Realistic Couponing 101 (Part 1)

   
 Over the next couple of weeks will be doing a series of posts on realistic couponing.  At Simple Savvy Savers we loooove saving money.  Who doesn't?  However, we do not believe that using coupons should consume all of your spare time.  As a working mom, I know what a precious commodity time is.  That being said, let's get started!

     The first thing that every couponer must know is where to locate coupons.  The Sunday edition of your local newspaper is a great source for savings.  Most weeks your local paper has special inserts containing manufacturer as well as store coupons.  These inserts are usually found mixed among the store sales ads. 

     There are three major insert names to look for.  These are:

Red Plum
Smart Source
Proctor and Gamble

     These inserts are where you will find manufacturer coupons that are accepted at most major retailers (Walmart, Target, and grocery stores).  Don't leave out the sales ads though.  You will often find store specific coupons in them.  This is where the savings can really stack up!  (We will get into that in another post)

     Another great source for coupons is the internet.  There are a lot of different ways to obtain coupons via the internet.  First and foremost, you have the printable coupon sites.  Coupons.com, Red Plum, Smart Source, and Coupon Surfer are just a few of the places you can literally point and click to obtain coupons.

     If you are a fan of Facebook, there are lots of great coupons and bargains to be found.  Most of the time, it is as simple as "liking" a company's Facebook page.

     Don't forget to sign up for product newsletters!  Companies will often send coupons to your inbox or by snail mail just for letting them send you information about their products or services.

     Some other great sources for coupons are the places where you shop.  Grocery stores often have extra flyers (other than the basic weekly sale ad) that contain extra savings.  You can often find "blinkies" in the grocery store also.  These are little black machines attached directly to the store shelves.  The machines have a red blinking light (thus the name "blinkies") and release coupons one at a time.  Be sure to check your grocery store, drugstore, and even convenience store for coupons on tear pads too!

     In our next post we will discuss how to organize the coupons you are accumulating.  Until then, happy saving!