WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Thank you again for the many well wishes. I am excited to be assisting all of you. Below I have listed some more readers questions. I am sorry I can not respond to each person individually.
I hope these help!

How do I get the coupons I need but don’t have? Buy them! Many of you mentioned you are in rural areas and you do not get good Sunday coupons, so buying them always. Buying the right coupon does still maximize your savings (even though you are “buying” a coupon.) This is great for getting coupons to stockpile. You can always subscribe to multiple copies of the newspaper or you can get a few extra copies of ones you like. The coupon clippers (click on the icon below is a great resource for buying coupons.) They have coupons for a fraction of the price and ship very quickly.

How do you know what coupons are in what inserts? I do hole punch coupons, put them in a binder and put the binder away. This is what works for me. There are many great resources that let you know where you can find coupons (that you have stored in your binder.) Hot Coupon World, A Full Cup, and Refund Cents are great resources I use. If I need a coupon for Herbal Essence shampoo, I go to one of these three sites and they help me locate what insert (and date) the coupon is in.

Where do I find your shopping lists? Is there a fee? There is no fee to my shopping lists. Each week I highlight four stores and link to other stores. You can find my shopping list for CVS, Walgreens, Publix and Albertsons (each store name is hyperlinked to this week’s list.) Use the side labels to look of a grocery store that fits your area if one of these does not. You do not download my lists. Please highlight with your mouse, right click and copy the list, and paste it into your word document. You then have a shopping list for the store.

What about Canada? I have gotten a handful of emails from Canada. I started this website for my friends/family in Florida. I will be on the lookout as to how I can help but I came across this…Try Here?

Email addresses – don’t you get spam? You will get a lot of “spam” for the offers you sign up for. It is always good to have a email account devoted solely to your frugal shopping.

Can I link to your site? As long as your material is family friendly and is represents Frugal Coupon Mom in a positive way, by all means, go ahead. Thank you for the link!

How do I get started? Slowly. I would get started building your binder (with inserts from the Sunday paper.) Realize you will not do it all at once. This will be a growth. Each week it will be easier, quicker and you will save more. You can read my post Here on how to organize your coupons. You can read my post Here about getting started with Walgreens and Here for getting started with CVS. Start by getting organized. Start with one store. Pat yourself on the back for any savings you do have. I also give tips to couponing Here.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Why the binder?
The binder is simply for organization. I do not want all my coupons laying around. I get the Sunday inserts, I put the date of the insert on the front (the date I received the insert in the paper) I hole punch it and put it away. I only go to this binder when a shopping lists tells me go to your SS 1/4 to get your $1 off Clorox coupon. Inside my binder I find my smart source insert for January 4th and cut the $1 off Clorox coupon.

What do I take into the store?
Before I go shopping, I cut the coupons I need from my binder or print them from the Internet. I put the coupons I need in the envelope marked with the stores name. If I have coupons for my Walmart shopping list, I put the coupons in my Walmart envelope and only bring in my Walmart envelope (coupons are already cut) and my shopping list. The bulk stays in the car.

What do you keep in the car?
I keep ALL of my coupons in the car. This way if I need to stop by a store (unplanned) I have my envelopes, binder, accordion folder. These all stay in a bag for portability.

How many coupons can you print?
Most website only allow you to print 2 coupons of each type. You can use the back arrow (top left) of your Internet browser to print a second coupon after the first printed. Sometimes you have to press the back arrow button a couple times.

Is the ink/printer paper worth it?
I get my ink refilled at Walgreens for a reduction of the cost. Often the ink goes on sale or has a coupon in the Walgreens flier…great, huh? I also stockpiled on computer paper when I had a great HP coupon last year. This coupon opened in adobe and allowed me to print multiple copies. I loaded up on computer paper for about 75% off. Coupons for paper and ink do exist, but they come out few and far in between. These are great items to stockpile on.

Is it better to shop at a warehouse?
It depends on who you ask. I am not a member of a warehouse but I am willing to visit. I find I stockpile and save more in places I can use coupons. Friends I have swear by warehouses for their meats. I can understand this. You have decide what your family gets at warehouses, start shopping at other places and decide what is best for your family. In my family’s case we get so much for FREE to CHEAP that warehouses would do nothing for us (just to get a membership for meat.)

Can you tell me about Store Brand vs Manufacturer Brand?
Manufacturer brand…you save more because manufacturers put out coupons. When I need something that does not have a sale and coupon combination, then I get generic. Get whatever is cheapest but I find I get the most expensive products for cheapest. It is true!

What is the coupon formula?
You CAN combine coupons. You CAN NOT combine manufacturer and manufacturer coupons. You CAN combine a store and manufacturer coupon…combined with a sale you get things for VERY cheap. The formula is combine with a sale, manufacturer, or store (or competitor) coupon. There sometimes is a missing link. That is okay. Save what you can.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Why the binder?
The binder is simply for organization. I do not want all my coupons laying around. I get the Sunday inserts, I put the date of the insert on the front (the date I received the insert in the paper) I hole punch it and put it away. I only go to this binder when a shopping lists tells me go to your SS 1/4 to get your $1 off Clorox coupon. Inside my binder I find my smart source insert for January 4th and cut the $1 off Clorox coupon.

What do I take into the store?
Before I go shopping, I cut the coupons I need from my binder or print them from the Internet. I put the coupons I need in the envelope marked with the stores name. If I have coupons for my Walmart shopping list, I put the coupons in my Walmart envelope and only bring in my Walmart envelope (coupons are already cut) and my shopping list. The bulk stays in the car.

What do you keep in the car?
I keep ALL of my coupons in the car. This way if I need to stop by a store (unplanned) I have my envelopes, binder, accordion folder. These all stay in a bag for portability.

How many coupons can you print?
Most website only allow you to print 2 coupons of each type. You can use the back arrow (top left) of your Internet browser to print a second coupon after the first printed. Sometimes you have to press the back arrow button a couple times.

Is the ink/printer paper worth it?
I get my ink refilled at Walgreens for a reduction of the cost. Often the ink goes on sale or has a coupon in the Walgreens flier…great, huh? I also stockpiled on computer paper when I had a great HP coupon last year. This coupon opened in adobe and allowed me to print multiple copies. I loaded up on computer paper for about 75% off. Coupons for paper and ink do exist, but they come out few and far in between. These are great items to stockpile on.

Is it better to shop at a warehouse?
It depends on who you ask. I am not a member of a warehouse but I am willing to visit. I find I stockpile and save more in places I can use coupons. Friends I have swear by warehouses for their meats. I can understand this. You have decide what your family gets at warehouses, start shopping at other places and decide what is best for your family. In my family’s case we get so much for FREE to CHEAP that warehouses would do nothing for us (just to get a membership for meat.)

Can you tell me about Store Brand vs Manufacturer Brand?
Manufacturer brand…you save more because manufacturers put out coupons. When I need something that does not have a sale and coupon combination, then I get generic. Get whatever is cheapest but I find I get the most expensive products for cheapest. It is true!

What is the coupon formula?
You CAN combine coupons. You CAN NOT combine manufacturer and manufacturer coupons. You CAN combine a store and manufacturer coupon…combined with a sale you get things for VERY cheap. The formula is combine with a sale, manufacturer, or store (or competitor) coupon. There sometimes is a missing link. That is okay. Save what you can.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

How long does it take you to shop?
For grocery shopping it generally takes me 30-45 minutes. This is because I don’t browse. I have my list organized, and my coupons cut. I know exactly what I need. I also tend to shop when my husband can take care of the baby. Pharmacy stores take me 20 minutes. I take the baby.

How long does it take you to check out?
This takes time. On a big bill maybe 15 minutes. I apologize to the person behind me, but they are always amazed to see my bill. I sometimes tell them I might be awhile as I have a lot of coupons. Kindness always gets you far. I actually shop during the most busiest time of the week – Sunday afternoon. I do not recommend it unless you need someone to watch over the kids (which is my story.)

Do stores take expired coupons?
Stores get credit for expired coupons up to 6 months after it has expired, but THEY DO NOT take expired coupons unless you are a military family. In the case of a military family, I am not sure if you have to shop at a certain location – perhaps at grocery locations on base. You can send your expired coupons to APO addresses so that you are helping a military family. You can read where to send them Here.

Have you had trouble with printed coupons?
No I have not. Target sometimes will only take ONE printed coupon of each type. If you are having trouble, I would take to the manager. If that doesn’t work, call the coporate office. You can see a list of corporate office numbers and contact information Here.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.