IM so Overwhelemed and Confused Please Please Help

[overwhelmedshopper]

Ok so I have been watching videos after videos, and reading everything. I ordered 3 newspapers and got them yesterday and here I sit in tears with all my piles of coupons not knowing where or what to do.
there is so many things IM not understanding and just can't seem to get answers, maybe I word them all wrong. but
so I have my 3 stacks of coupons SS,RP,PG. Im in Southern California.
so how do I begin. do i go to the grocery by state . then which stores do I go to : Pavillions, Ralphs,(Mainly) Albertsons, then the drugstores
Cvs, Riteaid & Walgreens.
so I see the # rule seems to be "Buy what is free or on sale NOT what you need" Ok so DO I plan on going each week to 2 or 3 markets?
On the grocery by state list.. the MFr coupon is listen by the date it comes out.. so I write that on the outside of the packet of coupons.
One thing I dont get is: Ok going by the exp Date of the Mfr coupon on the list: how do I know on each one of these millions of coupons, which
week is the best week to use it for the lowest price or is the week couponMom.com lists that coupon on Her list always the best week . does that make sense? Because then don't i have to worry about it expiring or Forgeting that it is sitting in my box of coupons being there are so many other ones.
i hope I am making some sense beause Im soo overwhelmed..
when I look at the list of grocery some deals don't look that good or is it me?
so Please take me from sititng here on my floor with all the coupon piles and how to do I get to the grocery stores and get the best deals..
how do you NOT forget to use half these coupons that are going to then sit in a box. or is eventually they going to come up in the next week or two on her grocery by state list as good deals? I dont know if I am put my email on here or facebook. if its easier to chat or email Im hoping anyone can just help me... please..
I also know that organzing is a whole other thing...

[cjones58]

im sorry your overwhelmed it will get easier i promise. FOR ME..everyone is different and has different ways of doing this, i use a zippered mead binder and a bunch of baseball card sheets and dividers. I set up my dividers this way-frees,fruits and veggies, dairy,meats,etc etc. Every Sunday i go through my inserts and cut out everything that i feel i will use and put them in the pockets in the binder. takes a little time but this is what works for me. Some people do as the video says and goes through and just cuts the coupons that they need and take that with them to the store. i always take my binder with me cause i always find something on sale and i have that coupon for and i could use or may have forgotten about. i hope this helps some and im sure you will get more help there are alot of helpful people here. Hang in there.

[NewB]

Welcome to couponing. When I first started in May 2011, I was in the same boat as you are now. But this is what I did after reading and watching videos from youtube on how to organize coupons, and shop. Some of us like to write the dates on the inserts and file them. They only clip them when they see something is on sale with that circular. And also, they have to keep record on a spreadsheet on what coupons they have in the filer, what circular, and exp. That's just too much work for me to keep track of dates and coupons. Especially if you go out on a shopping trip and see that the store has something on sale that was not listed in the ad, and you know you have coupons for them, but the are left at home...then you have to make another trip back to the store or loose it.
I like the binder better than the filer. Although it may take some time to clip them, if you have kids who can help you clip, it doesn't take that much time. If not, you just take some time to clip them and organize them in the binder by categories using the base ball card holders. Example: Cosmetics, dairy, frozen food, detergents, and etc....although it may be a hassle taking the binder everywhere, but its worth the savings you find.
As to making trips to different stores is base on what you're planning to get. Since I started, I found that CVS and Walgreens are the best option for personal hygiene than other stores...but I'll let the experts to answer you on that. At that time, I didn't know any grocery stores that doubles coupons, so I don't really keep my food coupons. But now I found one store that does it, I'm going to start couponing on food.

[Felix]

Take a deep breath... this is a process, you don't suddenly wake up and have it all figured out... Start with one store, one you know well, look at the sales and what you would normally buy... anything work for you? Cool. Got any coupons? Even cooler. There, that's a babystep and a good one. Try nothing more than that for a week.

When you are first starting out, you have to buy whatever you need however you can because you haven't had the opportunity to build up any stockpile. I have been working on learning since May and this is the first week for me that I'm not even making my regular shopping list... I'm kind of stocked on key items so for the first time I can focus on capitalizing on big sales - I bought enough chicken breasts for a couple of months. I also had a fun surprise when Walgreens clearanced dh's favorite TAZO tea... I had a couple of bucks extra to buy every box I could lay my hands on.

I started organizing by grouping like coupons in envelope (pet, canned, dairy, meat, etc) but quickly found I preferred a binder.

Several months into this, I find I usually hit two groceries once a week each (one doubles, one has vastly better pricing) and usually go to CVS twice. Last week, because I was learning, I also hit Walgreens (often referred to as WAGs). I wasn't as successful there because I've never tried to work their register rewards before but I kept trying because I had a profitable combo so it was a good deal to practice on.

I'm a relative newbie and you will get more experienced and thorough advice but this is decent place to start...

[lisabr]

Hello, and welcome to the forum! Take a deep breath and try to calm down, you are working yourself up over something that in a short time you will wonder what in the world were you so confused about!

Ok so first do you want to use a binder? Or do you want to keep all your coupons in a filing system?
I personally use a binder. I cut all the coupons I will use and file them in my binder (with baseball card sleeves, found in the stores where they sell baseball cards,usually close to the registers), under different catagories. Like beverages, cereal, frozen, medicene, beauty, cleaning, ect.... The coupons I don't or won't use I keep in a file folder for trading or giving to family members that might need them. The filing system is you write on the front of each insert what date they were put out on, then file them in a dated file, then when you look up the deal's lists you will know what date and what insert to look for that particular coupons you want to use. Remember though you might not get every coupon they say might come out each week. Most people I think don't get all the coupons, the lists are just a guide. I don't get all the coupons the lists say either, so you will have to look and see if you have the coupon from your inserts. You can also print out coupons if they are out there to print. The choice is yours to make depending on what is easier for you.

Next, look at the deals lists in your area and at the stores you would normally shop. I would start with stores you normally shop at to start since you already know the stores. Then you can branch out to others as you get the feel of couponing. Also look at the sale flyers for those stores,sometimes you might notice something else you need that you didn't notice on the deals list. On the deals lists you can click the little boxes next to the items you want to get or look for at the store, then click the button to display your lists for you to print out to take with you. You will have to decide for yourself what deal is a good deal for you, everyone has a different opinion on what that is. I'm happy if I can save at least 50% on my total bill/trip. And a super happy camper if I save more!

Then what I do after I have my list, I go to my binder and pull all the coupons that I will need, then put them in an envelope so that when I get to the store I have the coupons of what I'm looking for already ready. Now if I want to pull the coupons for a couple of stores at the same time, I put the coupons in little paper clips for the different stores and then put them in my envelope. Then I pull out only the ones I will need for the store I'm in. You could also just put them in different envelopes with the stores names on them. I always carry my binder into the stores with me just in case I find a deal I didn't notice before or if I see a clearance item that I can match up with a coupon I have to make another awesome deal.

To make your stockpile you don't need to buy things that you will never use. You buy the things that you and your family will use. And it will take alittle time to get there but before you even realize it you will have your stockpile. Good luck, and don't be afraid to come and ask questions or just surve around the forum and read how others are finding the deals. I hope this helps!

[missmbb]

I'm pretty new to this too, so I'm sure others will have more/better advice, but when I started using coupons I didn't try to do everything at once. I think you have to figure out what will work best for you and your situation. I don't clip every coupon that is in the insert. I cut out the ones that are for products I know I will use or those that I think I might use. Everything else stays in the insert and get filed by date. I use a binder that is separated in to sections that make sense to me and I go through it every 2 weeks or so to get rid of the expired q's. I signed up to get ad previews for all of the stores I shop at so if there is a really good deal (like free), I can come here and try to trade for more coupons so that by the time the sale starts I have a good amount. There are plenty of times that I don't take advantage of the best "deal" each week because its not something I need or want.

My advice would be to start small and go from there. If there are a few things you need from CVS or Walgreens, try doing a small trip there and see how it goes. I made plenty of mistakes my first few trips out, but luckily I learned and got better and now it seems like second nature. GOod luck.

[CurtisBeers]

Welcome! It looks from the stores that you listed that you are in Southern California.....which city do you live in?

[dp38587]

Everyone is giving you great advice! It quickly becomes fun so don't get wrapped up in being "extreme", after all, it's still just shopping and you know how to do that. Now you are just learning to do it a little differently. My best advice is to pay attention to what you buy and what it usually costs. If Brand A is $2 and Brand B is $1 and no one your family will have a fit, buy brand B. If you have a coupon for brand B, maybe you can get it for $.50.......money saved so buy 4. You spent the same money....but you got a months worth instead of a week. That is the start of your stockpile of items you will USE. You'll soon be able to tell a good deal from a great deal but it truly is a process. Even if you never use a coupon, you will still save just by paying close attention to what you buy. I find it to be HUGE fun.......

Deb

[CurtisBeers]

Here is another thread of someone from the Southern California area that might help you out.

http://forum.couponmom.com/have-ques...rustating.html

Do not be afraid to ask questions as we were all new at one time and love helping others save money!!!

[overwhelmedshopper]

Welcome! It looks from the stores that you listed that you are in Southern California.....which city do you live in?

I live in west Hills. San Fernando Valley.. and you?