Couponing for Beginners-Volume One (What you'll need to start couponing)

I don't want to overwhelm everyone with one note containing all the different information, so I'm going to split it up over a few notes. :)

When I started couponing I was very discouraged because I didn't educate myself about different stores and their different coupon policies. My first round of couponing started at Safeway, and when I was told incorrect information (that they didn't accept internet printable coupons) I gave up. You will find coupon policies that you can print out and carry with you at krazy coupon lady's website I have listed below. It can be really discouraging and confusing if you are just starting out, but thanks to the tons of websites that are now out there, I decided to give it another go. This time has been much more fun and much more successful.

First of all, let me list websites that will help you a TON. If you want to save serious money, you should definitely have access to the internet. :) www.hip2save.com and www.thekrazycouponlady.com

are sites I visit everyday. You can usually also find sites that are specific to your area too to help you save on museum trips and local store shopping trips, but those are the sites that cover mostly nationwide deals and list printable coupons that come out all the time.

Printable coupons make up half or more of the coupons in my binder and organizer. I spend pretty much at least an hour at the beginning of every week looking over the coupon directory at krazycouponlady.com to see what printable coupons are new or I don't have yet. A printer is also necessary if you want to save money. I got mine for $50 at WalMart. Mine is a Canon. If I could go back and buy a different one I would buy one that takes cartridges you can refill. I don't buy colored ink for my printer. I print coupons and word documents, so all I need for my printer is black ink. I always print in black and white. Walgreens has a program where you can refill your printer cartridges for $12.99 regularly, which is four dollars off what I pay for my black ink cartridges. There are also often coupons for ink refills for $9.99. They do not refill Canon cartridges. Usually I try to do some sort of Target deal where I buy something I need and get gift cards back (I'll talk about this in another note) and then I use the gift card to help with the purchase price of ink cartridges. To be honest, I save so much that the cartridge pays for itself five times over or more before I have to buy another one. It's definitely worth it. Even if you cannot refill the cartridges for your printer, there are rewards programs through Staples and Office Depot where you can go recycle the ink cartridges and get $3 back per cartridge. That can also help offset ink costs. I use the rewards programs at Staples. :)