Hi I'm new to using coupons and was wondering if anyone would mind giving me any advice on how to use them.I guess what I'm asking is how many coupons do you use at one time and is it always just for items that you use.Example I may have a coupon for $2 off a can of xxx product but it's a product that I don't use. So do I use the coupon or not?? In combination with other coupons on products that I do use to get a bigger saving?

Sorry if my questions are confusing just looking for some advice.Thanks for taking the time to read and any help.

is it a product you would use? We find lots of new things we like that we wouldn't have tried without A coupon. If your not going to use it, it is silly to pay for it.

I also use coupons for items that will be free after coupon, even if I won't use it, and give it to family, friends, or the local foodshelf. Just donated a box of razors, shaving cream, floss, toothpaste, etc that was all free to me.

Thanks for the advice!

a lot of times you can't combine coupons like using 2 coupons on one item, unless it's an instore coupon and a manufacter coupon it doesn't say can not be combined. but most of the time it's one pre item or however they have it listed and you have to use them on the products they're for.

my biggest hint is that if the item is on sale B1G1F you can use 2 coupons! harris teeter is the only store that wont let you but anywhere else will let you . alot of people never knew that, and another hint is to STAY ORGANIZED!! i personally have a binder with baseball card pages in it.

Thanks for all the great advice!

My harris teeter has never stopped me from using 2 coupons on b1g1f items....I know I read if you have a coupon for b1g1f you can only use one coupon at a time.

Oh and I do AGREE about being organized...I wish I could be more orgainzed. It is all I can do the get my coupons in the pages. I should be way more organized and in my life too.

make your life easy too! this comes to being organized. you can either

A) clip every coupon and then do the baseball binder, or put them in the coupon organizers (which i hate those pocket things)

B) don't clip the coupons, instead pop a post it note on their with the earliest and latest expiration dates. make a short list of the coupons that are of most interest to you

I do B - this way instead of shuffling through coupons I sit and look at my store circulars and see who has the best deals, then I go and look at my post it notes for the coupons that I want. If I see something that seems like a great price for a product I've never tried - I just do a quick flip through to see if I've a coupon for that somewhere.

The only coupons that I actually sit and clip out are the baby items - those I keep in a small business card portfolio (like a baseball card book) because I want it on me at all times because I never know when I can find a great deal!

I've been told that there is a great site out there called www.couponmom.com however my work has blocked it. so i can't give a review on that one for ya.

Coupon Mom is a great site. I've found coupons there that I haven't seen anywhere else.

While coupon mom is great when you are just starting, it barely scratches the surface. There are other websites that go MUCH farther in detail, and provide MANY more great deals. I dont think I can link it, so PM me if you would like the site I use mainly. I know some on here already use it as well. Nothing against CM, but she does miss TONS of deals. HTH.

Check your stores to see if you only buy 1 product of a buy 1 get 1 free, and see if it will ring up half price. If it will and you have a coupon making it free, I will do that and just have multiple orders.

I went with my mother last Sunday and helped her shop with coupons (she is just starting to learn) and she saved over $115 in that one trip. It took us 2 hours but it was well worth it.

I agree, organization is everything and planning. I make a list, put what coupons I have on that list and stick to the list.

my biggest hint is that if the item is on sale B1G1F you can use 2 coupons! harris teeter is the only store that wont let you but anywhere else will let you . alot of people never knew that, and another hint is to STAY ORGANIZED!! i personally have a binder with baseball card pages in it.

wow! i never knew that. i have to see what stores here will do that. thanks for the info.

fairydust crissy,
Can you pm me with info on the site you use? I am just beginning the coupon thing and am comparing notes. I just found this board and don't know how to PM yet.

Thanks!