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So you have decided you want to start using coupons to lower your grocery bill? You have come to the right place. We will be posting a series of lessons telling you exactly what to do to get started.
The fist thing you are going to need to get started is obviously coupons. That is why our first post is how to get your hands on this paper gold!
Lesson One:
Watch me teach this lesson live on Facebook.
Where Do I Find Coupons?
Online:
- The biggest source of coupons you will be able to find is online. These are manufacturer coupons that you can print straight from your computer and sometimes mobile devices.
- The three biggest coupon printing sites are coupons.com, Redplum and Smartsource. You can access all three right on 4lessbyjess.com by using the print coupons tab. There are also some smaller coupon printing sites and most manufacturers and brands will have a few printable coupons on their site and Facebook page.
- You can usually get two prints of each coupon per device. You can NEVER copy a printable coupon. That is considered coupon fraud.
- Another way to find printable coupons is by using the coupon database. Simply type in whatever coupon you are looking for and it will give you the direct link.
- You can also sign up on brand webpages to receive coupons by email, snail mail and on their site. A few of my favorites are Kellogg’s Family Rewards and P&G Every Savings.
Newspaper:
The second biggest place to look for coupons is your newspaper. Typically you will find newspaper inserts in your Sunday newspaper with the exception of holidays. You may also be able to find them in your local paper at a lower cost than the Sunday paper although days will vary. I suggest calling your local paper and asking them which days will have inserts.
There are three major coupon inserts.
- Procter & Gamble (P&G)
- Red Plum (RP)
- and Smart Source (SS)
Each Thursday I will post a “Coupon Insert Preview” letting you know which inserts and coupons we can expect to see in the paper that weekend. Depending on the number of inserts and value of the coupons, I recommend buying anywhere from 2-6 papers each week.
Receipts and Checkout:
Always check the end of your receipts and the extra papers you get after checking out. Some stores will include high value store and manufacturer coupons with your receipt. If you are shopping at a store that has a Catalina Machine (it sits beside the register and spits out coupons the cashier will hand you), you will receive even more coupons back at checkout. Never throw these away until you look over them. They can range anywhere from an advertisement to money off your next order.
In Store:
Always be on the lookout for coupons while you are shopping. There are three kinds of coupons we tpyically see.
- Peelies- a coupon attached to the product that you peel off
- Hangtags- a coupon hanging on the product
- Blinkie- coupons in a blinking machine on the shelf
Everywhere:
You can find coupons several places in your everyday life. Look in magazines, doctor’s offices, schools and anywhere where a product may be advertised.