Beginner Couponing: How to Start Saving Money Today

Are you new to couponing? You've come to the right place! Grocery Coupon Network is here to help you get up to speed and start saving like an expert in no time!

Let's save some money together!

Coupon Bootcamp

The Basics
The Lingo
Where to Begin?

The Basics

Coupons are classified into two basic categories:

Manufacturer and Brand Coupons

Manufacturer coupons are a great way to save money on groceries and brand name products. Some examples of brands that have great coupons include:

We offer these kind of brand-related coupons all the time. So be sure to check in with GCN before you go out on your next shopping trip.

You can also find these coupons in local and national newspapers (as “inserts”), direct-mailers when you sign up with the brand's website for mailings, coupons in magazines, package inserts, through surveys, mail-in forms, and often accompany samples that you receive in the mail.

When used right, manufacturer coupons can literally save you hundreds dollars.

Want to know the big way to save? Manufacturer coupons can usually be used in conjunction with in-store coupons on the same product adding additional savings.

Store and Retailer Coupons

Retailer or "store" coupons work similar to manufacturer coupons and are a great way to save money. We have entire sections of the site dedicated to finding coupons and sales at your favorite stores, which include:

and many more national and local stores! Just search here to find your favorite store.

Retailers also usually post deals and special offers online or in their store newspaper ads, direct mail, or in local newsletters.

Be sure and keep your eyes out for retailer coupons around special events and holidays. During these times, you can really take advantage of in-store deals.

Where Can I Find These Coupons?

Online Printable Coupons – Online printable coupons can be found in our coupon gallery
Sunday Paper Inserts
In-Store Circulars:
- Catalina - coupon on back of store receipt or printed after receipt
- Blinkie or Tear Pad Coupons – coupon from a small blinkie machine or pad -
- Peelie – a coupon that is pulled from the actual product
Mailers – coupons from retailers or manufacturers that arrive in the mail

The Lingo

Abbreviations used across our site and in the couponing community:

P&G = Proctor and Gamble
SS = Smart Source
RP = Red Plum

For example: $2/1 One A Day Vitamin Product, exp. 12/31/11 (RP 12/04/11). This coupon is in the Red Plum insert from 12/4/11

$1/1 or $1/2 = $1 off 1 item; $1 off 2 items, etc.
2/$4, etc = two items for $4
BOGO, B1G1, B2G1, etc. = indicates Buy One, Get One Free, if it's different than that, should specify.

For example: B1G1 1/2 off would be Buy One, Get One Half off

ECBs = Extra Care Bucks from CVS
EP = Everyday Price
Exp. = Expires
GC = Gift Card
MIR = Mail in Rebate
NLA = No Longer Available
OYNO (my fave!) = On Your Next Order
OOP =Out of pocket (often used in a RR or ECB scenario)
RR = Register Rewards from Walgreens
Stacking = Using a manufacturers and store coupon together
WYB = When You Buy. For example: Save $3 wyb 2

How Do I Begin Couponing?

Couponing can save you a lot of money, and if you start small, you can keep your sanity too!

Many people start couponing and soon give up because they feel overwhelmed with clipping coupons, sorting, finding sales and getting stressed because they don't know if a price is a 'good price' or a 'great price'.

So take baby steps and keep it fun.

Step 1 - Start tracking prices of your regular items.

You will see sales for the same product at lots of price points, and you will soon learn what's a great sale price, typically 50% of the regular shelf price.

Step 2 - Get coupons!

Here's where to find coupons:

Sunday Inserts - 2+ copies if you can
Grocery Coupon Network.com - printable coupons
Facebook deals offered by your favorite brands
Blinkies, Peelies, Catalinas found at the store
Swap with your friends!

Step 3 - Organize your coupons

Ask yourself these questions when going through your coupons:

What should you save or clip?
Is it a product your family will use?
If it was free or almost free, would you use it?
Could you donate it to a food pantry or animal shelter?
Clip coupons you know you will use on products you regularly buy
Save coupon inserts, write date of insert with a Sharpie on cover. You can then refer to these inserts, like when grocery coupon network posts a deal.

Step 4 - Pick one store to start with

When starting couponing, start with the store you shop at most frequently for groceries. Once you get a hang of their policies and deals, you can branch out to other stores.

Print, read and save the store's coupon policy
Sign up for emails, club cards, etc
Look at that stores weekly ads and online for sales, coupons and offers
Match your manufacturer and store coupons with store sales. (see coupon stacking video for more info)
Don't be brand loyal - Your couponing possibilities are much greater when you are willing to switch brands with a sale.
Go to the GroceryCouponNetwork website often for sales and coupon matchups.
Pay attention to size restrictions - if there are no restrictions, you can often find travel sizes for little $ or free.

Step 5 - Plan your trip and stick to your plan

Clip or pull coupons you are going to use and put in envelope
Write down prices and sizes of products or circle in ad.
Bring the store's ad and coupon policy with you (sometimes checkout folks aren't familiar with the stores actual policies - such as whether the store accepts double coupons or not)
Give yourself enough time, don't rush
When you feel confident, branch out to another store and repeat
Have fun, don't stress!
Do the best you can and every week you will learn something new
Don't get freaked out about what you could have done better
Every coupon you use is money saved!