Hopefully this will get you started and give you the tools you need to get a budget started for your family.  Stay tuned for more helpful videos and all the details of the Save At Home Mommy Budget Challenge to come. 

I get a lot of comments, questions and emails about coupons missing, not printing or prices being different.  I wanted to make sure that you all knew a few things that are common in my responses. 

#1- Save At Home Mommy is a blog.  This differs in one major way as far as you are concerned.  On a website, old information is removed when new information is put up so all content should always be valid.  On a blog, new posts are put out every single day.  On my site, at least 9 or 10 each day.  The older posts just keep getting pushed back further in the archive.  If you took the time, you could scroll down through the whole page and then click on older entries.  You could do this over and over again scrolling through posts from the past year and a half.  All the posts are still there. 

How does this impact you?  Well, if you click on an old post, the coupons and deals referenced in that post may no longer be available.  This is not because I posted a false coupon or bad deal.  The print limit may have been reached or the deal taken down.  There is no way that I could go back through every single post and check every link to see if it still works or not and take them down.  That in itself would be a full time job.  I work very hard to only bring you valid information at the time the deal is posted but I am just not in control of all the sources that bring the deals and coupons.

#2- Printable coupons have printing limits.  Most printable coupons have limits as to how many prints the manufacturer wanted to put out there.  Most of the time, you can print each coupon two times per computer.  The limits for each coupon are different and I never know what the limits are or when they will be met.  I can post a coupon one minute and the next minute, the last print is reached.  I check every coupon myself before I post about it and try to get them to you as soon as I can.  I want to at least give you the possibility of getting your copies when I can.

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Photo Credit

I posted a question on the Save At Home Mommy Facebook page about the Extreme Couponing show on TLC and got some awesome comments.  I wanted to respond a little with my opinion on stockpiling, why I do it, what I stockpile, whether we eat junk food and when I think it is too much. 

What is stockpiling?

Stockpiling is buying several of the same item at a super low or FREE price so that you do not have to pay full price for it when you need it and it is not on sale.  By buying multiple of that item, enough to last you around 3 months, you are able to wait until it goes on sale again and restock your supply.

Do I stockpile and why?

I do have a stockpile but it is no where near the ones pictured on the Extreme Couponing show.  I have a closet with shelves for the extra items that my family will use over a few months.

What do I stockpile?

I only stock up on items that will either never go bad or have a very long shelf life.  I also only stock up on items that I KNOW my family will use.  If something has been in my pantry for a while unused, I will donate it.

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I got several emails recently about a coupon circulating for a FREE bag of Doritos.  As soon as I saw it, I knew it was a fake.  When I got this email with the following info, I knew I needed to share it!

“Have you ever been embarrassed by a cashier who claimed your coupon is a fake?

Most of the time you are right, but sometimes they are, so it’s important to keep in mind that not all bargains are as they appear. There have been an unprecedented number of fraudulent coupons circulating this year, and you may remember one recent counterfeit, extremely widely distributed through e-mail, that offered a free bag of Frito-Lay Doritos chips.

Here are some general tips about how to avoid falling prey to counterfeit coupons:

• Simply use the coupons you obtain from your newspaper, manufacturer’s web site or their authorized coupon distributor.
• Never pay money for a coupon (coupon books from trusted retailers excluded).
• Do not download coupons from Internet forums.
• Google a deal or coupon if it seems too good to be true.
• If a friend e-mails you coupons that look unprofessional, especially high value or free product coupons, they may be counterfeit.
• Most manufacturers follow common sense practices about Internet Print-at-Home Coupons, for example, the coupon itself should not be visible on your computer screen. A copy of these guidelines is available HERE.
• For a copy of guidelines and to see a list of identified fraudulent coupons, go to Coupon Information Center’s website HERE.

If you’re curious as to what a counterfeit coupon looks like, consider the Frito Lay coupon mentioned above. This was not created, authorized or distributed by Frito-Lay, and Frito-Lay has notified retailers of this fraud and is working with authorities to identify the source of the fraudulent coupon. For an image of the fraudulent coupon and ways of identity it, look  HERE.

Ways to identify this fraudulent Doritos coupon:

· Offer is for a free bag up to $5

· No purchase required and doesn’t feature a CIC hologram foil strip under expiration date

· There is only one barcode in the right hand side

· Coupon was distributed via e-mail

It’s depressing to realize that not every coupon or deal is real, and even worse that viral fake coupons make retailers hesitate to accept, and in some cases completely reject, your real coupons. However, by knowing what to look for, you can prevent further use of fake coupons and ensure the real deals continue to be accepted by your local stores!”

Thank you Frito-Lay for the info!

Today we have a great post from Ann at Coupons, Deals and More on Dumpster Diving. This will have you laughing and thinking in seconds:)

“Would you like to learn to dumpster dive? Here are a few lessons in protocol to help the experience go smoothly:

Dos

• Do make certain that dumpster diving is legal in your municipality.
• Do take the time to scout your location. A drive by, a walk by, a bicycle by all will help with familiarity, is it worthwhile, and the best time to dumpster dive. The last thing you want is an audience watching you when you pull out your haul.
• Do check for rodents or other "friends" before inserting hands (or half your body) into the dumpster.
• Do watch so the lid does not slam down on you.
• Do be aware of sharp objects or caustic chemicals when diving.
• Do bring rubber gloves (and wear them!), a flashlight, a poker stick (one with a curved end to bring up bundles of coupons is ideal!), a step stool, and a razor blade with you.
• Do leave immediately if request to by store management, security or the police.

Don’ts
• Don’t dive if there is a lock on the dumpster or a sign prohibiting trespassing.
• Don’t dive alone! Safety is very important.
• Don’t actually get in the dumpster. Getting out may be impossible. Nothing is worth your safety. • Don’t leave a mess! The quickest way to shut down dumpster access is to leave the trash outside the dumpster. Put back what you are not taking!

Scouting out the area is very important. You want to find "the" dumpster in your area where coupon bundles are dropped. This could be behind a gas station, a grocery store, or any where the random newspaper distributor dumps their leftovers. The best day of the week could vary too. Saturday, Sunday and Monday are best guesses for that drop, but that might vary by area. You’ll definitely have to do some reconnaissance if you plan on dumpster diving.”

Ann has been couponing for over 25 years. She writes Coupons, Deals and More to share her couponing tips, tricks and information.

I get questions all the time about how to print coupons frugally.  Here are a few tips to help cut the cost of printing these valuable money savers:

• Start by setting your printer to print on draft quality.  You may even be able to make a specific “coupon printing” setting for you to use just when you are printing coupons.
• Print on the back side of used paper.  It doesn’t matter what is on the back of them as long as they scan.
• If you are just printing one coupon, print it once and then put the same piece of paper back in the printer the other way around to print your second copy.
• If you just print one coupon, cut the coupon end off and reuse the 2/3 sheet of paper the next time you only need one print.
• Consider buying ink online at a place like Simplyink.  You can save a lot off of regular prices and order enough at one time to get FREE shipping.
• Check on refilling your ink cartridges at places like Walgreens, or using rewards programs like Office Depot that reward you for recycling your old cartridges.

Have you found other ways to save on coupon printing?  Let us know in the comments section below!

I get a lot of questions and comments from readers looking for certain things.  Anywhere from coupon policies to ideas for organizing coupons.  I am always more than happy to answer any questions and try very hard to answer them all.  I did want to point out one good resource for many basic questions, the Start Here link on the green top menu bar.  On that page, you will find links to posts answering tons of the basic questions and giving you most of the info you need to get started on your savings journey.  Have you checked out the Start Here page?

I was just going to check my email when I saw a new article on Yahoo about 4 Upgrades That Waste Your Money.  I read it through and thought that the point on bulk food stores was very interesting and correct in my personal opinion.  Even if the bulk stores took coupons, you would only be able to use one on each huge pack you bought.  By buying smaller packages along with sales, coupons and as many other savings methods you can pile on, brings the price so much lower.  Think of it this way:

Bulk Store
Buy 1 huge box of diapers for $30.00
Use $2.00 off coupon (if they allow it)
Final Price= $28.00

Target

Buy 3 smaller packs of diapers at $10.00 each
Use (3) $2.00 off coupons

Final Price= $24.00

Even without a store reward, store coupon or other promotion, buying the three smaller ones with coupons would be a better deal. 

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Give the article a read and let us know what you think.