Couponing 101

Due to many asking how I save money on groceries and have grown my stockpile, I thought Id write a blog entry instead of sending individual emails out. My savings were not seen as much the first year as I was still stocking up. By the second year, I had started to see drastic savings because I was not needing to shop for as many items. I will go into detail but do not get disheartened if at first you don't see a difference.

1. Buy a Sunday paper.  I usually buy 1 paper a week or 2 if there are really good deals. Check out www.sundaycouponpreview.com and it will show you what coupons to expect. Be aware some Sundays there are no coupon inserts. I also will grab coupon inserts out of recycling bin when I am dropping off my recycling but only if reachable. I do not dive in. There are coupons available to print online as well. I personally stopped using them because they use a lot of printer ink.
2. Organize your coupons. I use little accordion coupon files that are found at dollar stores or in office supply area of Walmart. I have 2. One for food and one for cleaners, toiletries, dog food, etc. You can opt to use a binder with baseball card holders if you wish. I find it impractical. I like to take my coupons with me to store in case there is a clearance on an item that was not advertised. I don't want to carry a book but I don't mind tossing the coupon "wallets" into my purse. Remember if you don't feel comfortable carrying it around you probably wont use it. Im not embarrassed to use coupons but I don't want to look like a freak walking around with a binder. If you want to be a freak that is your choice. Lol!
3. Retail store and drug store ads come out on Sunday and grocery store ads come out on Wednesday. All ads can be found online so do not feel like you need to buy a paper. I find it easier to have the paper just because it is tangible but I switch back and forth depending on how accessible the paper is to me at the time. My mail will sometimes bring ads a few days late.
4. Before I look thru the ads. I cut out any new coupons. Then I go thru my organizer and toss any expired weekly. When deciding which coupons to cut, I suggest overlooking the brand. I don't care which brand cereal or cookies I buy. I care about price. Also you will see as you go that some things you would never buy you can get incredibly cheap or free. I pick these items up and donate to local food pantry. Also if I have a lot of an item and we don't seem to be moving thru it very quickly I will donate some of that item as well. When you give, you will receive.
5. As you look thru ads, see if there are any sale items that match coupons you currently have. That is usually your best price. I suggest in your first year keeping a price book. Write down what item you bought and how much you paid got it after coupon, that way you can compare prices down the road and know if it is a good deal or not. If Campbells tomato soup is on sale for 59c a can and you have a coupon for 40c off 4 cans, you will be paying 49c a can at register. Some grocery stores double coupons, so that same deal of soup at 59c a can with a coupon that went from 40c off 4 cans to 80c off 4 cans, is now 39c a can. If you have multiple coupons stock up. Soup lasts a long time on a shelf and can be used in lots of recipes. Some stores and coupons have limits so be aware of that and just go back in store multiple times if need be or have kids and hubby buy items.
6. As I search thru ads, I use an envelope as a shopping list. I write down which items I am getting, I write the store price and circle it, and next to that I write my final price after coupon. I use an envelope per store. I circle the price so I can make sure it is accurate when I am picking up an item and if I end up at Walmart I can pricematch the item if I don't have time to go to multiple stores. Walmart will not double coupons so make sure you go to those grocery stores. By using the envelope method, all your coupons a re ready to go at the register. You can bring your other coupons with you just in case a deal pops up but you wont be spending hours in the store hunting down your original deals.
7. Some deals are just awesome! If Sunny D is 99c each. I will buy 10 without a coupon because it is a great stock up price. When shredded cheese is $1.49 a pack I will buy 10 and throw them in the freezer. If there is something on sale that you use at a good price. Buy lots of it. You don't have to have a coupon. Most of my deals are without coupons. I try and buy as much as possible.
8. The secret to a stockpile is to buy as much of an item as you can afford when it is at a great price. If you have 10 bottles of ketchup from a summer sale of 49c a bottle, then you don't need to pay $2 for a bottle in December when it is not on sale. If you buy a ton of school supplies in August when everything is pennies, then come January you are not paying full price for crayons when your child needs more, or full price for Kleenex when you get sick. This helps you save money later.
9. A year later, you will see that your grocery bill is severely slashed. You will be buying perishables, odd ball items you are out of, and stocking up on sales. It is so much nicer to know you stocked up on a years worth of laundry detergent at 99c a bottle and not need to pay $6 a month on it later.
10. Lastly find out what is free. I have lots of toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, popcorn, and hand soap that was free. These items go on sale at $1 ea many times throughout the year and there are many 50c off coupons for these items that will double making them free. I get as many as I have coupons for and whatever I can not use I send to local food pantry. Different stores will have different $1 items so watch for them.

If you have any questions feel free to comment and I will try and cover them. If there is anything you want to know in further detail let me know.