Couponing!

As a child, I can remember every Sunday, my mom sitting at the dining room table, cutting coupons.  She had a little accordion-like envelope that she would sort and store these precious coupons in.  My parents cut out coupons for everything.. food, drink, restaurants, etc.  It was just a way of life.  If they could save .10, why not!?  I never really sat back and thought about it, for it was just something they did.  ALL THE TIME.
Once I was married and had a family of my own, I started to understand.  I started to see that even that .10 coupon saved you money.  Every little bit helps, as it all adds up.  I started shopping sales, and clipping coupons, however I must admit that I wasn't a very good coupon clipper.  I was spotty.  IF I remembered to get the Sunday paper, I'd clip them.  If not, I didn't really think much more about it, but then would get jealous of the ladies I'd see in the grocery store with their accordion-like envelopes busting with coupons.  "I need to do that", I'd tell myself.  And the next week I would.  But then drop the ball the next.

The latest craze now is "EXTREME couponing".  In fact, it's so popular, there are several tv shows about it.  These tv shows, however, portray the 'extreme couponer'.  These people spend hours, upon hours, cutting out coupons, organizing them, matching them up with their store's circular, and making their lists.  I've seen in some episodes where these people spend up to 6 hours shopping in the stores, and have several shopping carts FULL of items.  Upon checkout, their totals sometimes reach the $1000 mark, but after their gigantic stack of carefully organized coupons, they end up paying less than $20!  Say what!?  How can this be?  How can I do this?  Well the answer is simple.. I can't.  I just don't have enough hours in the day to do this, nor do I want to spend that much time on grocery shopping.  Sure, the savings are incredible, but I have better things to do.

But I still want to coupon.  I still want to get great deals and save money.  So for me, I am taking baby steps.  I am trying to educate myself with this whole couponing thing.  I posted on facebook a great shopping trip (though small) that I had this morning,  I walked out of there with everything in my cart, FREE.  I do have to admit, that I was tipped off by a friend of mine, who is also getting into this couponing thing.  Having a buddy is a great asset, as there is always someone watching out for you, and sharing info that you may have missed.

So let me try to tell you what I've learned.  One of the key things that you have to do is to get those coupon inserts!  Of course they come in the paper on Sunday, but did you know that the dollar store (at least my local Dollar Tree) has papers with them in them on SATURDAY.  Last week I bought 8 papers.  I saved that $8 today on my trip.. more than made up for it.   It's tiring to cut them out, but do it.  I don't cut out coupons of things that I know I wouldn't use, like Fixodent, or Nicorette gum.. that's just a waste of my time.  However, I am now cutting out different brands that I normally wouldn't use.  Why not.. if I get a good enough deal on it, what's the harm?  Get a binder.. a big binder that zips around the outside, with a handle.  Make a trip to your local craft store, and buy those baseball card like plastic pages to store your coupons in.  This makes for organizing your coupons a lot easier.  And dividers.. don't forget the dividers.  Section off your coupons.. I have "Frozen, Refridgerated, canned, boxed, health and beauty, beverages, " etc.. you get the idea.  Do what makes sense to you.

Now for the info.. I don't have time to drive around, collecting store circulars.  You can find them online.. And what's even better is that there are several online couponing sites that you can use FOR FREE.  These wonderful people have coupon matchups for each store!  All of my local grocery stores are listed on these sites, so this makes it much easier for me to find the great deals.  You just have to sit down and look.  These deals will become easier to obtain once you establish your very own coupon stockpile.  I've learned that at any given week, the coupon that may be used is one that was in a circular a few weeks back. Hold on to them until they expire. These sites also match coupons up with drugstores.. don't forget them!  They often have AWESOME deals!

Here are a few sites that I use:

Saving My Family Money 
Coupon Mom
Krazy Coupon Lady

Here are a few sites that you can find coupons and print them at home!  Sometimes you can print more than one..
Coupons.com
Red Plum
Smart Source

There are so many other little tools out there that you can use.  Keep in mind that most stores offer their very own STORE coupons.  These coupons are only good at that store.  For example, Wal Mart and Target do this all the time.  You can go online to their website and find store coupons and print them out.  STORE coupons CAN BE COMBINED with a manufacturer's coupon for an even bigger savings.  Check out your grocery stores paper circular.  Often there will be store coupons in that.  Combine them with a manufacturers coupon, and you've just saved double!

Make sure that you check your stores coupon policy.  Many stores limit the amount of coupons you can use on the same item.. for example, you may only be able to use 4 of the same coupon, or only 20 can be doubled.  It's best to know what the policy is BEFORE you shop.


Below is a picture of the items that I picked up today at ShopRite.  I got all of this for free.  Here's how I did it:
First, the pasta.  It's Barilla Whole Grain Pasta (all varieties).  It was on sale for .99 per box.  I had 3 coupons for 'save $1 on 2 boxes.  Shop Rite doubled my $1 coupon today (limited promotion), giving me $2 off for each coupon.  In the end, 6 boxes of pasta = FREE.  Barilla Pasta Sauce - on sale for .99 each.  For the remaining items, it was similar.  My coupons, doubled, took care of the cost of the product.  :)

Good luck!