Couponing Basics

Thanks to everybody who has taken the time out of their busy schedules, to critique by blog!!
By popular requests I have been asked to put some information up for the people just getting their feet wet with couponing.
First off everything I have learned, for the most part is from www.hotcouponworld.com. They do have other sites out there, but this is by far the best one yet!!!
Now with that being said, I know everybody does not have time for "extreme" couponing, which is understandable, I am limited on time myself. (Don't worry if you are unfamiliar with the coupon terminology, you will catch on.)

The very first rule to "extreme couponing" is you cannot be brand savvy. Meaning if you like Gain, and that is the only washing powder that you use and you cannot not use anything else because you love it and it is in your price range; but on the other hand Biz is on sale this week for $2.50. Now the smallest package of Gain is $4.99, (and being the true couponer that I know you will be) you have a $2.00 off coupon for the Biz, which will make the Biz .50 cents, which one do you purchase? Now a true couponer will have 10-20 of the Biz coupons, if not more, that way they are in control and paying what they want to pay for washing powder and not what the stores want you to pay.

Which brings us to Rule #2: Get as many copies of the inserts as you possibly can. Whether it is from purchasing multiple papers on Sunday, or collecting from friends and neighbors, or buying the left-over papers from the stores near you at a discounted price or plain 'ole dumpster diving! Yep that is right, not as gross as it sounds, just basically going to your local recycling bin and checking the paper/magazine bin, for the inserts left behind by non-couponers.

So far all those newbies: First start collecting your coupons and wait for the sales!! You will be surprised at how much money you can save, and sometimes you may even get the product for free with the right coupon and the right sale!!!!!!!!