coupons, how to start part II

Now that you collected coupons you need to store and use them .
DO NOT CUT COUPONS FROM YOUR SUNDAY CIRCULARS.  Keep them whole and record the date on the front.
Coupons that are  already cut  , just separate them into categories.   Many people use binders that zipper shut and have trading card plastic sheets in them  I have plastic shoe box  with snack size storage bags that I have labeled with each category  .  I find it is easier for me than the binder.

Now two more things before you really shop.  Decide your budget for the weeks shopping and then make a list of the items you need and those you use often.
I find that starting a stockpiling preference list helps me to locate and focus on GREAT deals instead of just good ones.  For example::::
laundry soap-  no prefernce
toothpaste     - crest
soup              - progresso
bath soap       - any
deodorant       any but prefer mennen
You can be brand loyal but it makes it more difficult to save and stockpile.

Now to stockpile
Each week look through the stores circulars and match the specials to your list of items you need or use often.
Using my list here is an example of how I might stockpile.
Gerbes  10 for 10$ sale       Mennen on that sale for 1$each
I have 1$ and 50 cent coupons.  And Gerbes doubles.
6 deodorants, 4 coupons at 50 cents, 2 coupons at 1$=  6 free deodorants.
As my husband says, I  won't use 6 deodorants this week but why pay full price when I can get it FREE.

 

Next blog I will go into my trip to the store where I paid 77 cents for the items pictured plus a box of sugar babies.
 














 

Where do you get all those coupons??!

So now that you have decided what type of a couponer you are , you need to decide where to get your coupons.

One choice is the sunday paper.  NOT all papers are created equal.  Usually there are 3 options in the paper, (P&G)  Proctor and Gamble, (SS) smart source, or (RP) Redplum.   Not every paper will have all three and some weeks there won't be anything in some papers.    The easiest was is to have the paper delivered to you.  Get multiple copies to really take advantage of the sales.   I tend to look at the paper in the store and if I see anything I can use I will buy them there.  I have been know to buy 10 copies one week and none the next. 

Another option is to "Purchase" your coupons.  You are paying for someone else to get the paper and do the clipping and sorting.  The good part of this is you only get the coupons you want .  Usually it is a rather cheap way to get them but if you miss a sale because they have not arrived then you are simply out of luck.    Ebay is one source for this.  You bid on a group of preselected coupons.  I prefer clipping sites.  My favorite is The coupon clippers, but there are several others that offer collection and clipping services.  Sites like Afullcup.com are where people gather  to talk about  specials and you can trade or buy coupons there.

Check with neighbors, friends, relatives for their unused coupons.  Some work areas and libraries have coupon boxes where you can take some there to leave them and take out ones you use.   Keep your eyes out for machines in the stores called blinkies that give you coupons, or displays with tare-sheets on them.  These sometimes work out to great savings.
keep looking and gather those coupons.!!!!

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

coupons, how to start

When I was looking at the available sales the other day I realized that I really did not need to go shopping for much this week due to the last few stock pile shops I had done. This made me think of WHY do I coupon??
I could say I do it to stay within a budget. But that would not be the whole story.
I could say I love the incredible deals I can get when I coupon, OR, I could say BOTH.
If you want to coupon but think you are short on time then look at this math.
My daughter uses Head & Shoulders
Retail at 8.99 shampoo
8.99 conditioner
She uses one of each monthly or $17.98
If I were to get them for her without any planning then $17.98 x 12 =$115.76 a year.

Recently I found a kmart deal of 2 for $9.00, they also were running a double coupon ad.
here is how it worked out.
2 shampoos- 9.00
2 conditioners-9.00
1 crest toothpaste-3.00
TOTAL $21.00

I used 2- buy1get1 coupons ($9.00)
2- $1.oo coupons ($4.00) don't forget the double
1 -$1.50 crest coupon ($3.00)
TOTAL savings $16.00
out of Pocket-- $5.00
I paid $5.00 for 4 shampoos or 2 months worth. If I find similar deals that would be only $30.00 per year!!!!
Do you think you could find time to make $85.76 a year. Do you think you could spend maybe 1/2 an hour a week to find more deals like this??
If so decide if you want to find a few deals or a lot of deals and check back later for more on budgets and stockpiles.