Money Smart Resources
Try out these helpful resources to gain some money smarts.
Couponing
There are tons of coupon sites out there, and not all of them are legitimate or worth your time. Many require a quick downloadable program to print their coupons, so using a computer lab printer may not be an option. Sites like coupons.com, smartsource.com, and redplum.com all work like this.
The easiest and best way to do coupons is to simply buy a local Sunday newspaper. Most weeks there are at least one or two coupon inserts, and chances are there will be several you can use. (If you use very specific brands, you may come out better using Google to locate coupons for those items.) Keep an eye on the sales circulars that come with your paper as well. If something goes on sale, you can use your coupons to maximize savings that week, and you can use them on buy one get one free sales at most stores.
A lot of national chains offer savings club cards which will automatically take an amount or percentage off products and totals. If it's a free program, it absolutely won't hurt to join. Remember to check expiration dates when using coupons, and don't expect to save hundreds of dollars every week. The savings do add up, but not all at once.
Income and Expense Worksheet
Knowing what expenses are flexible and what expenses are fixed is the first step to successfully managing your personal finances. This worksheet will help you to decide where you can be flexible each month.