So many Questions!

I am amazed at the questions and the yearning about what people want to know about couponing, internet sales, and free or money maker items. It just goes to show how our slow economy has affected everyone and people are out looking for the best deals they can find.

One question I got on Facebook was "how did I find Amazon auctions?" Well, like I stated in an earlier post, if you have a Facebook account join every couponing page or group on there. If you don't have a Facebook account, then I will post a few so you can get an idea. There are so many coupon sites to mention, but just type in "coupon", "frugal" or "saving money" in your search engine bar and they will pop up. I have several adds here on my blog, also that you can click on to to help you out. I have to say that Super Coupon Lady is my favorite site right now.

http://www.supercouponlady.com/

http://coupon-wizards.com/

This Blog is Going to Take a Turn...In a BIG WAY!

I started this blog off to try to help everyone in our small community to shop and save at local businesses. Now, with the recession loaming larger, and couponing becoming a necessity, I find myself having to go farther to get the best deals. Even though the nearest variety of food markets are only 30 miles away, sometimes it makes it worth the trip to save money or to get FREE items or make money, yes I said make money, on a shopping trip (we will get into that a little later on)

One thing that I have learned since my last entry is that Ebay can have the best deals on coupon inserts. In the last 3 weeks, I have gotten 30 current Red Plum and Smart Source coupon inserts that you would normally find in the Sunday papers for less than $12.00. Just imagine how much it would have cost if I had bought the newspapers. I was just watching "Extreme Couponing" and one lady bought 30 papers each Sunday just to get the coupons. I find that quite insane!

Not many people realize that the state of Maryland does not have sales tax on food items...that's saving right there. Now, we come to the part where we make money off of items. Walmart is an excellent example for the money makers...this may look like a small amount, but it will add up as you learn how find the deals and put them into action. One of my favorite sites out there that really does the leg work for you is http://www.supercouponlady.com/ Here's one that came out last week...Buy (2) Schick 12-Count Razors, $1.97 each Use (1) $6.00/2 Schick Disposable Razors (Excludes 2 Count) the final cost is FREE + $2.06 overage! There are tons of these types of money making deals, and that my friend's is the way that you can get free or make money off of items AND what they don't tell you on the Extreme Couponing show. The key to all this is to search, read, and join as many sites as you can. Also, make sure that you have a specific email address just for your couponing memberships. AND the biggest cardinal rule is NEVER pay to join a coupon site OR pay for internet coupons as they may be counterfiet!!

Another thing that I have learned lately, is I have joined as many Facebook coupon groups as I can. Facebook has made it so much easier to find the reputable sites and great tools to help the average couponer save.

I am hoping to keep on top of this blog to help those who want to save. I really am beginning to see that this whole couponing thing can easily become a full-time job if you want it to be...

FREEBIES

Everyone wants to get stuff for free, but this website is a great way to pass on the freebies to your friends...you can join through your Facebook account or just on the site it self. It's a very simple site to navigate and you'll be happy you found it. The link is http://www.guide2free.com/

Maps and Binders

Make a map of every store that you shop at AND buy a binder with inserts for each store. Write down your grocery list according to each aisle. You can buy binders and inserts at Walmart. The inserts should be the kind that you use to collect baseball card with. It sounds like a lot of work, but if you want to be a great couponer it will be worth it . You can also buy the small according style coupon holders and label each slot by each aisle of the store. This method cheaper, but by using the binder method, you can put the map of the store at the front of the binder AND you can see the coupons you are planning to use. Everyone develops the best way that works for them, so it's entirely up to to the individual.

How to Read a Blog on Blogger

Many people don't understand that here on Blogger the beginning entry is always the last post at the bottom of the page, so you have to scroll down to the bottom or click on the right hand side at the dates of the LEAST current post. Remember, I am learning this whole extreme couponing thing along with you, so if you have some questions or advice you can leave a comment here,send me an email or message me on Facebook.

Right now, I am focusing on the Hampshire County area, because it's what I know. Later, I will expand out to the other areas, so everyone can plan shopping trips father away, since it looks like gas prices are not going down anytime soon. I hope you can be patient with me as we take this saving and couponing trip together
Cindi

Can You Coupon Successfully In a Rural Community?

The answer to this question would be "yes, you can." In our small community we have no Wal-Mart, Kroger,Walgreens or Target, but we do have Food Lion, County Pride, Family Dollar stores, Dollar General stores, a CVS drugstore and a Rite Aid drug store. Although in the past,it have may not have seemed that the thought of couponing in a small community was worth it, but the extreme rise in gas prices is making it a necessity. I just recently found out that ALL of the "dollar" stores, Food Lion, CVS and Rite Aid do take coupons including internet coupons. Their scanners can tell whether or not the internet coupons are fake or real, which is a great surprise. County Pride does NOT take the internet coupons, however, they have DOUBLE coupons EVERYDAY!!

How to get coupons in our area is the next question. The Washington Post, Cumberland Times-News, Martinsburg Journal and The Winchester Star most of the time have coupons in their papers on Sundays. Each paper has different coupons for their particular area, but the manufacturer coupons are mostly the same. A LOT of people throw the inserts away, so sometimes it pays to ask your neighbors or family members if they can help out by giving you the inserts or the coupons that they do not use.

So, please subscribe to my blog and find out the great deals and coupons that are available. In my next entry I will be covering where the best sites there are to get online coupons, hopefully without pulling in Malware, Spyware or viruses into your computer.