Couponing 101, The Basics- Tips from a Family Made Simple Mom

I started couponing two years ago when I was laid off from my job. I was already pregnant with my second child and the job market was all too unwelcoming to my growing belly so my husband and I made the decision that we would figure out a way to keep me home without going broke. 

We immediately had to change our entire way of living but it didn’t take long to see that the sacrifices and hard work were completely paying off. We were saving money! 

It was all worth it being able to stay home with our kids. I realized though that I had to bargain in every aspect of my life from loans to bills to outings and most importantly at the grocery store.

Prior to this, I had dabbled in coupons here and there but never as aggressively as I do now. I hesitate to call myself an “extreme couponer” because I don’t buy things for the sake of buying them, I don’t try to make money off coupons or the items I take home.

I do have a stockpile and I have cleared a few shelves of items but its only things that we use a lot.

With a little work and patience anyone can make coupons work (save) for them. 

In just a couple of years I have saved my family several thousand dollars and have a ready stock of items that lasts months instead of days or weeks.

It wasn’t until I started writing this that I realized how much I had to say about coupons. So instead of bombarding you with a ton of information all at once, let’s start with a few basic ideas. Something to think about that can help you get on your way to becoming a couponing expert! Trust me once you start you will never turn back.

Couponing Basics:

1- Decide that you will not commit to certain brands, when you do this you will fall into the trap of paying higher prices every time. Being willing to change brands can lead to great deals and free or near free items all the time.

2- Commit that you will only buy things that are on sale and preferably also have a coupon for. (I do this also for clothes shopping, buying gifts and at the hardware stores)

3- Call your local stores and find out if they takes coupons (and if they double). You may be surprised to know discount stores like Job Lot and Save-A-Lot take coupons. Coupling coupons with their extremely low prices make for several free items in my shopping trips. 

Ok you’ve taken the first steps to committing to saving money, next time we’ll talk about reading and matching ads. ~ Marsha

Guest Blog Post from Family Made Simple fan, Marsha Giroux. Marsha, the mom of Harry, 2 ½ and Sophia 1 resides in Rhode Island.  


Note from FMS: Check back next Friday for Marsha's Couponing Basics Part II- Reading & Matching Ads.