Coupons!

Couponing is nothing new.  I can remember when I was a kid, Mum would scour the local newspaper and magazines - scissors in hand - for those elusive slips of paper that would ultimately save her money.  When I was older, she stopped using coupons.  I'm not sure why, but now she is on the coupon bandwagon.  Actually, she's been on the coupon bandwagon for a few years now.

Only this time, she has me involved.  I'm not sure if it is because of that show "Extreme Couponing" or what, but she is doggedly determined to get enough coupons to drop our grocery bill as far as possible.  Of course, many states and grocery chains allow such things as double couponing (when the coupon is worth twice it's original value - up to a certain amount), stack couponing (when you use the store's coupon plus a manufacturer's coupon), and a variety of other methods.  Unfortunately, in this state - those options are few - and thanks to the "Extreme Couponing" show, many grocery and department stores are now limiting the number of coupons you can use in a single transaction, per person and/or per household.  For example, Wal-mart only allows you to use up to 5 coupons for the same item (translation 5 coupons for 5 products).  Recently, Mum went to Kmart to buy 5 containers of laundry detergent but because she had 5 coupons (1 coupon per container), they made her break it up into 5 separate transactions.  So, make sure you research the store's coupon policy (and they don't make them easy to find) before attempting to use coupons at each store.

Anyway, I thought I would share a few useful sites with you - in case you develop the coupon bug.

CouponMom.com - a great site, where you can print up to 2 copies of a variety of coupons (coupons found at coupons.com). You can also load your store card with coupons from this site.

Smartsource.com - another great site that allows you to print up to 2 copies of each coupon.

TheKrazyCouponLady.com - The site owner has compiled an impressive list of coupons.

Couponnetwork.com - They have a variety of print and digital coupons (digital coupons load onto your store card, but when using digital you are limited to using it at the store you loaded into the card).

QueenBeecoupons.com - This is a blog that not only has coupons but provides tips to maximize your dollars.

Print.coupons.com - Provides a variety of print coupons for free.

There are also those places that provide coupons for a fee.  Usually the fee is tagged onto the coupon.  For example, you want a coupon for granola bars that are $1.00 per box.  They will charge you 8-cents per coupon you order of this particular coupon.  Sometimes sites also charge an "administrative fee" which is on top of the fee you are already paying for the coupon.  Also expect to pay postage.

Buyer beware, though.  Make sure you count your coupons.  We've used these sites before and the sites are usually responsive.  The only one we've had problems with was Coupon Clippers.  At first they would respond to our email about missing coupons, but now they ignore our emails.  I DO NOT recommend using them at all.  Other coupon warehouses include...Coupon Dede - http://www.couponsthingsbydede.com
 and Klip to Save - http://www.klip2save.com.