Couponing

I have recently made my entrance into the world of couponing... a tight budget combined with the enjoyability of saving money has brought this about!! One of the first questions I had when I started this journey was where do I find good coupons. I obtained a Sunday subscription to our newspaper (that's when the good coupons come). Also, ask your friends and neighbors to save their coupon sections of the newspaper for you! Extra coupons can come in handy! There are also many wonderful online sites that provide printable coupons for almost anything, and here are a few of my favorites:
http://www.smartsource.com/
http://www.couponmom.com/
http://www.couponloop.com/
You can also find coupons for sale on Ebay as well as other coupon selling websites.

Another question I had was "How on Earth do I organize These things?! My friend Danielle started couponing recently, as well, and she showed me her system. You will need a 3-ring binder, dividers (think for different subjects when you were in school!) and plastic page protectors. Designate each divider for a different area of the grocery store, and make separate dividers for other stores you frequent, such as CVS or Walgreens. I also have one divider for all fast food and another for all retail stores (Bed Bath and Beyond etc). Place a plastic page protector after each divider. Place the clipped coupons designated for each area into the appropriate plastic page protector. Then take a piece of paper and tape it to each divider to keep a running list of the coupons inside...include the Brand name, amount of value, and expiration date.
I have also learned that the coupons are more valuable if you use them when a sale for that product is going on. the website http://www.taylortownpreview.com/ can tell you when certain items will be on sale at certain stores. Very helpful.
Save coupons that you think you will never need, as you may be able to trade it to someone else for something you DO need! There are many coupon swapping websites available...just search for them!
Another way to learn how to maximize your coupon value is to network with others online that are doing the same thing. I love http://www.diaperswappers.com/ 's Thrifty Families Thread. Such helpful girls!!