Well, this is the tough part...getting started.  I, like most, started small.  Before I knew it, I was hooked; a real couponaholic!  Keep in mind that the idea behind real couponing, or as some call it "the couponing game," is combining store sales/specials with coupons to get free and next to free stuff (define stuff for yourself).  So the lingo doesn't get in your way, here are a few to start with:

Manufacturer's Coupon: A coupon issued by the manufacturer.  Can be found in the Sunday paper, online, on tear pads at stores, in "blinkie" boxes at stores, in product packaging, magazines, etc. A manufacturer's coupon is valid at any store that accepts coupons & sells the described product.

Store Coupon: A coupon issued by a store. This coupon is only valid at the particular store who issued it (or perhaps at another store that "accepts competitor's coupons"). These coupons are usually found in that store's ad, but can also be obtained via home mailer, using e-coupons, and on store websites (as printables, via text, etc.).

Purchase: Each item you buy is considered a Purchase. People often will confuse a "purchase" with a "transaction." These are different when you are talking about coupons. If you had 10 coupons for the same item, you could buy 10 of those items & use all 10 coupons at once, so long as the coupon reads "per purchase." However, if the coupon reads "per transaction" you would have to break up your items by purchasing them 1 per transaction.

Double Coupons: A promotion in which you use ONE manufacturer's coupon and the store will double the value of that one coupon, usually up to a certain amount. Sometimes this happens automatically (Kmart is a good example, during their double coupon promotion, their cash registers automatically double your coupons) other stores require a coupon doubler (this is Albertsons' preferred method of doubling coupons. You must have that coupon clipped from their ad & combine with your manufacturer's coupon).

Now some rules:

Rule: You may use ONE manufacturer's coupon per item.
There are some exceptions to this (for example, some coupons state "when you buy 2") but for the most part: 1 coupon per 1 item.

Rule: In General, you may combine ONE manufacturer's coupon with ONE store coupon.This is the policy of most stores, however there are cashiers out there who take it upon themselves to make you choose between which coupon you want to use - again, in general, this is not correct. The store is covering the "cost" of their own coupon, the manufacturer is covering the cost of the other. For example, you see a coupon in the Fred Meyer ad for TreeTop Apple Juice. It is on sale 2 for $3 with the store coupon. You happen to have a $1 off TreeTop manufacturer's coupon. You can buy one bottle, use both coupons and pay $0.50.

Rule: You must follow the "rules" of the coupon.
Do not try to use it. You must also buy the product specified on the coupon. You must buy the size of the product specified on the coupon.

Also...

It is good to know that Stores MAKE MONEY off of coupons. In addition to the amount of the coupon, stores get an extra $0.08 per coupon to cover their handling costs. I have read that it actually costs stores somewhere between $0.02-$0.04 per coupon to "handle" it, so they make at least $0.04 more per coupon off of a coupon shopper than a shopper who uses no coupons (kind of makes you wonder why so many cashiers get so cranky, huh?). This makes sense, if stores were losing money to coupons, they would have be done away with long ago.  So, don't feel bad.  Oftentimes, the cashiers will try to make you feel bad.  DON'T!  In fact, I love countering that with the fact that I love to donate food and hygiene products to local charities...how about them apples?

Most important rule: HAVE FUN!

Karissa

*Special thanks to Crystal for help with some of the lingo, etc.