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I don’t know about you, but I love saving money. I’m the person that goes straight to the sale section as soon as I enter the store and I search for coupon codes before purchasing anything, so why wouldn’t I coupon for in-store savings? Couponing is a hobby at this point.

I look forward to my couponing Mondays! I wouldn’t call myself a pro yet, but I think I’ve learned enough not to have too many hiccups. Couponing can be stressful and nerve-wracking, so I’m here to give you some tips on how to coupon for beginners.

Also check out: How to save money on your next vacation

How to Coupon for Beginners

Tip #1: Plan Plan Plan

Planning is crucial to having a smooth couponing trip. People are not frustrated that you’re using coupons. People are frustrated because you’re unorganized and using coupons. I always plan the day before. Making sure I write down everything that I want to get along with the purchase price and the coupon amount and the total minus the coupon. I then place the sum of my entire trip at the bottom so I know what my total should be. This way I can tell if something went wrong or if the cashier didn’t scan a coupon. I go to the store and only get the things on my list. If I need to get other things on my list, I ring them up in separate transactions.

Tip #2: Read Everything

Read the coupon expiration, the coupon rules, and the store coupon policy before going. This will prevent any confusion when you’re checking out. Knowledge is key! Different coupons have different rules. READ THE FINE PRINT! Check out this website for a breakdown on coupon fine print.

Tip #3: Let someone else plan for you

When I first started couponing, I would follow a pros couponing list until I became comfortable doing my own. I still use them to this day. My favorites are

Krazy Coupon Lady- Makes it super easy to coupon because they give you the item amount, the coupons you should use, and how much your total should be after. And they separate the deals by the store!

CVS circular- CVS is my favorite store to coupon at because of their Extra Bucks! Do you know those extremely long receipts that you throw away? Those contain beneficial coupons at the bottom that you can combine with manufacturer coupons. And their circular usually tell you their sale and what manufacture coupons can be combined with the sale.

Youtube: Search for a Youtuber in your area that makes couponing videos. This way the prices will be more accurate, and they have more knowledge about the specific stores in your area.

Tip #4: Coupons are everywhere

get coupons from a lot of different places. I always get a Sunday paper because they have the best selection of coupons. Make sure to check the circular calendar before purchasing because sometimes they will skip a Sunday. Coupons.com and PGeveryday are also useful resources for printable coupons. If you’re looking for a coupon for a particular product, make sure to check the manufactures website. They sometimes have a coupon section.

Tip #5: Be Patient

Don’t try to be an extreme couponer in the beginning. Start small until you get the hang of it. And don’t buy things you don’t need or use just because its cheap. That defeats the purpose of couponing which is to save money. Use your coupons with confidence! Don’t let anyone make you feel less than, cheap, or embarrassed for using coupons. They should be ashamed for paying full price!