I'm new... where do I start?

If you are just starting your adventure, here are a few tidbits of knowledge I have learned over the past year. Here's how you start:

Collect coupons - you can get them in your Sunday paper and online. Start out with 2 sets. There's SmartSource (SS) and Red Plum (RP) come almost weekly. Proctor & Gamble (PG) come monthly, usually the last Sunday of the month. I also know that in Fairfield, CA, we get SS in the mail because the local newspaper only carries RP. You can also go on ebay.com to get coupons (you're paying for the cutting service) or other clipping service provider.

Visit here and print out some coupons NOW!

Get a great pair of scissors and start clipping! Or you can pay your child to do it... or pay a coupon clipping service...

Get a binder - I have tried cutting coupons weekly and then filing them under different tabs. Here are the categories that I used:

• Snacks
• Refrigerated/Freezer
• Dairy
• Pasta, baking, sides
• Hygiene
• Household
• Medication
• Sauces
• Drinks
• Misc. (this is where I file baby and pet items as I have neither, but would still keep coupons in case they're moneymaker!)

Then I got some baseball card holders and filed them. Whenever I get back-logged, I just stuff the coupon books in my binder. At least, I won't lose them!

Keep an eye on blogs (mine!) and join others on the adventure! You are not alone and you don't have to do all the thinking! There are also many blogs online, but they are more generic. My blog only covers the Bay Area.

Get rewards cards - if you haven't already, make sure you get a reward card when you go into the following stores:

• CVS - while you're here, pick up a "green tag". Get it scanned every time you bring in your own bags and earn $1 Extrabucks for every 4 times you use it. You can only scan a "green tag" once per day.
• Rite Aid
• Safeway
• Panera Bread
• Kmart

 You're now ready for an adventure!

Happy shopping!