When Ellie from NBC4 approached me about doing a guest post on her blog Elaborating With Ellie, I really struggled to find just the right topic.

In fact, I started and scrapped several posts before it occurred to me that my problem was I wasn’t considering the type of audience that her site would have. While I get a good number of newbies here (which I love!), I’m willing to bet that visitors to her site are even greener at couponing and deal hunting than most.

Once that struck me, I found it much easier to settle on a topic, resources for coupons other than the Sunday newspaper inserts.  I actually think this information is useful for newbies and pros alike!

Here are just a few of the highlights, and you can see the full post on Ellie’s blog:

• Online printable sites – Online printable sites like Coupons.com and SmartSource.com are a great resource to check before you make your next trip to the grocery store. They often have coupons that you won’t be able to find anywhere else. Just select the coupons you want and click print!
• eBay – Did you know that there are loads of coupons for sale on eBay? Well, actually, most coupons state that they cannot be sold; however, sellers circumvent this by stating that you’re actually bidding on their time to cut, sort, and list the coupons. This is a super way to stock up on coupons so you can stockpile an item when it’s on sale.
• Coupon clipping services – In addition to eBay, there are several websites where you can also purchase specific coupons like The Coupon Master, The Coupon Clippers, and Cents Off. The prices are only a fraction of the coupon’s value, and if you use them wisely, the savings far outweigh the minimal price to purchase the coupons.
• Blinkies – Have you ever noticed those little machines in the grocery store with the flashing red lights that spit coupons out? If not, look for them next time you’re walking up and down the aisles. In the couponing world these are called “blinkies,” and they tend to be really good coupons. However, unless the item is on sale or is something you were planning to buy anyhow, don’t be coerced into using them that day. Take just a few and stick them in your coupon keeper. Wait to use them until you find a great sale, which just might even be at another store. They’re manufacturer’s coupons, so they can be used anywhere.
• Magazines – You can find great money-saving coupons in magazines such as Better Homes and Gardens and Woman’s Day, and even better, you can often find free subscriptions to these magazines online. The very best magazine for coupons is ALL YOU magazine. This magazine is only available at Walmart; however, I found a great deal on it right now where you can get 2 years for just $17.99. It’s jam packed with coupons, and often there are coupons for free items, so the savings to be had more than defray the cost of the subscription.

Eventually these will all be compiled in a comprehensive list on Deal Seeking Mom, so I’d love to hear your favorite coupon resources!