So,you’re new to couponing and feel almost to overwhelmed to start? Yup,been there. It is easy to wonder if it is worth the time and trouble to clip all those coupons. But,I promise you will soon realize how easy this whole coupon thing is! Once you see that total drop on the cash register screen you will be hooked!
There are a few things to know at first:
1. You do NOT have to collect and clip every coupon you come across. Some people do and that’s fine. I recommend clipping and saving as many as you can. I can’t tell you the number of times I have ended up getting a product I wouldn’t normally buy just because I didn’t want to spend money on it. For example,normally I wouldn’t spend $20-$30 on a teeth whitening kit. But,the other day I came across teeth whitening kits at Target,clearanced for $15.38. I had saved $10 off manufacturer coupons,and also had $5 off Target coupons. Voila! 38 cent teeth whitening kits! Plus they came with toothpaste and mouthwash. Win! So like I said,I wouldn’t have paid for it at regular price with those coupons,but for 38 cents,absolutely!
Another great reason to clip coupons you don’t think you will use is that even if you don’t use them,someone else can! You can tape the coupons to the products at the store to let someone else find them. Or you can send them to a military coupon program that sends the coupons overseas to military families. Military families overseas can use coupons 6 months past their expiration date.
2. Sometimes,things don’t always go perfectly. Some cashiers just do NOT get this couponing thing. (Many do,and are very nice and pleasant to deal with though so don’t be discouraged!). It is important to know each stores coupon policy. Usually you can find these online. If you have these with you and the cashier/manager doesn’t allow you to use a certain coupon that the policy says you can use,usually all you have to do is show them the policy. If they still fight it,you may have to walk away and call the store’s customer service hotline. This happens very rarely,but it is possible. If you know you are right and they are wrong,don’t let them tell you otherwise!
3. You may not see hundred dollar savings right away. It is easy to see extreme savings all over the internet and assume that it will happen in your first trip. It takes some practice! Just keep up with your coupons and all the latest deals and you will get this down in no time!
4. The amount of time you put into coupons is up to YOU. Please don’t think you don’t have the time for coupons. It may seem like you have to put in hours and hours each week to get these kind of deals. Not true. We all have other things going on in our lives other than shopping and coupons. Even just 10 min a day can save you more money than you think! A lot of times,there are what I call “easy”coupons. At the time I am writing this,there are 2 coupons on Target.com for free items (the cost of the item is less than the money off in the coupon,for example $1 off a product that is 97 cents) . All you have to do is print the coupon,bring it to the store,and find the item. Anyone has the time for that! 
Another option is using ebay or a clipping service to buy coupons that are already clipped. The cost is very minimal and you still save way more than you spend. I have a habit of buying “money maker”coupons on ebay because I still make more money than I spend buying them. (More on “overage”and “money makers”later).
Now that you’ve read this,move on over to the beginners page and you can start on your coupon journey!
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