Since some you you may be new to couponing, I thought I would start a weekly post to help you learn ways to save more and to get the coupon “high.”
Today’s Tutorial-Where to find coupons?
- Sunday Paper – This is where you get most of your coupons. Until a couple weeks ago, my paper, The Pittsburgh Post Gazette always had two inserts, Red Plum (RP) and Smart Source (SS). However, recently Red Plum changed from inserts in the paper to mailing 1 set to your house. The up side of this is they are free, but the downside is you are limited to 1 set. Ab0ut once a month Proctor and Gamble also includes an insert. Check various stores for the prices of papers. My local Shop N’ Save charge $1 for the Sunday paper while most stores charge $1.50. You can also check Dollar Tree, but just know that sometimes they won’t include all the coupons
- Printable Coupons – You can check my blog here for online printable coupons. Another great place to find them is A Full Cup. Just click on the AFC Coupon Database and you can search by product or coupon type. If you haven’t found a coupon in either of these places just type in what you are looking for in google and you might find one. You can print coupons off the internet, but you can NOT photocopy any coupon.
- Product Website – Sign up to be on the mailing list for your favorite products like General Mills, Kelloggs, Pampers, Huggies or Gerber. You may want to set up a junk e-mail for this.
- Target.com – Target has some great coupons each week. The really exciting thing about them is you can combine them with manufacturer coupons. If you don’t have a printer at home or don’t want to waste your ink you can print them at the Gift Registry Kiosks at Target (Target.com, go to the bottom and find “coupons” and then print them.) New coupons come out once every two weeks, but you can still use the ones that were just up until they expire. You can also find Target Coupons at A Full Cup. Just look under “coupon menu” at the top.
- Store sites – Don’t forget to register on CVS, Walgreens, Macy’s and any other store that you may shop at. They will e-mail you a lot of great coupons.
- Magazines – Always look inside those magazines (check out how you can get magazines free) for coupons. All You is a magazine filled will coupons and you can find it at Walmart.
- Brochures – Look at brochures in the doctors office or at the waiting area in CVS or Walgreens when you’re getting your prescriptions. Many times they have coupons in them.
- At the Store - Keep your eyes open at the stores for black boxes near the product for what we call a “blinkie” coupon. They come out one at a time. I put my daughter on patrol for these when we are shopping. Tear Pads are also near a product and tend to be a bunch of coupons on a cardboard pad. Peelies or Hangtags are coupons stuck to or around the actual product.
- Cash Register – Look at the end of your receipts. Many times at Target there is a coupon at the end of the receipt. Also look for Catalinas which are coupons that print next to the register. If you go through Self Check-out scan the other empty registers because sometimes people will leave them behind. I found a $1 Off your next order this way last week. If you really are adventerous check the trash cans at the end of the lane.
- Friends and Family - Get coupon inserts from friends, family and neighbors who do not want them. My mom sends me her inserts about once a month.
- Buy Coupons Online - If there is a coupon you want a bunch of for a great sale at your store then you might want to consider buying them online. You can try e-bay or sites such as thecouponclippers.com, Coupon & things by Dede (I’ve ordered from them and they come very fast), and The Coupon Master. You will pay a handling and shipping fee for these.
- Trade for coupons - There is a great trading area at A Full Cup where you can trade for coupons that you need. You post what you are in seach of (ISO) and people will say that they have them and then ask for certain coupons, money or postage in trade. Some may even RAOK (random act of kindness) to you for FREE!
Do you find coupons other places than I listed? If you do, please post a comment.
