How to get started:

First you need to know a few things about coupons and sales, they are friends. I often have people ask, "Isn't it just cheaper to buy the generic brands?" NO! That is a common misconception of couponing. You do not get your coupons and rush out and buy the product. You wait until the item goes on sale and then by using your coupons and the sale, you get the item for a great deal! Sales and coupons are fantastic!

The idea of using coupons is that you stockpile. You buy 10 bags of cereal when normally you would have bought 1 at a time. You buy it when its at a good sale price, and use coupons, and then you wont have to buy it for a long time and you got a great deal! If you buy 10 bags of cereal then you need 10 coupons right?...

There are many ways to get coupons. The best way to get coupons is the Sunday Paper. You are going to want to order a few papers every Sunday from your local Newspaper. Other ways to get coupons are from blinkys- blinkys are little red when you boxes you see when you walk up and down the isle at the store they have a blinking dot, hence the name blinkys. They have coupons in them for specific items. Catalinas print out at Smiths and Albertsons when you buy specific products. They are usually great coupons. Printable coupons are coupons you can print off the internet and use at your store. Peelies- peelies are coupons that are stuck to the item for sale. another way to get coupons is to trade them. I trade the coupons that I wont use, like dog food, cat food, and whatever else I wont use for coupons that I need and will use.

Find out your store's coupon policys. Do they double, triple? Do they accept printable coupons? you need to know before you go!

You need to get organized. There are so many ways to organize coupons. There is a box method, a binder method, a filing method, find which method works for you and get organized. I prefer the binder method.

Find a group to join. I like Pinchingyourpennies.com. There you can print out a shopping list and they rate the sales for you. This site is a great tool.

Just remember, using coupons is as easy or as hard as you make it!