Stockpiling Coupons

Each day this week I will do a post on Couponing Basics.

The Sunday paper is the best source for coupons, and on average there are 2 coupon inserts (booklets of coupons) in each paper. Subscribing to multiple copies of the paper will help you take full advantage of sales and help you accumulate food storage. 4-6 copies of the newspaper will get you started, but a good rule of thumb is to have as many papers as family members.

• The Idaho Statesman (377-6370) will let you get Sunday papers for $.50 apiece if you get at least 4 papers delivered. You can also get the weekly paper and a total of 5 Sunday papers for $3 per week.
• The Idaho Press Tribune also delivers to Meridian and surrounding areas. You can get the daily paper for $6 a month and add more Sunday papers (up to 5 more) for $.60 apiece. (Call Greg at 870-2784).
• You can also ask your friends and family for their unused papers.

Coupons can also be found in grocery stores.

• Blinkies are found in coupon machines next to the product
• Peelies are found on the products
• Catalinas are coupons that print at the register

Internet Printable coupons, also knows as IPs are free. You can usually print 2 copies of each coupon, so push the back button after printing your first copy and refresh the page to print a 2nd copy. Never print a coupon from a PDF file, stores will not take them because either they are fraudulent or appear to be fraudulent. Here is a list of the best sites for printing coupons. You can also go to a company's website to find more coupons (i.e. Kraft, Kellogg's, Betty Crocker).

• http://www.coupons.com/
• http://www.smartsource.com/
• http://www.redplum.com/
• http://www.grocerysmarts.com/

Note: Whether you get your coupons from the paper, the store, or the internet, you may only use one manufacturer's coupon per item(s) specified on the coupon. Some stores will let you use one of their store coupons with a manufacturer's coupon, but if the coupon says, "manufacturer's coupon" on it, then you may only use one per item. The only exception to this is if you get a catalina that says it is good for a certain amount off your next shopping order.