Why Stockpile?

Creating a stockpile is all about stocking up on items at rock-bottom prices.  Therefore, you are able to purchase several items for close to free!  Aside from saving money, creating a stockpile just makes sense.

There are many good reasons to create your own stockpile: 

• Catastrophe
• Loss of employment
• Sky-rocketing prices
• Flexibility to try different recipes 
• No more late night grocery trips
• Peace of mind

First things first...

1. Create your couponing organization method.  Learn what works best for you.  I use a binder with baseball card holders.
2. Know your stores' coupon policies.  Print these out and keep them handy, in case you have a discrepancy at the register.
3. Find your coupons!  Coupons are found in Sunday newspapers, magazines such as All You, in stores (blinkies and tearpads) and online (Coupons.com, Smartsource.com, Redplum.com, etc.) 
4. Research your trips.  In order to successfully coupon, you will need to carefully plan out your trips before leaving your house, or you will get to the store and forget what deals you planned on getting. 
5. Take your binder with you... everywhere!  You never know when you may find a random item on clearance that you know you have a coupon for at home.  Take your binder everywhere with you, so you don't miss out on unadvertised clearance items.  
6. Track your savings.  Make sure that your couponing method is working for your family to save money.  That's what it's all about anyways! ;)  
7. Have fun! 

Basic Couponing Terminology

Below is a list of terms that you will see as you begin couponing:

Blinkies:  In Store Smart Source Coupons

BOGO:  Buy One Get One
Catalina:  Coupon printed at register
DND:  Do not Double (Some coupons have this lang)
Double Coupon:  Coupon that grocery store doubles in value
ECB:  ExtraCare Bucks (CVS)
ES:  Easy Saver (Walgreens)

EXP:  Expiration
FAR:  Free After Rebate
FIC:  Fresh Idea Card (Marsh)
GM:  General Mills (Newspaper insert)

Insert:  Individual "booklet" of coupons in the newspaper (Smartsource, Redplum)  

ISO:  In Search Of
K:  Kellogg’s (Newspaper Insert)
MIR:  Mail in Rebate
One coupon per purchase:  You may use one coupon per purchase of each specified product.  For instance, if you are buying four toothpastes and your coupon states, "One coupon per purchase," you may use four coupons.
One coupon per transaction:  You may use only one coupon for the entire purchase.  Some stores may allow you to do separate transactions, but you will need to get permission from the cashier first. 
One coupon per person:  You may use only one coupon for the entire purchase.  Separate transactions will not be allowed.
OOP:  Out of Pocket
P&G:  Proctor & Gamble (Newspaper Insert)
Peelie:  Coupon you peel off package

Rain check:  A written slip that you can request from a store when a sale item is out of stock 
RP:  Red Plum (Newspaper Insert)
RR:  Rebate Rewards (Walgreens)
SS:  Smart Source (Newspaper Insert)
Stacking:  Certain stores allow multiple use of coupons – manufacturer’s & store coupons or rebates
Stockpile:  A storage of items
Stamps:  Postage stamps
Tear pad:  A pad of coupons near a product or on display
WAGS:  Walgreens
WYB:  When you buy
$1/1:  $1 off of one product
$2/1:  $2 off of one product
$3/2:  $3 off of two products