Hello! Welcome to Blackstone Valley Bargains!
If you are checking out my blog, you at least have some interest in learning how to save money on your weekly shopping. Congrats! You are already beginning to think like a couponer!
There is a lot that can be learned about extreme couponing, and I'll be the first to tell you I know only a tiny fraction of what is possible. But, I have been saving significant amounts of money for months now and am happy to help anyone else get started with what I have learned. I base my coupon/insert information off two local Massachusetts papers - The Telegram & Gazette and The Boston Globe - as well as internet coupon printing sites (i.e. Coupons.com, SmartSource.com, RedPlum.com, CouponNetwork.com, etc.) The sales I refer to will be based off information found in local weekly advertisements. Please note if you are not from this area my local deals may differ from yours. This does not mean you cannot pick up a few tips from my site. And, of course, feel free to ask ANY questions, ANY time, from ANYwhere! :o)
That being said - let's start with the single MOST important aspect of coupon savings... GETTING ORGANIZED!! You cannot effectively coupon if you do not have some sort of system. I personally use the binder method, but you can do whatever works for YOU. Just make sure you know where your coupons are and how to find a specific coupon when needed. It's also helpful if your coupons are portable so that you can bring them shopping with you! You never know what unadvertised deals you may find!
NEXT - you should know that to get the BEST deals with coupons you cannot be brand loyal. This doesn't mean you can't buy your favorite toilet paper whenever you want. It just means that if you aren't flexible aren't certain items, you may not save as much as you could by purchasing another brand.
THEN - collect coupons any way you can! You don't necessarily have to spend money on newspapers. Ask family, friends, and neighbors to save their inserts for you and have a "coupon pick-up" day. Pay them back with free items!
Finally, check out my Coupon Myths section and prepare to start saving!!
Happy Clippin'!
Jess
