Coupon Tips for the Beginner

I love couponing and I only started it after seeing 'Extreme Couponing' the TV Show. I taught myself how to do it, how to find deals, how to create my own store match ups, how to read coupon abbreviations and how to utilize coupons. I've learned from the best too!It is what fuels my shopping cart every time we go to the store. I hate going without a detailed list and I hate buying things without a coupon unless I have no other choice! (Which is why I think my Husband stays home on shopping days hehe).

Every shopping trip I think first of the veggies. Being a Vegetarian, and now becoming quite a strict vegetarian, I must must must have vegetables in my diet. I never fly by the produce isle, I dance gracefully and come out the other end with all the colors of the rainbow in my cart. Good wholesome raw foods with vibrant antioxidants grown organically is delicious to me. And being a veggie girl, you'd think there aren't alot of coupons for those kinds of items, right? Well I kid you not! From fresh produce, to frozen veggies to canned corn- coupons cover almost everything!

With that rave aside. I can say opening and honestly that I have saved us probably over  $600 in groceries and supplies like household items in the past few months since I started. Yes it takes alot of time to strategically plan my trip, to round it to our budget, but the time and effort makes alot of difference to your bank account.

Here's a few of my happy coupon tips.

1. Find a cashier that looks happy on the day- don't ever pick the isle with the grouchy lady with bed hair and a grumpy frown. You want the happy, young and patient one- trust me!
2. Be Polite in your tone- treating your cashier with respect makes the whole shopping trip more enjoyable for you and everyone else.
3. Don't splurge on unnecessary items or junk that you aren't going to eat. This can be hard at times, especially when the item is 0.66 cents! But think of your space, its shelf life and whether you'll actually eat it!
4. Don't ever ever ever steal items from other shoppers baskets or carts! That is rude and super weird, I have heard some pretty mean stories out there!
5. Remember Tax, though an item may be free after coupons, there is always the tax. (Australia includes tax in the price of an item and also rounds up or down eg. A chocolate bar at $1.53, rounds up to $1.55 and you pay it, no additional tax urgh!)
6. Know your Coupon Policy back to front! Make sure your store accepts every coupon you have prior to entering the store, otherwise your awful math will show in your total balance.
7. Always list the item size, quantity and variety. If you pick up the wrong size or variety, that can upset your total balance and make the coupons un-useable at times!
8. Avoid confrontation, unless you are absolutely sure your 4 oz can of tuna is supposed to ring up at 54 cents, then save it for a rainy day.
9. Be courteous at all times, do not clear shelves. There is enough food for everyone!
10. Ask the store clerk if an item is hard to find, it might be in a different isle/section of your store.

And that is a short on Couponing (in the USA).