Starting couponing can be overwhelming. There’s a lot more to it than randomly finding a coupon, cutting it out and handing it over to the cashier.

It’s not necessary to be “extreme” when you coupon. That is, you don’t need to spend hours upon hours preparing for a shopping trip and hoard mass quantities of everything in your house.

There are some techniques that will help you maximize your grocery budget and save big bucks. I consistently save over a thousand dollars a year on groceries using these techniques while avoiding being extreme and keeping a modest stockpile.

Here are the keys to being a successful couponer:

Ready or not, there they go!

It’s been 18 or so years where you’ve held the reins and directed your child the best you could. Now they’re about to embark on their own journey. In charge of their own destiny.

A little scary and a little exciting, isn’t it!

Are you ready?

Are they ready?

Do you trust them to handle money the right way?

Before you send them out the door on their way to manage their own finances, try to reinforce a few key points about money. Set them up from day one for financial success.