Part 1 in the beginner series. Where Do I Get Coupons?
Well, this would be the best place to start because without coupons you simply can not save money on groceries. For those of you that are new to coupon shopping, this would be the time for you to purchase more than 1 newspaper. I get 4 newspapers every weekend plus I print coupons off the internet (I try to print 4 of each if I can). There are also a few other ways you can get your coupons besides just buying newspapers.
There are many sites that offer printable coupons. Some of them are as follows:
Coupons.com
Smart Source
Red Plum
Coupon Network
Target Coupons
Cindy Livesey is the force behind Living Rich With Coupons which provides its readers with all the resources they need to shop smart so they can get life’s luxuries for a lot less. Her family of 5 has saved over $11,000 a year in groceries. And you can too.
{ 95 comments… read them below or add one }
For people living in or visiting Central Florida, http://www.DineNearby.com has free printable restaurant coupons.
Where do you get the All You magazine I see referenced often as a coupon source?
you can only buy this magazine at walmart store or you can go to allyou.com to subscribe their magazine or you can also print coupons on their website for easy access on coupons.
goodluck!
From WalMart. Good articles and lots of coupons.
how to get redplum and smart source coupons in bulk
if you know any gas station managers ask them if they can pull the inserts for you from the sunday papers right before they are picked up (like 5 min before…) the inserts are not counted or even matter to the papers they just toss them before recycling them. My husband runs a 7-11 so on mondays about 3 am i go up to his store to visit my friend and i grab what inserts are left!
I do the same thing! The guy we get our papers from usually gives us more than we need! Although you have to be careful, not all owners look kindly on somebody just walking in and asking for leftover papers.
I learned the hard way, I went to my local 7-11 and asked if I could have the left over coupons for the papers. Let me just say they look he gave me was as if I asked for half his pay check
I am confused as to why you print so many off of the same one? You can only use that one once, right, not four times? I’m new and confused.
Thanks,
Marnie
You can usually print off 2 of a single coupon before the option to print it will disappear for that computer. If there are no limits on the coupon itself or the site on how many you can print, you can decide how many. Usually, stores will only take up to 4 ‘like’ coupons, so only 4 are really needed. Basically, just check the policy on the coupon itself and the coupon site. Then look at your store’s policy.
Also a newbie, but can’t you just photocopy them if you can only print 2?
Many of the coupons you print have what is called a “watermark” which is a very faint image in the background. If you photocopy the coupon the watermark will not show up so it is not a valid coupon. Think of coupons like money, you cannot photocopy money, it would be stealing.
But can’t you only use one manufacturer’s coupon per item? Do you mean for buying more than one at a time? Sorry I’m new too! New BUT determined! Thanks for all of your help!
You can only use one manufacturers coupon per item. One coupon for one item, two coupons if you buy two etc… BUT, if an item also has a store coupon, you can use the store coupon and a manufacturers coupon on the same one item. Target usually has quite a few store coupons. This is called stacking.
Good luck, and don’t feel funny about asking questions.
Marnie –
You can use the same coupon more than once, as long as you bought that many items. And check that if the item is on sale, there isn’t a limit to the number of items you can get at the sale price. Some sites will limit how many times you can print it.
Thanks for all the input and advice This is a great website
Does anyone know if the Redplum and Smartsource online sites have the same coupons as the ones in the paper? As in, say this Sunday I don’t want to buy a paper but I know there are coupons I want, can I go online and just print the ones from that Sundays paper? I’ve always wanted to know this.
hi Cindy,
I would like to know where can i get all the printable coupons that you used on you shopping of 04/25/2011. i saw that you used couple for the same product. it s great how you paid in one store less htan ten dollars and in one less then two dollars. From where did you get this coupons and not just one but couple of them
Thank you for your time
Hello. I am new to bulk couponing. I would like to stock up on toilet paper, other paper goods, and meat. Any suggestions? Thx, Tori
Hi,
I would like to know how you can get diapers, toilet, paper towwels free, anf is there something secret to the you must buy two ?
Tori –
Just a head’s up…. Since the EXTREME COUPONING show has been on TV, many stores have amended their coupon policy and won’t allow you to use more than 4 coupons for like items. I live in NJ and Shoprite has now adopted that policy, as well as not allowing more than two transactions. I loved the show, but don’t love the new restrictions for coupons.
Good luck!
here is a hint once you go out the door and then come back in it is a new shopping trip. keep a cooler in your car.
I’m just getting started, and I’m embarassed to admit, I’m a bit confused. I am trying to figure out how to start using your “match up” information, using the coupons you list with the current store sales to get great deals. When the coupon is listed as 5/1 SS, does that mean it was an insert on 5/1? So, should I save all of the inserts even if I may not find the right deal to use them on right away? Is there a way to get those old inserts that I’ve missed out on? What about the internet printable coupons – should I go ahead and print ALL of them for future use? And how often do those databases get new coupons? Wooh! That was long. Thanks in advance for helping me save $!!!
save the newspaper coupons they will always come in handy. and no don’t print all the internet coupons that will be a night mare. if you want internet coupons do an individual search for for the product coupon you want.
How can I access past inserts online?
You can purchase WHOLE past inserts on ebay. They usually only go back a few weeks.
I’ve been couponing for about 2 1/2 months now, and here’s what I know: It helps to both look through other’s websites for the match-ups (match-ups meaning matching up coupons to an item on sale, and figuring the savings) and brousing the sale papers yourself. Subscribe to some of the websites that look easiest to follow and there are some great ones out there like this one! Buy a huge binder and about 5 packs of clear baseball sleeves. I buy four to five papers every Saturday at a local grocery store (they sell the Sunday papers then). I thought that was a great suggestion earlier someone commented about scouting out someone to snag the inserts before pitching them on Sunday. Pull the inserts out and spend time on Sunday cutting them and organizing them in your binder. Also Sundays are a great time to check out the coupon websites, you can usually print two coupons per computer. (I wouldn’t print all of them like I did the first time, maybe only ones you think you’ll use, it’s up to you, but ink is crazy expensive so watch out). Create a master list the front of it to use as a map to get around it in the beginning. You’ll find your spouse will eventually want to get into the action too and start using it. It’s a lot of fun and I hope everyone enjoys it as much as me. If I can help answer questions feel free to email me, I live in NW Indiana. ~Tracy
One thing I do to save ink is to change my printer setting to draft. That is usually in the preferences area. By doing this you reduce the amount of ink used for each printing session. I use the Kodak ESP 7 so the ink is a little less expensive. Do a test print on a few coupons and make sure they scan at the store.
Another thing I found out recently is if you take your empty print cartridges to Office Depot you get a $2 credit on their loyalty card.
Does Office Depot take Kodak cartridges? I haven’t been able to find a store to take them.
I asked the guy at the desk and he said yes. I haven’t tested the theory yet as I haven’t been back. I just found out a few days ago. I will update this post and let everyone know when I do take them in.
Staples does the same thing for their loyalty members… on occasion they even have double back credits that you get at the end of the month..They accept ANY brand of ink or toner cartridges.
Great suggestions Tracy!!!! Never thought about going to stores to ask them to pull coupon inserts before throwing out. Thx for all your input!
Hi Tracy,
I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind telling me step by the actual process I need to do once I have my coupons and master grocery list. I am totally lost from there on how to do match ups and all that. I want to learn I guess the math formula you need to use to start saving.
Hey Tracy! I live in NW Indiana too!!
I’ve just started couponing so I was wondering where you have had the best luck with the best deals?
Thanks,
Emily
~I forgot to leave my email: tflynn2909@yahoo.com
I am new to this and trying to find coupons. I’ve been to several sites and It seems like every site i go to has the same coupons as every other site has, or they redirect me continuously to another link for coupons . HELP!
I just moved to a small town in Kansas, and I was wondering where I can get a paper with coupons, or how can I find out if our Sunday paper has coupon inserts in them?
I too live in a small town in upper central Pennsylvania, I buy Buffalo papers or Pittsburgh. We don’t have a local Sunday paper. We live over an hour from a Walmart and our local stores are not chains. This makes couponing more of a challenge. I hope eventually to get to a point where I drive to a bigger city once a month for groceries where I can use my coupons to better advantage.
I live in a small town in KS also. I don’t always get the coupon inserts in the local paper but I live close to KC and St. Joe so I can pick up their papers on Sunday for the coupons.
What bothers me about beginning to use coupons, and getting them from the internet sources is this—each site forces you to ‘join’. Then when you join—there are other offers- which you must ‘join’.
How can one simply get the coupon one needs without joining every site and spending hours on the computer?
I was thinking this very same thing. I wish someone would answer.
I tried a couple of those but they were not worth the hassle they really did not have very many coupons. If it has more than two pages of stuff to fill I don’t use it.
I agree also, I am new at this and already frustrated to the point of just wanting to forget it because it is not worth the time and agrivation. Must be an easier way to get coupons on line than all of these sign up and personal information that is not necessary.
Dont give up its really sooo worth the time you put into it , the first great score you make will make you want to run back out and it do it again
Personally to get my coupons I buy two papers each week, I ask all family friends and co workers for their unused inserts and I go to our newpaper recycling center ( this may not be legal in your state will need to check first) and come out like a bandit . I also print from coupons.com , smartsource and redplum only. you do have to sign up once but thats it after that you just go in mark what you want or need and print.
I am also new to couponing, but I created a separate e-mail address for my coupon websites and everytime I go to a manufacturers website, I input that e-mail address so I don’t clutter my personal e-mail. I hope this helps.
My worries are that when you sign up for each of these sites they leave cookies on your computer and watch your activity, is this true? If so, does it compromise the security of my computer and or slow it down?
Help
Do you purchase four (4) of the same newspaper every weekend?
I also live in New Jersey and right now I only receive the Star ledge & Suburban news at home.
Thank you for your site it is helpful, it make couponing real for me.
I buy ONE paper, go to the car and check what coupons are in the paper. If there are enough good ones (I have to figure in the 1.50 for the paper) then I go back in and buy 3 or 4 more papers. I don’t buy a bunch of papers every week.
I’m new to couponing my self and find all this really daunting to wade through. I do have to say that those who are getting their extra inserts by dumpster diving, having the store employee pull the inserts out or getting the extras at the recycling center are really on the edge of breaking the law. Actually the newspapers that this is happening to could also receive very heavy fines as it is in their contracts that any inserts not SOLD are to be destroyed. What they mean by being SOLD is in individual papers. You buy 1 paper you get 1 coupon insert. While everyone thinks it’s no biggie doing this it really is illegal. I should know as I work in the business and handle the coupon accounts.
That is good information, thanks.
Technically, if the papers are placed in a community recycling bin then they HAVE been purchased…just not necessarily by the person finding the coupons in the paper. What is the difference if someone doesn’t use the insert and recycles it or a family down the street gives you theirs instead of putting them in the recycling bin?
True, pulling them out when the paper hasn’t been purchased is a different issue all together.
Hello,
My dad use to deliver papers for the Daily Oklahoman. After collecting the papers that were not sold he had to cut out the header that said Daily Oklahoman. The company did not want the papers back only the headers. Therefore, the papers and the inserts are probably just trashed by the carrier.
Most of the coupon sites I go to want me to download toolbars. If I don’t I cannot access the site. How do you bypass these sites?
If its a worthwhile site I go ahead and download the toolbar then I go into my tools on my Internet program and disable it. (You can also go to add/remove programs and delete it) I use a netbook so I have a tiny screen without room for the toolbar. If I want to use the toolbar I can enable it on my tools.
I will certainly try that avenue. Thanks
I lost my job, and my husband is working insane amount of hours to keep everything running so our money is limited. I’m new at this couponing thing, and I wanted to know where to find store coupons? or what is even the difference between manufacturer coupons vs store manufacturer coupons? I usually shop at big stores (shaws or stop and shop) but they limit one manufacturer coupon per item. How does this all work, and where do I go!? Someone HELP PLEASE!!!
This site has a beginner’s page here. This will answer a lot of your questions.
Q1. Where to find coupons?
A1. There are many online sites (some listed here), but most people buy a subscription or purchase the Sunday paper from their local newspapers to get the inserts.
Q2. What is the difference between manufacturers and store coupons?
A2. Manufacturer’s coupons are given by the manufacturer and store coupons by the store. Many times, you can use both a store and a manufacturer’s coupon at the same time. However, check the store’s coupon policy because that has the last word.
Manufacturer’s coupons are only allowed one per item (also known as a purchase), so if you have a $1 off 2 items and $.50 off of 1, you should be purchasing 3 items total to be using the coupons properly. However, many stores will allow you to use up to 4 ‘like’ coupons in one purchase.
Hi, I am brand new to this as well. One thing that I have found is that some of the supermarkets I shop in refuse to take internet coupons. So how do I know who does. Thanks
Call the store and ask for their coupon policy before you go.
Some accept only 2 internet per check-out.
One I know of doesn’t take internet coupons over $1 value.
Write down their policy to save you time in the future.
Question – How do I get the P&G coupons? These are not included in the Sunday Newspapers I purchase in Central Jersey. Thanks much.
P&G coupons come in an insert in the Sunday Star-Ledger every few months. I also went to the P&G website and signed up and received a coupon booklet in the mail.
Where can i get coupons mailed to my house because at this point in time i cannot afford a printer. I already buy multiple newspapers. Thanks
e-mail manufactures.
I don’t even ask for coupons. I just tell them a product that I like and what I like about it. Most just e-mail a thank you and send me coupons. Turkey hill was the fastest!
Hi I’m new to couponing and I’m trying really hard to print coupons off the internet, but I’m not having any luck. I’m getting the run around, the sight keeps asking me to keep installing the coupon printer or java script which I did. I have not been able to print any coupons and its waisting my time and really frustrating. Do you have any suggesstions? Thanks CindyQ
p.s. I really like your sight it has the information I’ve been looking for.
I found while using the firefox browser, I had to disable my anti virus each time I wanted to print coupons, mostly from coupons.com. Google chrome prints easily, though some sites give me a pop up on that site to allow java to work. I don’t use IE, so I don’t know any hints for it!
Jackie, that is so funny because google chrome won’t let me download the coupon printer but IE does!…LOL.
I found I could only print the coupons if I used internet explorer , If I used other web browers I would always have the same problems like you are having.. Good luck
Cindy,
I used to get SmartSource insert in the mail. Last few weeks – nothing. I know I started getting it after I filled out a form online. I found the one for Redplum, but I can’t find the one for SmartSource. Do you happen to have the link?
Thanks!
Hi, I’m new to this, and I am trying to find coupons for the items that I use. When I type in a brand on the site, and it comes up in the coupon database…I can’t print it. Am I doing it wrong?? Thank you so much for your help!!
My local a&P puts the inserts from the unsold Sunday papers out for customers to take. Why not ask your store to do the same?
Does anyone buy coupons on ebay? They look like good deals but I’m wondering if it’s really worth it.
Hi Rachel! I buy coupons from ebay all the time! I get great deals too! I try to look for the ones w/ free shipping also. I’ve gotten dog food coupons, ketchup, bbq sauce, paper towels and even the hard to find VitaminWater coupons. They were a little more than I like to spend on them but I got them free from Food Lion so it was worth it!! Happy bidding!!
What newspapers do you recommend in order to get the most coupons? I just moved to my own apartment and have NO subscriptions to anything.
well i was wanting to know if there any sites that do free coupons without putting viruses on my computer?? thanks
How do you print more than one of the same coupon on the same page?
I was sent a coupon with 6 coupon on one page. I’ve been trying to figure out
how they did this. Can anyone help.?
Christine – you can also use http://www.grocerycoupons.net to have coupons mailed to your home. It’s a clipping service, and they have more coupons than a lot of sites I’ve seen!
Hello!
I hope someone can help me out with a question that I have.
When I hear other couponers saying they used a target coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon I’m very confused because when i print out a coupon from the Target website, it says ‘manufacturer’s coupon’ on the top of it.
How is this possible?
also, I find that many coupon websites cycle the same coupons (i.e.: redplum will have a $1/1 product X and coupon.com with have the same $1/1 for product X)
Does this mean I can use both coupons in the same transaction if i purchase 2 of product X?
Jayne, Some Target coupons are store coupons specifically & others are manufacturer coupons. Only the ones that are Target coupons (and say so on the top) can be stacked with manufacturer coupons in the store.
Hi im new to couponing and really need to coupon to help my elderly parents on afixed income. we dont have a computor or printer . i just have a cell phone with internet . my ? is how can i get more then the sunday inserts without haveing a computor to get more savings. I am despert to help my family save money ! We live in a town of about a thousand people were the nearst other town is anywhere from 65-85 to nearst library or name brand grocery store. Please help me find coupons that can be sent by the old fashioned way through the mail. thank you soo much !
hi I just started looking into couponing, but all the inserts Ive found say 1 per visit or 1 per purchase so am I getting different inserts then people buying like a hundred of 1 item at a time??? and how do i know if the coupons double or not? so confused..
i try to use shopathome site and type in a coupon and i never get it. i want some jello temptations coupons
I live in the northern nj area and I was wondering what other newspapers besides the star ledger I should subscribe to to get coupons. Thanks!
I know it’s convenient for everyone to exchange ideas about extreme couponing on the internet but I’m also getting the neighborhood together to come over and trade. I haven’t actually started yet but the list of people are coordinating a good day for all. Looks like a coupon party coming soon!!! Yahoo!
I live in CT and noticed for the most part that the coupons in my Region are not usually .75 of 1; instead most of my coupons are 1.00 of 2, which makes it harder to see savings. What is the best way to go about finding the coupons that are been announced on this site, which are usually the good ones ie: .75 of 1. Thanks.
I actually started a business from couponing. I use a lot of coupons on a daily basis shopping for my customers. I look for the higher value coupons on eBay. The prices are low, the shipping is usually free and it is the best way to get different value coupons and also you can really build your stock pile if you have for example 20 coupons of one item. I buy between 40-50 papers a week but if there is a great deal on one item, I will buy that specific coupon on eBay.
I’m new to this too. Will there be an insert in the Sunday paper every week? For example, last Sunday I bought several papers and they had the P&G insert but no Redplum or SmartSource. Should I be looking for different papers, or doesn’t Redplum put out an insert every week? I hope this question makes sense!
Has anyone tried to go thru the coupon clipping services along with buying newspapers? I live in New York City and would appreciate where are there coupon clipping services here.
I just started using e-bay as a source for coupons, It let’s me get multiples of the one’s I want already clipped.I recieve my store flyers on Thursday,purchase the coupons that night and have them by Monday or Tuesday leaving enough time for multiple trips if needed.
Where can I get coupons for ground turkey, pork chops, chicken and other meats?
I am new to all this but am very interested in it! I am addicted to the show extreme couponing.. But everytime I print off or cut one out of the paper the coupon always says, limit 1 per a transaction per an item! So how are they getting stuff for free? And also, how are they using some many on 1 transaction! I live in jackson, tn. If that helps! Thanks ahead!
Limit 1 per transaction per item, that means only one coupon can be used for each item purchased. Meaning if you have 4 $.50 cent coupons for Carefree liners, you may purchase 4 Carefree panty liners and use 4 coupons (one coupon per item per transaction). If the panty liners are on sale for $0.99 and your store will double your coupons…then the pantyliners are FREE!
Know your stores “coupon policy”, all stores vary with policies and prices. Use your stores “weekly ad” to watch for sales, then look for coupons to “matchup” with the sales. Hope that Helps!! Also, study everything on this site. It takes a while to understand everything, but hang in there it is well worth the effort and headaches, and learn how to look back for answers to your questions. Many people here are very friendly and will try to help you out. Good Luck!!
Unfortunately, because of the interest from the extreme coupon show, the stores are “cracking down” on coupon use. I really don’t understand why there is a problem with using coupons at the grocery store. Don’t they get paid by the company that a coupon is used from? I was at Shoprite tonight and they told me that you can only use four of a like coupon and that they are now limiting the number of transactions you can have to two. Really? I shop for several seniors as well as my family. Really not fair!
The target coupon page never loads for me. Is anyone else having this problem? Is there any other way to get target coupons?
once I create my shopping list with the items that are on sale and are denoted in red as having a coupon, how do I print just those coupons?