Before I started using coupons, I never thought I would have enough time to save any money. Then I realized that ‘time is money’....funny huh? Looking back, I don’t know how I ever brought myself to pay $12.99 for one razor, or $4.29 for a single tube of toothpaste (both of which I now know how to get for free).
At first look, coupons can be confusing, overwhelming and a general pain in the butt, but once you get something at a huge savings, or even better, FREE!! you start to understand, and even get addicted!
Some helpful hints to get started and not get overwhelmed are:
1. Start Small. When I first started using coupons, I had two kids in diapers and I REALLY wanted to stop paying $11 per pack. At first that is all I ever used coupons for, and I started to watch for them to go on sale. Then when they would go on sale AND I had coupons, they would be $5 or $6 per pack and I would stock up!! Soon I learned that if I bought 10 packs of diapers, by the time I started to run out, they would be on sale again and I would have more coupons!
Another way to start small is to master one store at a time. I first learned to use coupons at CVS. The ECB (Extra Care Bucks) system is a lot less daunting to learn if you aren’t confused with other stores varying coupon policies while trying to understand it.
2. Get the newspaper every week. It’s as simple as that, you can’t use coupons if you don’t have any! And if you want to plan ahead you can check SundayCouponPreview.com ahead of time to see exactly which coupons to expect in the paper.
3. Don’t forget to take your coupons with you! There is nothing that can get you more frustrated then being in the checkout line and realizing you are about to pay full price for something that you KNOW you have a coupon for sitting at home!
4. Use coupons along with a sale price. This maximizes your savings as much as possible. For example, the regular price of a pack of diapers is around $11, and you have a $2 coupon... so you end up paying $9. Not bad, but not great. But, if you wait for a sale, and those $11 diapers are on sale for $8 and you have that $2 coupon, that is $6 per pack of diapers, almost HALF PRICE!
Coupons are not one of those things you learn by doing it just once, nor is it something you can learn overnight. It really does take some planning, patience and practice, but eventually it ends up being like a ‘game’ and there is no better feeling than getting something for FREE! Just by handing the cashier that one little slip of paper!
And just remember, we’re here to help you!!
CpnCole
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