I couponed a little in the past but it always seemed overwhelming and honestly, sort of scary!  I started by only using coupons I found on products in the store and using store coupons that were emailed to me.  By doing that, I saved a little here and there, but little did I know how much potential I had to save much more.

First and foremost, it is important to understand what coupons the stores you shop at will and will not take. Most stores will accept manufacturer coupons (coupons provided by the product company either in print or on their websites) and store coupons (provided in their store ads, weekly/monthly coupon books, or on their website.)  Most stores will provide their coupon policy on their website.

A great starting point is the Sunday newspaper.  Here you will find the weekly store ads, store coupons, and even a variety of manufacturer coupons.  Look through the store ads and try to coordinate manufacturer coupons to use together with the store sales and store coupons.

Another source of coupons is the internet.  Many company websites will have a special offers or promotions link, where you can find coupons that you can use at most stores.  You can also visit reputable coupon printing websites such as coupons.com or even redplum.com

Now that you know of a few places to obtain coupons, you probably wonder how to organize them and figure out a system so you can keep track of what you have.  Personally, I keep the ones I am likely to use in a little index card sorter.  It snaps shut and has tabs so that I can organize by type of product.  If you have a lot of coupons, a binder works well.  You can order special coupon holding inserts which are similar to those that hold baseball cards, except the slots are a little longer and fit most coupons.


A few things to remember:

• Check store coupon policies
• Look at the expiration date so you don't miss out using it in time
• Try to combine coupons with sales 
• Don't get discouraged! A few cents here and there will add up quickly!!!