The first step in couponing should be obvious. You need coupons. The Sunday paper is one of the best ways, but there are also numerous websites where you can print up to 2 of each coupon per computer. I will list a few later. There are several coupon inserts that come each week. The two most regular are SmartSource and RedPlum. About once a month there will be a Proctor and Gamble insert and even more seldom will be a special untitled one. Also in each paper, come the store ads for all the drug stores, super stores, sporting goods stores, special weekend grocery ads, appliance stores, etc.
As to which Sunday paper to get, it varies by region. Here in the Inland Empire, we have lots of options. We can get just about any paper from San Diego to LA. My personal favorite is the Press Enterprise. I have found that the SD Union Tribune doesn't have the Red Plum insert, because San Diego areas send that one out by mail instead. The LA Times has some great coupons, but they don't have all the store ads for this area. The Press Enterprise seems to have everything I need, but you should look at each one and decide what is best for you. You should ideally get 1 paper per person in your household, but if not that, at least get 2. Most good deals involve buying two of something, so it's nice to have at least 2 copies of each coupon.
You can either sign up for home delivery, or you can purchase your paper at the store. The Dollar Tree off Cal Oaks has Press Enterprise for $1 but you need to get there before 10:30 or they will be gone. Any time you see the guys outside the grocery store selling subscriptions, go ahead and sign up for however long they are offering it free, just remember to cancel when it's over. Press Enterprise has a really good deal where you can get a whole year of Sunday only for $13. That's like .25 per paper! I get 2 delivered at that price and if it is a GREAT week for coupons, I will go buy a couple more at the dollar store. But you have to see what is available in your area. Don't cringe at the cost of papers, you will make it all back. I promise. Also, let your friends and family know you are doing this and some of them will probably save their coupons for you. I have a wonderful aunt and Grandma who save me theirs and often times, I get better coupons because they live in a different region than I do.
I will give some of the main coupon websites here, but there are a LOT out there.
www.coupons.com
www.smartsource.com
www.redplum.com
www.target.com/coupons
These websites all require you to download a small add on before you can print coupons. It is not malicious or a virus, it just restricts your computer from printing unlimited coupons. Usually, it lets you print two. Most sites print three coupons to a page, so if I NEED one coupon, I will go ahead and pick 2 others that I might use, just so I don't use a whole page on 1. Or, you can reload the paper into the printer upside down and backward and print on it again. If you are concerned about the cost of paper, don't be. Once you start couponing, you can get it cheap. I've been doing this over a year and have used maybe a ream and a half for ALL my printing, not just coupons. Last time, I paid $.99 a ream. Also, set your printer to the cheapest black and white setting to save ink. As long as the barcode scans, it doesn't have to look pretty. Also, NEVER copy a coupon. It is fraud and it ruins couponing for the honest people. It's like counterfeiting money and the store will NOT be reimbursed.
Just a side note here, don't ever be afraid of hurting the store by using coupons, no matter how some cashiers treat you. It may look like you are walking out with stuff you didn't pay for, but each of those coupons will be reimbursed for the FULL face value PLUS 8 cents handling, so they actually make MORE money when you use coupons. You can explain that to snippy cashiers if you want, but I don't recommend it. Just smile and avoid that cashier in the future.
So, collect collect collect!! That is the first step! Easy enough. We'll talk about organization next.
