i got today" stories. the best places to find help is on forums such as FV or the one i use the most is refunding makes cents (which is a paid subscription, but i feel the money put out is nothing compared to the deals i find out about) also buddy up with a friend who has different circumstances and trade coupons that you don't need/use. i'm lucky to have some coworkers that "don't believe in coupons" they give me their inserts.
HTH

[lisetterenee]

I've started organizing mine in a baseball card pages. I have TONS of multiples, so with the book, I can put the same coupons in the same pocket. It's helped me tremendously because before I often didn't realize I even HAD multiples. I would stumble on a great sale/coupon combo and buy it once. Now, a lot of times, I'll be able to buy multiples at a great price.

[Mavourneen]

All of the above are the basics of couponing - but Sixx comes close to what I do:

I keep a running list during the week of what I want to buy that week. I look at the circulars, pick out the loss leaders for each store, and then begin to compile 3 grocery lists for the 3 stores I go to on the weekends.

I make lists of what is on sale at each store that I want to buy, and what I have a coupon for. I compile a rough menu idea for the coming week from these lists as well.

This method helps me identify and match up what is on sale with what I have a coupon for rather than buying everything at one store and accepting the price before me.

1. Buy / trade for multiples of coupons.
2. Stockpile when you get a great coupon combined with a sale
3. Form a system to keep track of your coupons.

[kallierollo]

Joining coupon trains has helped me alot. I don't have to buy multiply papers and get tons of coupons traded.

[sunnysky24]

I match up coupons with the sales. I also recognize my basic needs list and if those are items that have a coupon for a high amount (typically $1) and I need that item then I go and shop. My store doubles $1 coupons so I can do this and buy several items for just pennies and I don’t always have to wait or rock bottom prices. you need to make that coupon work for you buy waiting for the sales if your store doesn't double higher valued coupons though. I always have a list of what I have and what I am running lower on so I know what to buy. I also get anything free that I can and donate what I don't use. I don't have a baby but I can get free baby cereal. I have over 40 boxes of it and plan on donating it to the neighborhood center. If a coupon doesn't make something a good deal then it gets tossed when it expires. Big rule in my house we eat what we have and we generally don’t buy it unless it is an extremely good deal and there is a coupon. I have been couponing enough that I really don't have to worry about it because we have a well rounded stockpile. And always follow the First in first out with your stockpile so nothing expires.