Double Coupons

One thing I didn't see others mention is combining coupons with sales. I usually shop at Albertsons and I wait for the sale before I use coupons on many of the items. I also use generic and store brands. I try them out and if I ike them as well i get them again. Often they re cheaper than big brands even with coupons. Even some of the health food stores have coupons. Cream of the Crop in Oceanside sends coupons via the internet once you sign up. and don't forget local farmers markets for good quality fresh food.

Here are the two sites that I like the best..and both are free!

www.mommysavers.com Lots of good tips on couponing, saving on bills, investing, recipes, etc. You can even get on a few coupon trains where you trade coupons with other Moms. I am SandraK on there, so give me a shout when you check it out. I have gotten so much awesome advice and tips from the other Moms there.

www.couponmom.com. Similar to the Grocery Game, but FREE! FYI: You can try the Grocery Game for 1 month for $1. Compare these two sites and then go with the one you like best, that's what I did and I chose couponmom.

I basically use just the coupons I cut from the paper also but there are several internet sites you can check out. Advice from Reader's Digest is Dealcatcher.com. From a newsletter called Bottom Line --- CoolSavings.com, SmartSource.com and Valupage.com. They are free sites, but most require registration. I also read somewhere that if you want to use these internet sources that you might want to sign up for a free email service such as hotmail, google, etc. that you use exclusively for coupon sites, that way if they sell your email address the junk/advertisements are limited to that email address and won't fill up your regular email.

If you really want to be a pro using coupons check out www.weusecoupons.com - It's a FREE website with people just like you and me wanting to save money. They have a seperate forum for every store along with coupon policies, weekly ads- with matching coupon lists-, there's even a place to swap coupons with other members. If you need any help figuring the site out you can message me on there, my handle is chunkymonkeesmommy.
The absolute BEST place for double coupons lately is Kmart. One week out of the month they double ALL coupons up to and including $2 - There's a ton of stuff you can get for free or just pennies on the dollar! You should check out pics of my garage lol I'll never need another bottle of shampoo or body wash again!

I'm with jane. Check out thegrocerygame.com. I believe the first month only costs a dollar, so you're really out nothing if you decide you don't like it. After that I think it's $10 every 8 weeks. I've been a subscriber for several years now and I save on average 30-60% on my groceries! The first time I used the list I got over $350 worth of groceries (two carts full) for around $160! Some weeks are better than others, but the list helps you use your coupons when the item is on sale to maximize your savings!

Here are some features about the list that make it really easy to use:
1. It ues the same coupons you're clipping from the Sunday paper
2. You decide which store you like to shop at, and it generates a list for that store, no driving around town hunting down a deal.
3. The list is ordered in the same order as the actual grocery store aisles, so you start at one end and zip right through, no backtracking.
4. You can check off the items you will purchase on your computer and print a list that is tailored to your needs.
5. The list is color coded so you can see at a glance what the great deals are. Black means only buy if you need it. It's usually a coupon that's about to expire or an item that's not usually on sale. Blue are the best savings for stockpiling, and green items are free! (since I've started using the list I haven't paid for toothpaste or deoderant, they routinely pop up as free items!)
6. The list prints the items that are in the current paper in all caps so you don't waste time looking though your file of old coupons for new deals.

Using the list, I have tried a lot of brands that I normally would have passed by, some have been great, others not my favorite, but when a box of cereal is 50¢, you sprinkle some sugar on it and get over it even if it's not all that wonderful. With practice the list can save you time. once your coupons are organized and you're used to the system, you can usually make your list, clip coupons, and shop in under 2 hours.

I hope you'll give it a try! It's fun and easy and I save a TON on groceries!
S.

My friend, Leah, started this great blog about coupons. She's really using her buying power! Her blog is at www.westcoastcents.blogspot.com. Happy (Discount!) Shopping!

I don't know about double coupons, but I would like to say that i really like coupons.com and if you check the website of the store you shop at often times there are coupons on there. :)

Look at the blog at thebudgeteer.blogspot.com
This lady has amazing tips on how to save money and use the coupons.

I signed up with survivingthestores.com and they have a great explanation of all the "deals" and how to use the coupons at various stores. She even shows deals that are on sale, use a coupon and get it for free. Take a peek!

Check out grocerygame.com! You cut coupons every Sunday and shop Sunday - Tuesday. It tells you what to stock up on which weeks. My friend is saving TONS of money. Well-worth the extra hour it takes on Sunday to clip the coupons and figure out what to buy that week.. Good Luck!

Hello K.,
I used to cut coupons and carry them with me everywhere I go for the extra savings. Not anymore. Now I shop at a store where I save...without using coupons! Who has time to search for coupons, cut, and sort them by expiration, etc. If you want to know the name of the store i'll be more than happy to share it with you.

Hi K.!

You can always try the internet. Try going to your store (ie Albertsons.com) and see if they offer coupons you can print. I get the mailers on Tuesdays from Albertson's, Vons and Ralphs and I check each one for deals and sometimes they have special coupons. Then, I go to each store for whatever I need and it is a deal. YOu can find a lot of things cheaper at Target.

Good Luck!
M.

FYI: Trader Joe's has great prices, very good quality and variety (many organic items too) and last time I checked they took coupons. With the types of items we buy regularly (breads produce, cereal, vitamins, etc.) I save more time & $ shopping there than running around town looking for deals.

I am interested in following this as I would also love information on coupons. I do know that a lot of places will still accept expired coupons, so don't necessarily throw them away. Especially if it is a very recent expire date. Either ask your store manager what their policy is, or just try using one and see what happens. As for double coupons it is my understanding that the store has a day where they double them. Call the stores you frequent to ask about that.

I am a coupon lover myself. I don't do "grocery game" though, not worth it for something you could really do yourself if you were organized enough, since we get every single grocery store's ads in the mailbox every other day (at least I do).

Vons and Ralphs both double your (manufacturer) coupons any day... but only up to $1, so a $1 off coupon will not get doubled... a .55 off coupon will only double up to a dollar, not $1.10, thats pretty much how it goes.

I do not know about Stater Brothers or Albertsons or any others... I just stick to Vons and Ralphs.