• Whether you load up a grocery basket once a week or go on smaller shopping runs several times throughout the week, using coupons can help you shave dollars from your total bill. Tap a variety of sources to find discounts on the food and supplies you purchase most, then discover the best times and methods to use the coupons to receive the maximum benefit. Once you see the results, you'll be amazed at how much those coupons can save you!

1. Clip coupons from Sunday newspapers or grocery store inserts throughout the week.
2. Buy entertainment coupon books for several types of coupons.
3. Use websites to print coupons to use at grocery and retail stores (some coupon store policies can vary ... never be afraid to ask your local store's customer service.)
4. Organize coupons by product, store or expiration date to find what you need fast...you will find what works best for you or check out various online blogs for ideas!
5. Maximize coupon savings by using them when items are already on sale.
6. Increase savings at stores that let you combine manufacturer coupons with store coupons. With an item that is on sale; this can really get you items for nearly free!

</note>

• by Denise Ryan

• Although many people rely on the Sunday newspaper to get the bulk of their grocery discounts, savvy coupon clippers know that there are multiple places to find or print them. Consider the following sources, which also provide coupons for goods and services other than groceries:

1. Newspapers and Circulars: In addition to the coupon section in the Sunday newspaper, also look for coupon inserts in daily newspapers (quite often on Wednesdays) promoting deals from specific grocery stores or manufacturers.Grocery Coupon Guide: 2009 Coupon Insert Schedule (February 6, 2009)
2. In-Store Coupons: Look for in-store coupons offered in automatic dispensers by the associated products in the store.Grocery Coupon Guide: Finding Coupons - In Store (January 30, 2008)
3. Coupon Envelopes: Check your mailbox for envelopes or booklets full of coupons for groceries, products or services compiled from local stores and businesses.Saving Advice: 10 Great Places to Find Coupons (February 29, 2008)
4. Online Auctions: Websites like eBay and Craigslist often feature batches of coupons, often for multiples of the same product, to the highest bidder or to the first bidder for the cost of shipping and handling.
5. Product Packaging: Before you recycle product boxes and bags, check for coupons printed on the side for future purchases.Grocery Coupon Guide: Places to Find Coupons (January 30, 2008)
6. Entertainment Coupon Books: Often sold at bookstores, coupon books feature offers good for one year and include discounts to grocery stores, restaurants, activities (like movie tickets and sporting events) and even airline fares.Saving Advice: 10 Great Places to Find Coupons (February 29, 2008)
7. Magazines: Women's magazines sometimes feature clippable coupons for new food products, cleaning and pet supplies or cosmetics, for example.
8. Coupon Swap: Organize a trading event with friends through which you trade unwanted coupons one for one or simply offer the discounts you no longer want in the hopes of finding a couple that you can use.
   • YouTube Video: How to Clip Coupons (Time: 6:29)

1. Coupon Websites: Check websites dedicated to printable grocery coupons to find offers on the products you use most. Some popular sites include:
   • Cool Savings.com: Free Printable Coupons
   • CouponCabin.com: Free Grocery Coupons
   • Coupons.com: Free Printable Coupons
   • RedPlum.com: Free Printable Coupons
   • SmartSource.com: Free Online Grocery Coupons
2. Manufacturer Websites: Product manufacturers sometimes offer printable coupons on their websites to promote new products.Coupon Cravings: 5 Places to Find Coupons Online (August 25,2008)
3. Store Websites: If you're looking for printable coupons for grocery, retail or specialty stores, check each store's site for current printable or in-store discounts.
4. Loadable Coupons: Check the website for your local grocery store to see if it offers coupon codes that you can link directly to your store loyalty card.Coupon Cravings: 5 Places to Find Coupons Online (August 25,2008) You can also find loadable coupons at sites including:
   • CellFire.com: Free Digital Coupons
   • Pgesaver.com: Loadable Coupons for Proctor and Gamble Products
   • Shortcuts.com: Free Loadable Coupons
5. Coupon Codes: Find coupon codes for online clothing, housewares and cosmetic retailers, for example, by searching at the following sites:
   • Bargainist.com: Retail Coupon Codes
   • Deal of the Day: Coupon codes and Deals
   • Deal Catcher: Online Retail Deals
   • Fat Wallet: Online Coupons

• NOTE: Most websites that offer free printable coupons require you to download a program to help you print coupons from your home printer.

• Even a stack of the best paying coupons won't do you any good if you don't remember to bring them to the store. Try these methods to organize your coupons so you can find and use them as needed.

1. Accordion File: Buy a small accordion file or coupon organizer with slots to sort coupons by product type, brand, store or even supermarket aisles.Suite 101: How to Organize Coupons (December 14, 2007)
   • -At the beginning of each month, rotate the coupons that are about to expire to the front. If you can't structure your meals around the coupons, consider giving the discounts to a friend who can use them.
2. Three-Ring Binder: Place baseball card sleeves inside a binder and use divider tabs to separate the sections into categories that will help you find them easily.
3. Filing System: Try organizing different types of coupons in folders in a box or filing cabinet if you collect a lot. Use folders for grocery, restaurant, specific stores or types of products, for example.Saving Advice: 10 Great Places to Find Coupons (February 29, 2008)
4. Envelopes: Sort coupons into envelopes labeled with categories like product types, stores, restaurants or expiration dates. Stash the envelopes in a shoe box or file folders.TipNut: Making A Coupon Organizer System
5. Index Card File: Use a small recipe or index card file to sort coupons alphabetically or by product name or type. Bring the file with you to find applicable coupons as you shop.

• Make the most of the coupons you've got by using them when they'll net you the biggest discounts. Try these strategies to cut even more money from your grocery bill with coupons.

1. Locate local supermarkets that automatically double (or occasionally triple) the value of coupons to increase your savings.
2. Use coupons when those items go on sale at the supermarket to receive the amount off the lower price.
   • -Online programs like the Grocery Game will help you pair manufacturer coupons with supermarket sales and weekly specials to save money each week.Grocery Game: The Grocery Game
3. Discover grocery stores and retailers that allow coupon stacking, which means buying an item using a manufacturer and a store coupon at the same time.Freebies4Mom.com: Coupon Stacking (January 11, 2008)
   • YouTube Video: Over $100 of Groceries for the Price of One Fast Food Meal (Time: 9:48)

• At one time, you may have rolled your eyes at the person in front of you in the grocery store checkout line who handed a stack of coupons to the cashier. But after a using a few stacks of your own, you'll discover how a little extra effort finding and organizing coupons can make a large dent in the amount you'll have to spend.