Where can one find coupons? Perhaps the most popular initial source for coupons is the Sunday newspaper. Hint: Generally speaking, the larger the circulation of the newspaper, the more coupons will be tucked within its pages. Some couponing experts recommend buying one Sunday newspaper for each family member; that is, if you belong to a family of four, you’d buy four Sunday newspapers using this rule of thumb.
Sometimes there are deals allowing you to buy two newspapers – a double pack – at a discount.
Another wonderful yet often overlooked source of coupons is the Internet; there are more downloadable/ printable coupons than you could imagine! One must merely know where to go – and possess a functioning printer. You will find Internet coupons galore on some of the sites listed on this Nashville couponing blog as resources. I also suggest using Google liberally, especially for local stores and retail outlets.
Some folks choose to use a coupon clipping service. Please educate yourself on coupon clipping before you commit.
Brick-and-mortar stores are another source of coupons.
More about Sunday newspaper subscriptions
One of the most common questions is whether or not one should incur the expense of a newspaper subscription. The resounding answer is a hearty YES! (Although this answer technically depends on the price of your local Sunday paper, we have found this to be true almost everywhere in the United States.) Despite the ubiquitous availability of printable coupons online, the local Sunday newspaper typically provides an impressive array of different coupons – not to mention so many more coupons than one could reasonably take the time to locate online and then print, using up that expensive printer ink. Why not sign up for a Sunday-only newspaper subscription?
Chances are great that even a new couponer can easily save more on the very first couponing grocery trip than the new couponer paid for a Sunday-only monthly newspaper subscription. Once new couponers realize how much can be saved by using Sunday papers, they almost always upgrade their local newspaper subscription to receive multiple copies of the Sunday paper.
With this load of coupons in the hands of the thrifty and educated, one can stock up on those standard household items that are extremely cheap (or sometimes even free). By purchasing a few of the same items ahead of time, you virtually eliminate your chances of ever having to make an unscheduled run to the store and pay full retail price – if you were ever to actually run out of the given item (not likely for the organized couponer)!
For new couponers
It often takes around two or three months of active couponing for beginning couponers to learn the ropes. After this newbie phase, couponers will begin to feel comfortable taking advantage of coupons, talking to store managers about maximizing coupon use at their stores, and so on. New couponers will probably feel the eyes of non-couponers and store employees at first, but don’t worry; just keep couponing, knowing that you are a traveler on the road to saving some serious cash.