I haven’t been able to work since I was diagnosed with breast cancer 10 months ago so money is quite tight. With nothing but time on my hands while I recover from treatments, I decided I would try my hand at this extreme couponing idea. In an effort to learn, I have been reading blog after blog, while clipping every coupon I can find for the past 3 weeks. So far, I can honestly say that I suck at it. They don’t teach patience in any of these how-to-coupon blog posts.
I am ready to save big bucks with my organized binder in hand and list that tells me what to purchase at what store and with what coupon. Though, the stores never carry these items! According to the list, I should have received Pantene shampoo for free with the store discount and the doubled manufacturers coupon. Maybe this would be true, if stores sold 6.7 oz shampoo bottles. All I found were the regular 12 oz bottles. Don’t waste my time with shit that isn’t on the shelf!
Oh, but wait… the first thing I learned about couponing is that it takes time… a lot of time. I did take my $1.00 off coupon to the Dollar Tree and got one box of (20 ct) Gain dryer sheets for .08 cents, since there is no coupon for sales tax. I have yet to get anything for free but with a determined mind and and a lot of time on my hands, I will get there.
TIPS: 1. Get organized with a binder and baseball card inserts to hold all the coupons that you should start collecting immediately. I found the inserts at K-Mart. (Don't buy them from an extreme coupon kit you might find online, they are a rip-off - go figure.) 2. Sign up to receive coupons in your email from sites like smartsource.com, redplum.com and coupons.com. 3. Get a cheap laser printer - you will be printing and cutting a TON!
For the first couple weeks, just create a stockpile and get organized. Don't think you will be saving any money for a while. There are only so many coupons given out, so if it was an awesome deal and you don't have it, don't expect to find it - even online.
The best blogs I have read for learning to extreme coupon, include: www.thekrazycouponlady.com and local to my Central New York location is www.iamthatlady.com, although this site is full of annoying pop-ups. Here is a great article to get you started by Ruth of Living Well Spending Less: http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/beginners-guide-to-coupons/thebeginners-guide-to-coupons-2/
I am ready to save big bucks with my organized binder in hand and list that tells me what to purchase at what store and with what coupon. Though, the stores never carry these items! According to the list, I should have received Pantene shampoo for free with the store discount and the doubled manufacturers coupon. Maybe this would be true, if stores sold 6.7 oz shampoo bottles. All I found were the regular 12 oz bottles. Don’t waste my time with shit that isn’t on the shelf!
Oh, but wait… the first thing I learned about couponing is that it takes time… a lot of time. I did take my $1.00 off coupon to the Dollar Tree and got one box of (20 ct) Gain dryer sheets for .08 cents, since there is no coupon for sales tax. I have yet to get anything for free but with a determined mind and and a lot of time on my hands, I will get there.
TIPS: 1. Get organized with a binder and baseball card inserts to hold all the coupons that you should start collecting immediately. I found the inserts at K-Mart. (Don't buy them from an extreme coupon kit you might find online, they are a rip-off - go figure.) 2. Sign up to receive coupons in your email from sites like smartsource.com, redplum.com and coupons.com. 3. Get a cheap laser printer - you will be printing and cutting a TON!
For the first couple weeks, just create a stockpile and get organized. Don't think you will be saving any money for a while. There are only so many coupons given out, so if it was an awesome deal and you don't have it, don't expect to find it - even online.
The best blogs I have read for learning to extreme coupon, include: www.thekrazycouponlady.com and local to my Central New York location is www.iamthatlady.com, although this site is full of annoying pop-ups. Here is a great article to get you started by Ruth of Living Well Spending Less: http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/beginners-guide-to-coupons/thebeginners-guide-to-coupons-2/
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