Coupons 101
Are you new to couponing? I know it can be overwhelming and I’m here to help!
I recommend you start with my coupon lessons! Work your way lesson-by-lesson, or just jump to the post that strikes your fancy.
The NEW Coupon Lessons!
I started the process of re-writing these lessons in October 2012. I still have a few more I need to write and I hope to complete this series by January 31, 2013. Stay tuned.
- Introduction
- Your New Approach to Grocery Shopping
- Stockpiling & Food Inventory
- Understanding Store Sales Cycles
- Understanding How Coupons Work
- Maximizing the Power of your Coupons
- Putting Together Coupon Scenarios
- Keeping Your Coupons Organized
- Finding Deals
- Checking Out Without Losing Your Mind
- Putting Together a Coupon Routine
Coupon Lessons – October 2010
These lessons were published in October 2010. While they still contain helpful information, I’d direct you to the revised ones above.
Lesson One: Rethinking How and Why You Shop
Lesson Two: How to (and how not to) Stockpile
Lesson Three: Getting to Know your Sunday Paper
Lesson Four (A): Finding Store Coupons
Lesson Four (B): Finding Manufacturer’s Coupons
Lesson Five: Let’s get Organized, Organized
Lesson Six: I Spy with My Little Eye…a Smashing Good Deal?
Lesson Seven: Deal or No Deal?
Lesson Eight: Planning Your Meals and Trips
Lesson Nine: Simple Grocery Shopping Strategies
Lesson Ten: Getting Items you Need for Cheap
Lesson Eleven: Rebate me this, Rebate me that…
Lesson Twelve: The ABC’s of Couponese
Lesson Thirteen: The Rules of the Coupon Road
Lesson Fourteen: Be Nice, not Obnoxious
Lesson Fifteen: Ideas for Generosity
Webcasts & Videos
Visit my webcast page if you prefer to learn by watching me teach! I also have short YouTube videos you can watch if you’re short on time. Both webcasts and videos cover a range of topics including how to find and organize coupons, how to stockpile, coupon ethics, and more.
Posts by Category
I write. A lot. Here are some of the posts that may help you in your coupon journey.
For Coupon Newbies
Four secrets to couponing success
“I can’t do it like extreme couponing.”
Stockpiling
Starting a stockpile from the ground up
Is it wrong to stockpile, or should you donate it all?
Shouldn’t you donate all those items you’re getting?
Stocking up for the “big storm”
10 stockpile items I always keep on hand
Reader stockpile photos (and more, more, more, and more photos!)
Organizing your First Aid stockpile
Organizing your Food stockpile (with inventory download)
For more, see my Stockpiling Category
Frugality
Use your newspapers as landscaping mulch
I won’t judge you if you don’t use coupons
How Bountiful Baskets works (and more and more on this topic)
Eat your Weeds for Free Organic Greens
Drugstore Shopping
Rite Aid Shopping 101 Page (UPDATED June 2012)
Walgreens Shopping 101 Page (NEW June 2012)
How to be successful with Walgreens Register Rewards
How Walgreens & Rite Aid Ads Illustrate Coupon Acceptance
What is a filler item and why do I need one?
Grocery Store Shopping
Making sense of coupon matchup posts
How to shop savvy on ANY diet (gluten-free, foodie, vegan, organic, etc.)
Planning a killer “Mix & Match” promotion trip
How Albertsons Double Coupons Work
Finding Frugal Blogs to Follow
Finding your store’s “hot spots”
Why & How to Diversify your Savings Strategy
The Checkout Experience
Five Reasons to Stop Flying Under the Radar
Giving Our Cashiers and Stores More Credit
How do you get over bad shopping experiences?
Stresses of Couponing: Checkout Snafus and Tips for Avoiding them (written for Allyou.com)
Coupon Ethics & Considerations
My thoughts on Dumpster Diving (and more thoughts)
Can you stack a B1G1 and a cents-off coupon?
My thoughts on buying & selling coupons
My thoughts on entering zip codes for printable coupons (2010)
MORE thoughts on zip codes & printable coupons (NEW for 2012)
My personal Coupon Ethics stance
Is it OK to beat someone up in a store?
Is it OK to take advantage of a store’s error?
What if there was a coupon apocalypse?
Online Shopping Tips
How Ebates and Shop at Home Cash Back Sites Work
Not All Daily Deals are Created Equal!
Avoid these scams happening on Facebook!
Using Google Reader to keep tabs on your favorite blogs
Frugal Adventures (And misadventures, too)
The time we went to Disneyland
The time we went to the Puyallup Fair
The time we went to the doughnut shop
My progress making bread by hand
The time we went to Pioneer Farm
The time I made butter and broke out in a rash
Popular Recipes
Freezer Potato Recipes (guest post)
For more, see my Recipes Category
Gardening
For more, see my Gardening Category
Just for a Laugh
Celebrity Couponers Apprentice
Crafting hour: making homemade menus
Cleaning my fridge like Martha Stewart never would
For more like this, see my humor category
Guest Posts
I’ve been honored to have written for number of prominent deal and coupon blogs. Check it out:
Freezer Batch “Swap” Cooking (for Hip2Save)
Rekindling your Romance with Coupons (for Hip2Save)
Five Steps to Building a Better Stockpile (for Thrifty NW Mom)
Five Mistakes I Made as a Newbie Couponer (for Common Sense with Money)
Four Steps to Creating your Grocery Saving Goals (for Deal Seeking Mom)
Ways to Save Time & Money (for Hip2Save)
Understanding Walgreens Register Rewards, Part I (for Steals & Deals)
Understanding Walgreens Register Rewards, Part II (for Steals & Deals)
Handling Criticism and Unwanted Comments (for Savvy Blogging - blog-related post)
Extreme Couponing and the Condition of my Heart (for Pop Parables)
Going Vegan on a Budget (for Money Saving Mom)
Involving Young Children in your Homemaking Activities (for Common Sense Homesteading)
If you ever have questions for me, please email me at angela @ thecouponproject dot com
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