Couponing is all about buying a lot of one product (stockpiling) at it's rock bottom price so that you don't ever have to pay regular price for it when you need it. In the long run, stockpiling saves you a TON of money and you will find that your weekly grocery runs will be only for perishable items such as produce and dairy. It took me around 3 months to accumulate a decent stockpile of groceries, household items, and personal care items. And what you do with your stockpile is up to you. Some people are able to accumulate enough extras to give away to friends, relatives, non-profit social service organizations, or local shelters. So not only are you cutting down on your spending, but are able to help others out as well. Seems like a double bonus to me!
Getting Started:
The hardest part of couponing is getting started. There is a lot to know (where to find coupons, organization, understanding abbreviations, sales cycles, drugstore rebate programs, etc.) but once you get a hang of it, the process is much easier. Below you will find a few guides from my favorite bloggers on how to get started. Take note, you may be overwhelmed by all the information, but it's really not that bad once you start understanding it all. And you also don't have to take every single suggestion. Just pick and choose what you think will work for you and what you have time for.
http://www.southernsavers.com/getting-started-guides/
http://www.frugalcouponliving.com/category/beginners/
http://myfrugaladventures.com/where-to-begin/
2 comments:
Thanks for posting this Kristin! I can't wait to get started with couponing!!!
This is awesome. My grandparents have always been like this-- so when we were growing up, we'd go "shopping" in their basement for household items and non-perishables. It's a great way to save money and, as you said, help out the rest of your fam, friends, and have stuff to give away to non-profits, shelters, etc.
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