Best coupon websites for 2012

Each year, dozens and dozens of new coupon websites pop up. But what makes it tough is that many of the newest sites are so called "affiliate" sites, where anyone can post deals and coupons.

So how can you separate the good coupon sites from the worthless?

We turned to a coupon expert for help, Heather Tenney, a coupon blogger who goes by the name "Little Miss Know it All" .

Tenney combines coupons with store markdowns for some insanely low grocery bills. We followed her as she paid just $20 for $86 worth of groceries.

Favorite Coupons Sites
    
With so many couponing websites, where does she find all her coupons?

Besides clipping from the Sunday newspaper, Tenney uses some of the same sources recently listed by SmartMoney Magazine as the best coupon sites for 2012.

Both agree that the first site to start with is Coupons.com.

"One of my favorites is Coupons.com," Tenney said.  "80 percent of all deals come through their software, and they have great secure software."

You will have to download a coupon printing program, but she says its completely safe.

Tenney and SmartMoney say two good alternate sites are SmartSource.com and CouponCabin.com.

A slightly different site is RetailMeNot.com where you search specific stores.

"Retail Me Not is where you never want to pay retail," Tenney said. "So you type in the name of the store you're looking for, and up will pop all these coupons other people have reported in."

Finally, while it's not on SmartMoney's list, Tenney loves eBates.com for its money back feature.

Whichever sites you try, don't waste your money.

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Don't Waste Your Money is a registered trademark of the EW Scripps Co.

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