Call me crazy, but I love Sundays...do you know why? Getting those wonderful coupons in the newspaper is like getting a small present. Seriously, who doesn't like saving money, especially when it comes to groceries? We all know grocery shopping can get to be pretty expensive, so effective couponing will help to save you a bundle!

In 1894 Asa Candler , the co-owner of Coca-Cola, used handwritten tickets so that people could get a free glass of Coca-Cola. And so begins the evolution of the coupon! For more information on the history of coupons click here. It's really quite interesting!

In addition to the newspaper, you can also get coupons through family and friends. On top of that there are some EXCELLENT blogs out there that bring the coupons to you. Check out Hip 2 Save. Not only does the author give lists of deals currently going on, but also coupons to print out as well as FREE items to snag. You can visit Coupons.com, SmartSource.com and RedPlum.com for other great coupons. Don't forget to pick up store circulars as well, those are great sources for coupons too!

Sometimes there may be instances when you do not need or want a lot of the products that have coupons. However, with the items that you snag at a discounted price or for free that you don't want, you can always end up donating to a local shelter who can use them. On that same note, you may not have a child at home but maybe one of your friends is expecting. By finding good deals on formula or diapers, clothing, etc. you can gather all of these items together and make a nice gift basket! Those items will definitely come in handy down the road. 

Also, paying attention to really good deals is also another reason why you should coupon. You can frequently find items that are on sale for a dollar. Those are the best because you can stack a $1 coupon on top of that or one for 75 cents and practically get that item FREE!

Most importantly, couponing is all about being thrifty and saving as much money as possible. The money you save with coupons can go towards something like a vacation, unexpected expenses, old items that need upgrading (I'm sure you may have your own personal list). So get out there and start your clipping! Happy couponing :-)