Extreme Couponing

Where to find coupons

Coupons are everywhere - they're easy to miss if you're not looking out for them, but keep your eyes peeled and you'll start seeing them all over the place. There are official sources for coupons - and then there's social media. If you're serious about extreme couponing, it's worth trying both...

Official sources for coupons

This is the obvious place to start collecting coupons - and there are more official sources than you'd think.

• MoneySavingExpert.com. Not that we like to blow our own trumpet, but this site isn't a bad place to start. We put all the best coupons and code-stacking loopholes in the weekly email. Our Supermarket coupons page also has a regularly updated list of legit coupons - check our Discount Vouchers page too.

• Magazines. Tons of magazines have coupons for everything from washing powder to ketchup (examples include coupons for Thorntons in Essentials, Warburtons in Prima and Sugar Puffs in Chat). See the forum's Magazine offers thread for the latest tips from MoneySavers.

• Newspapers. Likewise, both national and local newspapers frequently include coupons (eg, we've recently seen good deals in the Daily Mail and Sun). Keep an eye on the forum's daily newspaper threads (you'll find a new one each day on the Discount Codes 'n Vouchers board) to see what's out there.

• Food packaging. Always check boxes, wrappers and lids of drinks for vouchers and codes. It's not unusual for an extreme couponer to stock up on an item purely because of what's on the box. The holy grail of this is a coupon on the packaging that gets you another item, which in turn gets you another item, and so on.

• Supermarket magazines and leaflets. This one can be easily abused, so please be considerate. When you're shopping, keep an eye out at entrances, exits, tills and customer service desks for the supermarket's free magazine. Often you'll find both manufacturer and store coupons inside.

• Official coupon sites. Try CaringEveryday (for Johnson & Johnson products - lots of beauty and hair, baby and healthy eating offers), L'Oreal (for L'Oreal discounts) and Supersavvyme (for Procter & Gamble products - mostly home/health & beauty).

• Ask for a raincheck voucher. If a special offer item is out of stock, many supermarkets, such as Asda, will give you a voucher entitling you to the same deal at a later date. Read a full 'how to' in the Supermarket Savings guide.

• Just ask! One great way to get really good discounts, if you like a product, is to simply write to the manufacturer and tell them, on spec. They'll often send you vouchers for freebies or big discounts.

Coupons on social media

Facebook and Twitter are more than just ways of spying on old school crushes and showing off holiday snaps - they're also the gateway to couponing heaven. Social media is a great place to find out about offers first.

Start slowly by following the big groups and people below. Then get involved with the community - chatting and contributing. You'll find you're part of a huge like-minded network in no time (and may even get access to other super-secret groups).

Be careful though - while with official sources you know the coupons are legitimate and have been checked, on social media it's normally just posts by other individuals and there's no guarantee that they're legit.

• MSE Forum. In addition to the list of coupons on the main site, it is also worth keeping an eye on useful tips in the MSE Forum. Check out the Money-off Coupons and Supermarket Coupons Chat threads in the forum where MoneySavers share coupons.

• Facebook. Here you'll find groups of fellow extreme couponers who share their finds. We couldn't possibly name all the groups (especially as many are closed and you'll need an invite) but here are a handful - start following and contributing and you'll discover a whole new world of coupon sharing.
  
  - Extreme Couponing UK (and add Jordon Cox, Britain's 'Coupon Kid')
  - (Almost) Extreme Couponing UK
  - Student Money Saver (not entirely devoted to couponing, but has lots of deals)
  - Play Pennies (group run by HotUKDeals where couponing comes up a lot)
  - Extreme Couponing and Deals UK
  - Coupon Mama UK
  - Hot UK Deals
  - UK Entreme Couponing and Freebies

• Twitter. If you tweet, then it's more about following key accounts to make sure you find out about the best coupons first. We've got a list of our favourites that you can subscribe to on Twitter, as well as our very own @MSE_Deals.

Be picky

It may sound obvious, but focus your time and money on coupons for things you actually want and will use. If you won't use it, don't buy it.

• Check expiry dates. If you won't use something, it's a waste of cash - even if it was as cheap as chips. Remember though that while 'use by' dates are health warnings, 'best befores' are just manufacturers' views on optimum quality.

• Focus on non-perishables. Concentrate on items that are easily stored or frozen for long periods of time. Your money (and effort) will go further. Check out MSE Charlotte's Cooking for the apocalypse blog for tips on preparing perishables like eggs.

• You need space. It's all well and good having a stockpile, but you don't want it overrunning your house. If you've no room, don't get it.

Get stacking

No, we don't mean helping to restock the shelves at Sainsbury's. In couponing parlance, 'stacking' is a clever way to use two or more coupons or offers in one transaction to really scythe down the price.

Not all retailers and coupons allow stacking, and sometimes it's a temporary glitch. The general key to this is to use a manufacturer's coupon alongside a store one (ideally on a product that's already on promotion).

A great example of this (now expired, sadly) was a nifty trick flagged up on our DealsHunter blog, which allowed you to combine a coupon with a half-price offer in stores at Morrisons and Asda to bag a free New Covent Garden soup. To stay on top of our tricks make sure you sign up to our weekly email.

Here's a couple of tricks'n'tips to get you started:

• BOGOF! No, not you! BOGOF stands for buy one, get one free. It's already a pretty decent deal, but finding the offer on a coupon item takes it to the max - you'll be able to grab both items for the heavily reduced price. Do check the T&Cs; though. As a general rule, stores allow this if there is nothing stated otherwise on the coupon - see supermarkets' policies below.

• Use coupons on yellow stickered items. Ever walked down an aisle and spotted a group of people pushing and shoving to get to the shelf?
  
  Well, they're in the reduced section where items which are broken, being discontinued or nearing their sell-by date are being sold at a fraction of the price. They'll probably have a sticker on them (usually yellow or orange/white) and there may be a few different reduced sections (especially for refrigerated items).

  To get the full lowdown on this, we asked MoneySavers who work in supermarkets to spill the beans. They told us that while it varies by store, the first yellow stickers usually appear around 10am, and silly-price reductions start around 7pm, when some prices are cut by 75% or more.

  See the Supermarket Shopping Tips guide for more (including a supermarket-by-supermarket breakdown of the best time to bag yellow stickered items). Plus we've a free Food Saving Memo to print out and stick on your fridge.

Check supermarket policies before you go

As a coupon anorak, you may sometimes find you know coupon rules better than shop assistants. Coupon policies differ by supermarket, and sometimes by offer too, which means it can be notoriously difficult to be certain about what exactly's allowed.

To help, we asked nine supermarkets to tell us what their rules are... with mixed success. The policies below set out the rules at the Co-op, Lidl, Sainsbury's and Tesco - they come directly from the companies' press offices and represent official policy (we've even dated each one so you know how current it is).

We've also tried to get responses from Aldi, Asda, Morrisons, M&S; and Waitrose but despite lots of chasing they haven't got back to us. If they do we will add them here as soon as possible.

Learn the lingo

"DD's posted a great MFR MOC." If you're serious about extreme couponing, you'll soon realise that veteran couponers speak their own language, particularly online - and it definitely helps to understand the jargon. Here's a list of some of the common terms used on the forum coupon board:

• B1G1, B2G1. Another way to say BOGOF.
• BC/bc. BC means a barcode with a good chance of a universal scan - a bc is a barcode which only selected stores can scan.
• DD/DH. 'Darling Daughter'/'Dear Husband' - common terms on message-boards.
• EA. Each.
• Exp. Expiration date
• IP. Internet-printable - an online coupon or voucher you can print out yourself.
• MFR. Manufacturer.
• MOC. Money-off coupon.
• NSS. Non-store specific (you can use this voucher in different supermarkets).
• OOS. Out of stock.
• Stacking. Combining two or more promotions to maximise savings.
• T #4. Token for.
• WyB. When you buy.
• WyS. When you spend.

Get organised - and use a spreadsheet

By the time you've cut out your 100th coupon, it'll hit you - you're gonna need some sort of system. Keeping track of your couponing - what you have, what they're for and crucially when they expire - will not only stop the embarrassing last-minute rummage at the checkout, it'll also help you maximise your savings.

There are lots of ways to organise your coupons - many of the folk on the Extreme Couponing show simply use ring-binders. But we'd suggest a slightly more high-tech approach - a basic spreadsheet.

We've created a template you can use below, although if you're a dab hand with Excel, you can also create your own. The key things you need to include are:

• What product the coupon's for
• Where you can use it
• How much it will save you
• When you need to use it by
• Other key terms and conditions - eg, can you only use as part of a bulk buy?

Buy what the coupons tell you to

OK, so this tip slightly contradicts the normal MoneySaving message, but this is what REALLY sorts extreme couponers from their casual/skilled rivals - extreme couponers let the coupons dictate what they buy.

Now, a word of caution here - we're not suggesting you completely abandon Martin's Money Mantras. It goes without saying you should still only spend what you can afford, and you shouldn't buy anything you won't use. Yet saving significant money with coupons only happens when you change your whole approach to shopping.

Most people make a list of what they need before going to the shops, then buy what's on that list regardless of whether it's on sale. Extreme couponers, on the other hand, don't buy an item when they need it - they buy it when it's at its lowest price.

Do so consistently, week after week, and you'll soon have a hefty - and varied - stockpile. Couponers should never be afraid to try new things.

Whether it's bacon, biscuits, baked beans or Bolognese sauce, buy the brand you have coupons for (as long it works out cheaper than your usual brand). As your stockpile grows, you'll find that the items you 'need' goes down each week, resulting in lower and lower weekly food bills.

Another final note of caution though - if you've watched the Extreme Couponing show, you may think that stockpiling requires you to turn a whole room of your house into a mini-supermarket. That's not the case. Remember, there's a difference between smart shopping and hoarding.

Know your price match rights

Four of the big supermarket chains operate "price match" policies, whereby they check the price of the branded products you buy and refund you the difference if you could have bought it cheaper elsewhere. It's a handy way to make sure you don't overspend on branded products - make sure you know your rights and always check the receipt.

The table below sets out what each supermarket's policy is.

Divvy up your trolley to push price match policies to the max

When you shop at Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda you'll get a voucher at the checkout telling you how much you saved compared to other supermarkets on branded products - or, if the shop cost you more, you'll get a voucher for the difference. There's a trick though to maximise these vouchers' value.

When you're shopping, separate out branded products that seem like a particularly good bargain and those that are full price (you can put some in the front and some of the back of the trolley, or even use separate baskets). When you get to the checkout, pay for the two piles of shopping separately.

With luck, you'll have a basket full of full price items, which will hopefully earn you a big money-off-your-next shop voucher, and a separate basket full of mega-bargains (which won't drag your average spend/saving on branded products down).

Spot a glitch - maximise your coupons

Supermarkets often change deals and release new sales advertisements mid-week, which means that Wednesday can be a critical day. There can be glitches which you can exploit - often new deals will come into effect but stores will honour last week's deals as well.

Keep an eye on the forum's Supermarket Coupons and Discount Codes 'n Vouchers boards on a Wednesday for all the latest tips n' tricks. We also highlight any top glitches in our weekly newsletter.

When it comes to extreme couponing, timing is critical - and not just because you need to make sure you've used all your coupons to maximum effect before the expiry date hits.

Serious couponers do a special shop, just for coupon bargains. Do your normal grocery shop in another trip, so you can fully concentrate on your coupon game plan. Avoid peak hours (for everyone's sanity!) and leave your kids at home (if possible), as you'll need all your concentration.

Instantly locate special offers

To truly prosper as an extreme couponer, you're going to need intel to tell you where products are currently on offer. Fortunately, there are free online tools that can help.

Supermarket comparison site MySupermarket* checks many major stores including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Boots to tell you at a glance what's cheapest where.

Even better, MySupermarket also lets you set up price alerts on specific products - brilliant if you're waiting to use a coupon. Search for a product, click 'add price alert' and the site fires you an email as soon as the price drops in one or more supermarkets.

Double the difference at Tesco

This nifty trick's specific to Tesco, but it's well worth knowing about in case you're ever overcharged. If Tesco charges you full price for an item that's on sale, DON'T say anything at the till (if you do they'll just put in the correct price).

Instead, wait till the transaction's gone through, then go to customer services, explain what happened and say you want 'double the difference' - they'll give you double what you were overcharged.

Tesco doesn't want to shout about this - but its press office has confirmed the policy is "part of our promise to customers". There are also signs in stores. Make sure you are talking to someone who knows about the policy and insist on double the difference rather than a basic refund.

Many couponers play the system. When they find a pricing mistake they buy as many items as they can, then pay the incorrect amount they're charged before taking it all to the counter and claiming their 'double the difference' refund. Be careful though - if you're wrong about the price glitch, you'll have to pay full whack.

See MSE Paloma's blog Tesco's Double The Difference policy left me nearly £50 richer for more.

Watch out for upshifting - and take the Downshift Challenge

Don't be hoodwinked into 'upshifting' - buying a more expensive brand than you actually want - just because you've got a coupon. For example, if you're a devotee of Asda's 40p own-brand chocolate buttons, you won't save cash by upgrading to a £1 premium brand simply because you've got a 20p-off voucher.

Even better, take our Downshift Challenge. Try dropping one brand level on everything you buy, then see if you can tell the difference. If not, switch to the cheaper one. To inspire you, try our fun Downshift Challenge Tool.

Tell it where you shop, how much you spend and the proportion of each brand you buy (premium, manufacturers', own-brand or basic) and it'll crunch the numbers. Many can save £1,000s.

Stay on top of your stockpile

Stockpiling isn't just for survivalists fearing a zombie apocalypse. Extreme couponers take pride in their impressive store of goods, organising it so they all get used.

Stockpiling is an excellent idea. I started at the beginning of this year and bought loads of toiletries and a few tinned and packet items for the cupboard. This month we've been skint due to messing up of wages, etc, and I'm so glad that we had stuff put by to see us through the month - it definitely brings us a certain peace of mind.

- Abaily54

If you've got loads of space and can dedicate whole rooms to your couponing stockpile, great - but even if you've only got a couple of cupboards or a shed to spare, you can make it work. Here's a few tips to get started:

• Keep your goods indoors. Store them somewhere cool, dry, and out of direct sunlight.

• Keep an inventory of stock. Yes, we know - seems extreme, right? This is extreme couponing though - knowing what you have will help you know what coupons you need to look out for, plus a list of best-before dates will help you plan to use up close-to-expiry food.

• Organise your shelves. Just like a supermarket, rotate your stock based on expiry date - and make sure you're using all available space.

• Don't go crazy... We all love a bargain, but if you don't have room for 500 deodorants, you'll never be able to get a really efficient stockpile. And if something goes wrong and you have to eat 100 tins of tuna by next Tuesday, don't just chuck it out - consider donating to a local food bank or shelter.

Nifty tools can help you use your stash

Need to use up five packs of sardines and seven packets of couscous? To help you creatively consume the couponing goodies you're not sure what to do with, try checking out handy websites that suggest recipes based on the items you've got.

Tell the Supercook or BigOven tools what's sitting in your stockpile and they'll suggest a recipe from thousands. Alternatively, just go to the MSE Forum's Old Style Recipe Index and scroll down to the relevant ingredient.

Ink-redible printing savings

If your extreme couponing career takes off, you could find yourself printing out hundreds of online coupons. Considering ink is more expensive than champagne, make sure you get a printer that uses good-value ink.

Supermarkets' terms and conditions NEVER require you to print in colour, as long as it's clear and easy to scan. The problem is sometimes suspicious shop assistants argue coupons have been photocopied - so printing in colour may make your life easier. (If you're worried about being challenged, it may also help to print out the supermarket policies listed above).

'I get scrutinised for have a black and white coupon. They always think it's photocopied even though you tell them it isn't.'

- princessx87

Grab cashback on your phone

With cashback sites, you sign up then click through them to buy something or get financial products. They get paid for sending traffic and give some of this cash to you.

Now more and more of these sites are offering cashback offline too, especially in supermarkets. It usually involves buying a specific product, uploading the receipt, and waiting for the cashback to arrive. Sometimes the apps even let you MAKE MONEY as the cashback ends up being worth more than the product costs.

Cashback apps worth trying include Quidco's Clicksnap, Topcashback's Snap & Save and Shopitsize. There's a full list of all the latest shopping cashback deals on our Supermarket coupons deals page.

Extreme couponers do it together

"Many hands make light work," goes the saying, and it's sound advice for extreme couponers as well. Coupon in teams if you can - you'll find it easier to get the coupons you need if you swap, plus it's much more fun to spend an hour cutting coupons with friends than doing it alone (if swapping, always check the T&Cs; to make sure it's allowed).

If there are no groups in your area (or your friends aren't that interested), why not set something up on the Couponing forum board?

Be a checkout champ...

The nicer you are, the more likely shop staff will help you out - and while it's important you know your rights, a certain amount of goodwill never hurt either.

• Find the friendliest-looking cashier possible. If you find a nice one, try and build up a rapport, so they know who you are and that you plan to use coupons. It'll make life easier - next time as well.

• Tell them ASAP that you have coupons. Being an extreme couponer makes you a potentially tricky customer, so it's nice to let them get prepared. Ask them whether they'd prefer you to hand over the coupons straightaway or when you pay.

• Bunch items together. When you place items on the belt, try to place identical items together and try to put them in order of your list and coupon stack. This will make it easier for the cashier.

• Warn the people behind you. The last thing you want at the till is beepin' angry people behind you. Let them know as they join that you have a load of coupons and they may want to queue somewhere else.

... Or use self-service tills for speed

Self-service tills are an irritant for many folks ("unexpected item in bagging area"). Yet they help couponers get things done at top speed. Supermarket staff don't always know exactly how coupons work, and can take a while to scan them. It's often just easier to let the system add the coupons.

That said, while self-service tills can cut hassle, always double-check the T&Cs; to check what you're doing is legit and that you're not inadvertently committing fraud. Never use self-service tills as a way to slip through coupons you think could be invalid. See the Shopper arrested for coupon fraud MSE news story for more.

And finally, it pays to play nice

Companies really love feedback. Often as a sorry or a thank you, you'll get a nice coupon (usually better than the ones you'll find in magazines/online).

But to really get the best deals, don't limit your feedback to moans and groans when something goes wrong. Companies love to hear from you when things are going well too, so shower 'em with compliments and you might find they'll reward you with coupons.

Don't believe us? Read the incredible story of one young mother who found that it paid to send birthday cards to Kellogg's...