Hello! I am new here and really trying to learn the "art" of couponing. Ever since I was laid off from my job, and with the sensibility that it would just be best that I stay home (yay me!), I am trying to figure out how to use coupons to save money. Right now I'm just trying to figure out how to save on groceries, especially with the holidays coming around.

I do have a question though. When a coupon says "save $.40 on two" does that mean save $.40 on the total of both combined or does that mean save
$.40 on each item?

I guess I'm confused because I thought I saw somewhere that if you use a coupon, it was on both when I thought it was on the total. I hope I'm making sense.

Thanks for your help!

It would be off the total combined not .40 off each one. A good place to start when it comes to coupons is to match them up with a sale to make a really good deal. For example last week my grocery store had Betty Crocker frosting for 1.69 It was triple coupon week where they triple coupons up to
.50. I had coupons for .50 off one tub of frosting so tripled it was 1.50 per coupon making my frosting .19!!!! I hope this helps you out!

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Okay, that's what I thought. I wish I had a store around here that would double or triple. But, I know that a store here does great deals where you buy a certain item and can get 4-9 things free. I haven't been there for awhile though but I really need to! Thanks so much for your help!

Having a price book, or a good memory for the items cost you buy most often is really helpful. Knowing how much a jar of pasta sauce or a gallon of milk is the first step to knowing if you are getting a good sale price.

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Sarah

I agree, keep a log book of prices. Also join the local grocery stores web sites. You can get the ads online and compare prices and look for deals that pair with your coupons. Don't be afraid to look at non-grocery type stores for sales especially on cleaning and other household goods. Being a member of this site will help becuse the other Mommies will post deals and coupons they find.

If you don't have a place to double coupons, the best thing I can tell you is to check out this site:
http://www.mommysavers.com/target-coupons.htm

You can print out Target coupons and actually combine them w/ your regular manufacturer's coupons! So for example: Target has a printable coupon for $1 off any kelloggs cereal. Then say you have a manufactuer's coupon for $1 off a box of Kellogg's Frosted Flakes. So if the Frosted Flakes are on sale for $2.99, you can get a box for $.99! What great is that MOST Target cashiers will let you use more than one of the same Target printable coupon (even though the coupon states you can only use one per transaction)!

Also, CVS is a GREAT place to get toiletries and pantry food items! Get your local paper on Sunday and look at the CVS ad. Circle every item you know you will use that is on sale, plus says "Extra Care Bucks" next to it. You can sign up for their card (it's free) and then buy the items on special, use coupons, and get "Extra Care Bucks" (ECB's) that print on your receipt and it's like getting money back for your next purchase!

Exp: CVS has a special where all General Mills Cereal is 2 for $5. The ad also states that you get $2 ECBs back when you buy 2 boxes. So then say you find 2 coupons either in the paper or online for $1 off General Mills Cereal. You will take the 2 boxes of cereal up to the counter, have them scan your Extra Care Card, give them your coupons, pay $3 for the cereal, then get a coupone attached to your receipt for $2 off your next purchase!

So then, next week, when you go to CVS, you will already have a $2 coupon in hand towards your purchase! If you look at the ad, buy the right items and have the right coupons, you can wind up getting $15-$20 in ECBs for your next shopping trip! That's when you start getting things for FREE! It took me awhile to get the hang of it, but it's really actually kind of fun!

Here is a place on this site where you can check out weekly grocery specials and tips on how to save money! It's alot of info. but you will be a "pro" in no time!

http://mommysavers.com/boards/grocery-bargains/

Welcome aboard!

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Bekah
Co-founder and CEO of the NOVITZKE FAMILY INC.