Couponing is a VERY fun and challenging hobby! Couponing can save you hundreds to thousands of dollars a year. Depending on your dedication to organization, savings, and SHOPPING! It's a challenge everyday you decide to coupon...It's you against the store!
First off let's talk organization!
I highly recommend the binder method, as I have found this is the most efficient way to stay organized! You can use any binder you have laying around, but I recommend a full zippered binder, this will ensure that if your binder is every dropped or knocked over all coupons will stay confined to the binder. I have the Five Star Mead Zippered 2" Binder! Inside I use clear baseball sleeves, 9 ct along with 6 ct sleeves. I use colored dividers to seperate my sections. If you want you can use my table of contents!
Included in my binder:
Folder Pocket with paperclips, scissors & a calculator
My Divided Sections of Coupons
Store Coupon Policies {A must to keep on hand}
These are the simple steps to starting up your binder, the intital start up time can take a while but weekly its a breeze for upkeep!
As I mentioned before, Please do not try to clip every coupon you see, you will become overwhelmed, tired, and irritated with coupons. I use the clipless method, and than with the coupons I do end up clipping, those are placed in my binder!
I purchased a Portable File box from Office Depot for $10.99 along with some basic hanging folders and regular folders! The initial set up is super quick. I label the folders with the corresponding date for the week. Example 10/9 SS <~~Smart Source, 10/9 RP <~~Red Plum, 10/9 GM <~~ General Mills. Every Sunday I receive (4) inserts, I gather all like inserts, example all Smart Source together and I place them ALL in the corresponding folder.
When you read a Blog store match up they will state where the coupon can be found, this way you can head over to your file box and pull the correct date and than clip the coupons needed!! This is a much EASIER method than clipping every single coupon, don't make the mistake I made at the beginning.
Questions & Answers:
Q: How many inserts should I get weekly?
A: The recommended number of inserts is one per family member! Although it's whatever you feel most comfortable with. I have 3 members in my family and I get 4 papers weekly!
Q: How do I make the most of my savings with coupons?
The whole game of couponing is waiting for a store sale and using your coupon at the perfect time! This is how you score items for rock bottom prices and most of the time FREE!! Who doesn't love FREE? Also, another way of saving with coupons is shopping at your local drugstore that offers "store rewards!"
Examples:
Crest Toothpaste on sale for $1.00 at Albertsons this week
Head over to your 10/2 P&G insert and clip out the $1.00/1 Crest Coupon
Albertsons sale is $1.00 - your $1.00 coupon = FREE Item!
Store Sale w/ Store Reward:
{This is where the fun, and money making come in}
CVS:
Crest Toothpaste on sale for $2.99, get back $2.00 ECB <~~Extra Care Bucks
Crest Toothpaste on sale for $2.99, get back $2.00 ECB <~~Extra Care Bucks
You are going to use the $2.00/1 Crest Complete coupon from {9/11 SS}
Crest Complete Toothpaste @ $2.99
Use $2.00/1 Crest Complete Coupon {9/25 SS}
Pay $0.99
Get back $2.00 ECB <~~Prints on your receipt as "paper cash" to use on your next visit.
You Paid $0.99, and got back $2.00 making it $1.01 Money Maker!!
Another awesome way to save money on the everyday necessities your family needs, is to plant your own garden, make your own bread, can your own jams! If your up for the challenge, the start ups costs and low and will keep staple items out of your spending budget! Last year we had our garden flourishing with white corn, carrots, lettuce, onions, tomatoes and broccoli! So instead of running to the store I ran to my backyard!
Tips & Tricks:
1. Don't clip every coupon you see, you will become overwhelmed VERY fast!
2. A good couponer MUST be organized. There are several methods to organization..
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