couponing_101 - Financial Wellness Center

Where do you get coupons?

Coupons are available in a lot of places. You can get coupons a million different ways like in the mail with a free sample, in a magazine, from your mobile phone or on the grocery store's website. I will explain the most common ways to find coupons but figure out what works the best for you.

Sunday Newspaper/Wednesday Mail

Coupon Inserts

The most common are the inserts in the Sunday newspaper or in the mail on Wednesday. In Utah, both the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News both have coupon inserts and they are identical so it doesn't matter which paper you subscribe to. If you are getting the paper for coupons alone, there is a Sunday-only subscription that makes your paper only $2.15 per week! To subscribe or learn more, click here. I easily save $2.15 a week from my Sunday coupons and even for a family of 2, it's worth it to subscribe.

Coupons.com

Coupons

My favorite website is Coupons.com but you can find a lot of coupons on the internet. Often, there is a limit of 2 coupons per computer. A lot of coupons that are found in the Sunday paper are also found on this website but not all of them. Often the best coupons (like for free items) are only in the Sunday paper. You can print in black and white to save on ink costs. Photo copies of coupons are NOT ALLOWED and can get you in big trouble.

Smartsource.com

Smartsource

Smartsource.com is another reliable coupon website. Smartsource is one of the companies that does the inserts in the Sunday paper. The selection will vary and coupons are limited to 2 prints per computer.

Redplum.com

Red Plum

Redplum.com is similar to Smartsource. Red plum is another brand that does inserts in the Sunday newspaper and Wednesday mail inserts.

Manufacturer Websites

P&G

Try searching for your favorite companies websites to see if they have coupons. Hormel, P&G and Betty Crocker are few that regularly have coupons to print.

Facebook

You can also find coupons on Facebook by following your favorite companies.

Coupon Tear Pads

Coupon Tear Pad

While shopping you may see these coupon pads. These can be very high value coupons and can be saved until the product goes on sale. Coupon etiquette is to not take more than you need and to not take the whole pad.

How to Organize Your Coupon Binder

Coupon Binder

If you use coupons regularly, the binder method is a great way to stay organized. For this method you sort coupons into categories like dairy or body products. Then just take your binder to the store and you'll have your coupons handy when you find that killer deal. You can keep all of your ads from the Sunday paper in your binder so that I have them to plan your shopping list based on the sales and they are right there when you get to the store. This method is great if you save a lot coupons and can even help you keep your entertainment and eating out coupons and gift cards organized.

To make your own coupon binder you will need:

a 3-ring binder
20-30 full page sheet protectors
25-100 trading card pages
Organization pages which you can print here: Binder Organization Pages

Coupon Policies

Coupon policy

When you use coupons it is important to follow the store policy. I print off of the policies of my favorite stores and carry them with me in my binder. If I ever get a checker who is not familiar with their store policy, I can take it out and show them. I have gathered the following policies for you to print and use when you shop: