Getting Started

Here is a very detailed, simple to follow strategy for getting started and learning to optimize your spending money. 

1) Get store frequent shoppers cards. I use King Soopers, Safeway, Rite Aid, Toys R Us, and a few others.  You will need to get these before heading on to step 2.  Sign up for them on the websites of stores you frequent or ask next time you are there.  If you are super organized and have multiple addresses (friends, family members, PO boxes) you may sign up for more than one.  

2) Enroll in ecoupon sites.  Typically these reset on the first day of the month but many times ad new coupons throughout the month.  On a good month I use these to get free cereal, cheap snacks, cheap diapers, free toiletries and a few times free laundry products. This will take you just a few minutes to do each month and will start you on a good path to saving.  These are automatically added to your store shoppers card and show up automatically when you purchase the item.  There is nothing to clip, print or remember to take. I have used these in conjunction with manufacturer's paper coupons for better deals, even negatives.  Last week I used a free item coupon and had an ecoupon which took the price of the item off plus an additional 50 cents which helped lower my overall total. This is a great tool for those who might be shy about going to the register with a fistful of coupons or don't want to take the time to organize paper coupons.

General grocery items:
http://www.shortcuts.com/
http://www.cellfire.com/

P & G products
https://www.pgesaver.com/default.aspx

While you are at it you can also sign up for your stores own ecoupons (Kroger & Safeway both have these) and email alerts for weekly ads and specials.

3) Print coupons from your computer.  Many times they are different than what comes in the paper. You can print only what you will use and can print extra copies if you have access to several computers. Please don't ever make copies of these.  Cashiers know to look for the serial numbers on these and will severly scold you if they see matching numbers.  I have also heard that if the store cannot get reimbursed due to fraudelent copies they can trace your IP address and come after you for the money.  And don't sell these on Ebay or give them to people you don't know for the very same reason.  Before I print, I head to a favorite website to print from that link so I can earn gift cards.  Head over here for the sign up link:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000229957151&v=wall&ref=profile or email me your name and email address and I will send you a link. If there are products your family uses a lot check for a website.  If printable coupons are not available take a moment to send them an email and ask.  I have received many freebies by doing this. 

4) Pre-printed coupons.  These will come from your Sunday paper, various magazines, company mailings and anywhere else you can find them. I suggest checking out allyou.com and the magazine All You.  There are usually high value coupons that you can't find elsewhere.  You can also buy coupons on Ebay and other sites.  Initially you might think it is silly to pay for coupons but if they are for products you use then it might be worth paying 20 cents to save a dollar. I have read that a general rule of thumb is to get one copy of newspaper insert coupons per family member.  Obviously, not every family member will use the same items so do what you feel comfortable with.  Sometimes if there are a lot of useful or high value coupons I will buy extra sets on Ebay.  I have found that this is usually cheaper than buying and wasting extra sets of newspapers and then I don't have to run to the store on Sunday to buy extra copies. For example, there was a $2 Pampers wipes coupon a few weeks ago.  Since I knew I would use this to get free wipes I bought extra copies.  Spending $1.50 on a paper to get something with a $2 value plus all the extra coupons made sense for us.

5) Rewards programs and rebates. I always save my receipts.  Many times a new rebate offer will come out for something I have already purchased.  Some people will not submit for rebates unless it is over $5.  I will typically do it as long as it covers the cost of my stamp if I don't need the receipt for something else. You will have to decide what it is worth to you.  Next week we will cover how to organize your precious coupons and how to take advantage of rewards programs and drugstore deals.