Q's Coupons & Savings: Organizing Your Coupons

Here are some helpful tips I've learned so far:

Beginner - An envelope will work, but in a few weeks you might need something bigger. I got my first organizer from the dollar section at Target, and that lasted about three years. Since then I have grown into a bigger organizer.
Filing the Sunday Coupon inserts - I was such a rookie! I used to put them all in one pile, and when I read a blog and they tell you the insert date I would have to go through them all searching for it thus spending HOURS for one coupon. So now I am a little smart thanks to the great professional couponers out there and their awesome ideas. I have them in a file folder with the dates written on it so when I see something like Kraft $1.00 SS 12/05 - I know to go through the 12/05 SmartSource insert. Believe this might sound crazy, but it REALLY does work and help you save time.
Know your store's coupon policy! Check the store website to find out their policy, and printout a copy of it. You will run into cashiers that do not know their own store's policy and that can be challenging when you are at the register with a line of people behind you. I have had my share of "challenging" cashiers, and the policy came in handy. If you have any problems contact corporate. Here are some coupon policies: Target, Rite Aid, Walmart, & Walgreens. If you have other, please let me know and I will post them.
After reading the stores coupon policies you will learn that you can stack coupons. When I found out about this it was like I had just hit the jackpot, lol. A few stores I know you can stack are Target, CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens. Also, some stores will accept competitor's coupons so make sure you check first.
Planning is everything! If you can get the Sunday ads on Saturdays then that's so great! Thanks to the folks at the Washington Post I am able to have that option. Every Saturday night I sit down and circle what I need and what the best deals. You can write them down or circle the items. You never know how crowded the stores will be so I need to get in and out asap. Plus it prevents you from buying things you don't need and that kind of defeats the purpose of clipping. I am always checking on i heart cvs, i heart rite aid, i heart wags for weekly deals. These sites will give you a preview of the ads for upcoming weeks so you can plan your shopping trips.
RAINCHECKS - The drugstores can run out of things pretty quick. Some stores get their order every two weeks so getting a raincheck reserve the current price. Note - Rite Aid rainchecks are only good for 30 days. CVS is good for ever.
READ your coupons. This is soooo important because it happened to me at Target. Just because a coupon says " one coupon per purchase" doesn't mean per transaction or day or trip. I bought 2 same items and used 2 manu coupons and the Target cashier told me I couldn't use them because it said "ONE COUPON PER PURCHASE." I tried explaining to her what that really means, but she didn't want to hear it and there was a line behind me. I went ahead and kindly asked her to put them back. After I was done with her I went to customer service and explained to the manager the situation. The manager said her cashier is not understanding the wording, and rung me up without any problems. So point is don't let them tell you different. NOW recently - P&G coupons are reading "Limit of 4 LIKE coupons in the same shopping trip" so you will need to watch that. I have made this mistake and the Rite Aid register will catch it when the coupons are being scanned.
Go ALONE. As much as I love my son, he can be a big distraction and sometimes ask for toys that is NOT my list <smile>
Count & Add up your coupons. Before I get to the register I always pull to the side to count my coupons, add it up, and put in order by the amount. Strange but easier to read on the receipts.
Cashiers - When they are scanning your coupons make sure you watch them carefully because some coupons get stuck behind another or a register glitch may NOT take off the correct amount. I know Target had this issue a while back, and heard they fixed it.
ALWAYS ALWAYS check your receipt before leaving the store. You don't know how many times I have had to go back and say ahem - this is the wrong price or my coupon was not applied.
If you ever come across a coupon that looks TOO good to be true i.e. FREE Doritos or FREE Pepsi then it's too good. Most like it is a fake! Do not use them and tell the person giving it to you it's a fake.