In my Coupon Basics for Newbies post, I talked about sources of coupons. Some of the biggest sources of coupons are the coupon inserts that come in the Sunday paper; ie. the Redplum, Smart Source and PG Brandsaver.

I’ve had several people ask me, are you really saving money by buying papers? I’ll let you in on my big secret: I rarely ever buy papers. How do I do it?

Before you get all grossed out, newspaper dumpsters are nothing to cringe at. They are only for newspapers, so you avoid dealing with any messy stuff. This past week, I stopped at the local dumpster and picked up several coupon inserts just by reaching in and picking some inserts out of some papers on the top. It’s amazing how many people don’t use the coupon inserts.

What will you need? Get one of those long grabbing tools, some kind of box/step-stool and you’re good to go.

Isn’t this illegal? It is illegal to climb inside the dumpster. Anything you can grab without climbing inside the dumpster is fair-game. Just be sure to not trespass on private property when you go newspaper diving. Check with your local laws on this.

Don’t want to newspaper dive? Here are some ways you can get coupons without buying the Sunday papers:

• Trade: Hot Coupon World, Slickdeals and A Full Cup are all set up for trading. Trade and swap for your favorites, and it only costs you the envelope and stamp to send out the coupons.
• Buy what you want in bulk: You can buy the coupons you want in bulk on Ebay or the Coupon Clippers. Just be very careful with this. If you are buying a set of 20 coupons for $1-$1.99,but you will save $30 at the grocery store, then it is worth it. But if you won’t be saving very much, then it is probably not worth it. Don’t get carried away in bidding on items on Ebay. We are in the market for saving money, not winning in a bidding war.
• Ask Co-Workers, Friends and Family for their inserts. If they aren’t going to use them, you might as well ask.
  
• Be on the look-out everywhere you go. Sometimes you can find a paper sitting out at your local coffee shop, or various other places.
  
• Use the programs at CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens to include the cost of your papers. Getting the Sunday papers is a great way to use your Register Rewards, Extra Care Bucks and Gift Cards that you get by working the deals at these stores.
• Use overage to cover the cost of your papers. Sometimes getting certain items will give you overage at various stores. Use that overage to get your papers.

Can I still be saving if I do buy papers? A big YES! The cost of one set of papers can save you fifty dollars or more if you use your coupons wisely. Find the lowest price in town if you must buy the papers. On occasion I will buy the papers for a $1 from the guys who sell them on the corner.

Good luck with your endeavors, and let me know if you have any questions.

(p.s. That is not my bum sticking out of the dumpster. image source)