Couponing for Extreme Beginners

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I got a few messages asking for more tips/tricks for actual couponing virgins, so I threw together a few ideas and I hope these help. Feel free to email me any time or leave a comment if you have questions. If this info is too basic, check out my couponing series (week 1, 2, 3).

This will all be kind of scattered, as I am thinking of these as I type.

*If something is on sale for 10 for $10, you don't have to buy 10 to get the sale price unless it specifically says so (which is rare). When I first discovered a Schnucks (they do 10/$10 a lot), I thought you had to buy all 10. I ended up buying 10 jell-o's, 10 two-liter sodas, etc etc. My roommates laughed at me when I got back home and was complaining about having to buy 10 to "get such a good deal". Just buy 1 and it's $1. 2 and it's $2. You get the concept. :)

*Find out if your store doubles coupons. If they do, find out the maximum value they will double for. Most stores will only double up to a dollar.

*I don't use abbreviations or acronyms when talking about coupons, but some folks do. This site breaks it down for you.

*Visit your store online and find their coupon policy. Print it out and carry it with you in your coupon binder every time you visit. If you have any problems, or questions, you can easily refer to it because it will be in the back of your binder (use a sheet protector). (Wal-Mart's NEW coupon policy - 4/2011 - is here.)

*Make sure your store takes internet coupons before you go crazy and print 872389473 of them. Many stores do not.

*Ask for rain checks. Many stores will offer rain checks if they are out of the items you are after. If there is a great sale going on, and you have coupons, you want a rain check. Just hope the coupons don't expire before they fulfill the check. :) On the flip side, a rain check allows you some extra time to come up with more coupons to use!

*It is usually a better deal to buy the smaller size. The larger size will be cheaper with a coupon but sometimes the smaller size is free!

*Get coupons! Besides the newspaper, you can check my past posts... or visit these sites to sign up for mailings: Baby coupons, General coupons

*Pictures of other coupon binders and organizers can be found here.

*Sometimes being a suck up pays off. Contact the company and give them positive feedback, and they will send you coupons and/or free stuff. Extensive list of companies and numbers.

*This part isn't quite about couponing but it will save money. Organize your grocery list by the part in the store the items are in. For example, if aisle one has bread and snack cakes, you would write them next to each other on the list.

*And, just for kicks, in case you want to go all 'extreme' couponing on me... your very own dumpster diving tool kit. No, I'm serious. Click it.

I know this is simple stuff for some of us, but I was asked to go back to the verrrrrrry basics. So I hope this helped. Add your tips to the comments!