All coupons are not created equal

I've clipped my share of coupons and I have to say after buying newspapers, downloading a coupon software and visiting various sites the safest way still is the newspaper. I have been turned down at the store for online coupons because the weren't from the manufacturer and some of those online places secretly download  malicious spy ware to track your cookies, (it only seems free, they want to steal your browsing habits so they can sell the information to companies). When you sign up or download these 'free coupon' services have a very long (and small printed might I add) user's agreement which 9.9/10 people probably don't read. So you unwittingly sell your information to them and they in turn make a buck off of you for coupons you may or may not use.

The best way to get coupons yourself is to get the Sunday newspaper, go to all the sites of your favorite products (like Tide.com if you use tide), sometimes these guys will have coupons you will be able to print out and use. I like to use Glade scented oil plug ins (they smell the whole room!), Glade almost always has coupons listed on their site. Also looking through your junk mail like valu-pak will once in a while have some deals. All this can be a lot of work and if you are short on time you can always order coupons through a coupon clipping service. These services cost about the same as a newspaper and you get the coupons you want.

For instance at Coupon Carry Out I ordered for my household of five I got:

+Cream Of Wheat Hot Cereal, $.75 on ANY ONE package,
+ General Mills Original Cheerios or Honey Nut Cheerios Cereals, $1.00 on TWO
+Smucker's Jam, Jelly, Preserves, $.25 on ONE (DND5),
+Chef Boyardee cans, buy FOUR cans and save $1.25 on ONE can of Chef Boyardee Big or Whole Grain
+Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper or Chicken Helper Home Cooked Skillet Meals, $.75 on THREE,
+Hormel Chili products, $.55 on TWO,
+Swanson Broth Cartons, $1.00 on ANY THREE (14 oz or larger)
+ Celestial Seasonings Tea, $1.00 on ONE box
+ Eight O'Clock Coffee, $1.00 on ONE bag,
+ Tropicana Trop50, $1.00 on TWO 50 oz bottles
+New York Brand Frozen Garlic Bread product, $.40 on ANY ONE
+ Pepperidge Farm Bakery products (in the fresh bread aisle), $.75 on TWO
+ Clorox Brand Bleach, $.25 on ANY (82 oz or larger).
+ Clorox Clean-Up Cleaner (32 oz or larger) or Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner (24 oz or larger), $.35 on ANY,
+ Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, $.40 on ANY (35 count or larger)
+ Mr. Clean Magic Eraser or Bath Scrubber, $.50 on ONE
+ Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner, $1.00 on ANY TWO
+ Bestlife Buttery Spread or Buttery Spray, $.50 on ONE
+ Dannon Danimals product, $1.00 on ONE Smoothie 6 pack, Smoothie 12 pack, Crush Cup 4 pack, or Coolision 6 pack
+Pillsbury Frozen Grands! Biscuits, $1.00 on ANY TWO
+ Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Pastries, $.50 on TWO
+ Stouffer's Family or Party size entrée, $.75 on ONE (28 oz or larger)
+Totino's Rolls Snacks, $.40 on TWO packages
+ Duracell Ultra Advanced Batteries, $1.00 on TWO (10-pack or larger),
+Energizer Brand Batteries, $1.00 on ONE pack or Energizer Brand Flashlight
+GE Energy Smart CFL or LED, GE Reveal CFL or GE Halogen product, $1.00 on ANY.
+Bounce Dryer Sheets, $.25 on ANY ONE,
+ Gain Detergent, $1.00 on ONE (any size),
+Scott Extra Soft Bath Tissue, $1.00 on EIGHT or more rolls.
+ Pillsbury Crescent Dinner Rolls, $.40 on TWO,
+Pillsbury Sweet Rolls or Grands Sweet Rolls, $.40 on ANY TWO,
+ Shedd's Country Crock Side Dishes, $1.00 on ANY ONE,
+Crisco product, $.55 on ANY ONE (DND5),
+ LouAna Cooking Oils, $.50 on ANY ONE (24 oz or larger),
+Natrataste Gold packet box, $.50 on ANY,

This was a total savings of  $34.95 and all stuff I normally buy, the cost of the coupons was $3.12 for a total savings of $31.83, I can pay my water bill with the savings! Much better than searching the $2.00 newspaper for 3-4 coupons you may or may not use.