Teach me to coupon, please!

[Monroe on a Budget]

I'm not sure what to do. I'm a total beginner, but I want to cut down our grocery bill and build up our stockpile. Hubby is totally on board. Any tips?

Originally posted on Monroe on a Budget blog Dec. 4 2007, http://www.blogsmonroe.com/budget

15 steps to creating and maintaining a coupon box

There are necessary grocery purchases where you have little control over the prices that are posted for the week – such as milk and meat. But you can cut your grocery bill quite a bit by taking advantage of manufacturer grocery coupons on brand name pantry and frozen products.

Many years ago, I assembled and stocked up a coupon box for a young bride. I can’t do that for all of you, but I can explain how it’s done.

1. Subscribe to the home delivery edition of at least one Sunday newspaper. Now, you all know I work as a newspaper reporter. Maybe you didn’t know that I also worked as a newspaper carrier when I was a teen-ager. But regardless of how I have made my living, if you are a smart coupon shopper, you will more than earn the cost of that newspaper subscription back whether you are a weekend-only subscriber or a seven-day subscriber. For coupon shopping reasons, home delivery has an advantage over news stand or vending machine purchases because the advertising inserts are often keyed to specific zip codes or delivery districts.

2. Watching for additional sources of coupons. Your grocery store might issue coupons with cash register receipts. There are Internet sites where you can sign up for printable coupons. If you join a consumer survey organization, the perks often include coupons. Look in your women’s or food magazines for coupons. Some people subscribe to coupon-clipping services. You might live in an area where newspaper circulation districts overlap so you can purchase more than one Sunday paper and therefore get more than packet of coupons. (You may laugh, but my parents get home delivery of three different newspapers.)

3. Swap coupons with friends and relatives. This works really well when you have swappers who get coupons from different sources or are at different stages in their life. For example, I have no need for diaper coupons and baby products. I give those coupons to one of my sisters.

4. Make it part of your weekly routine to clip and sort those grocery coupons. I cut coupons while watching TV. My mother turned clipping coupons into an “extra money” chore for us children by paying 1 cent for any useful coupon. (For example: No payment for dog food coupons, because we didn’t have a dog).

5. Save every coupon for a product or brand that you might purchase during the next few weeks. If you have no use for a product – such as dog food when you don’t have a dog, well, then don’t clip it. But I am not picky about what brand of dryer sheets we use, so I save all available coupons for that product.

6. Get a sturdy box or packet to hold your coupons. The ideal one is large enough to hold your entire stash of coupons, but small enough to sit in a grocery cart’s front compartment, to tuck in your purse or be held by a child who goes shopping with you. My mother used a small shoe box. I use a 4 by 6 index card box.

7. Create dividers for your coupon box. I use index cards. At the top of each divider, write category names that help you find individual coupons quickly when you are at the supermarket. Examples: Baking Supplies, Breakfast, Dairy, Medicine, Paper Products, Refunds. (Yes, I sort my grocery categories alphabetically. My mother sorted her coupons by the rows in her favorite grocery store. Maybe you want to sort by expiration date.)

8. Sort your coupons into the dividers. I find it helpful if I keep identical coupons for the same product together, so I can stock up if prices are really good.

9. Learn what the discount policies are at your area supermarkets. For example: Do you need a shopping card to get the best prices? Will coupon values be doubled at that store and what is the limit? Are there restrictions on how many coupons you can use for multiple purchases of the same product? Are there weekly specials that start on Monday, but competitors who start on Sunday?

10. Read the fliers for all the supermarkets that are close to home or work before you prepare your shopping list. That way, you can change your shopping routine during a week the competition has a better sale. When you see a product in the sales flier that can be matched up with your coupon collection, circle the item on that flier, highlight that item on your shopping list or put it on a separate side of the grocery list so you remember there is a coupon with that product.

11. Do the math on weird pricing structures before you add in the coupon value. I finally taped into the lid of my coupon box a list of common pricing formulas such as 3 for $5, 3 for $7, etc. You may find the per-unit price is still too expensive even with a coupon.

12. Take the entire coupon box with you to the grocery store. Why? You might find a sale that isn’t in the sales flier. This fall, I purchased two jars of brand name peanut butter for 20 cents each on an unadvertised special combined with double coupon. You might also discover that the brand you wanted is sold out and will have to make another choice if you need that product right away.

13. Put the coupons you are using in a designated place when you make the selection, so the coupons are ready to go at checkout time. I stuff my coupons in the front section of my coupon box. You could also use your checkbook folder or a purse pocket.

14. If you find that generic products or another brand without a coupon is cheaper on a particular day, that’s OK! Coupons are a method to save money. Use alternate methods when they work better.

15. During the middle and end of the month, sort through that coupon box and throw out the expired coupons. Most expiration dates fall on the 15th or 30th. The clerk will check for expiration dates, so don’t embarrass yourself at the checkout with a coupon that’s no good.

[Judi Dial]

I have a binder like most other folks. I also buy multiple papers if the inserts are good. The coupons I don't use are mailed to my SIL every week, I don't know what she does with what she doesn't use.

I used to send them to a military post in Turkey.

My binder is divided by months. The coupons that are expiring in the current month are in front. I don't cut coupons, I just keep the sheets and cut them at the market, as above.

I do make a computer inventory of the coupons and sort it by expiration date. This sound like a lot of work, but it isn't really. The data base is product/$/date and that's all! If I get really behind I make up sheets of notebook paper with the 3 categories on it or by month, if I have a lot. The computer alphabetizes the coupons for me, so I can find a coupon quickly.

Beyond that, we eat in season. I have a "left over" bin in my fridge where the dibs and dabs go and we try and have..."Dibs & Dabs" for dinner at least once a week so we eat up whatever's left. There's only 2 of us and DH doesn't mind leftovers but after 3 meals we're both pretty tired of whatever.

I sometimes do meal plans, but mostly I do not. More often, like Amy D (frugal zealot) I look around and see what we've got that needs to be used and do something with whatever (3 seasoned hamburgers from the freezer, corn frozen last summer and instant mashed potatoes tonight). When I do meal plans, DH gets a notion to make dinner and makes something different or eats something I was going to use for lunch. Since he works at home, he's frequently here more than I am!

I try to only buy with coupons things I'm fairly sure we'll use. I will buy a new brand with a coupon/sale to try it, but we tend to not like prefab foods often, so much of the mac and cheese, etc. that's out there I'd never buy.

Judi

[Judi Dial]

Also, I forgot!

When I have time, I use mygrocerydeals.com to look at a preview of my local store's sales. It will give you a shopping list for whatever local stores. I'll look and see if whatever is on sale is something I have a coupon for BEFORE I get to the store, so my savings are larger.

IHTH!

Judi

[wimedtypr]

I just started getting into the couponing. I went online and printed coupons for my area on coupon mom site. Then I ordered the sunday paper only which is normally 52 for 6 months but found a discount site on the net and paid 35. Anyway, looked at all the local grocery store ads from 3 stores and the drug stores and kmart, walmart etc.. You see what sales the stores have and match them with your coupons. Like the drug store had fructis shampoo on sale for 99 cents and I had a coupon for 1 dollar off so I go that shampoo for free. Also, at our local store they had milk for 1.88 which is a good price and you can freeze milk. They also had large family size bread for 1 buck, and a store specific coupon for skippy peanut butter 1 buck. Also the drug store had their laundry detergent from 5 bucks down to 1.99, 50 loads 2x concentrated so I got 2 of those. Also the drug store had free items after rebate, so I got some axe 2-in shampoo for my husband for 5.99 but there is a rebate for 5.99 so I get that free which I will put on a gift card which is a choice from the store (Walgreens) so I can use on more sale or rebate items. So today at the one store just with their instore sales coupons (which if I had more of a manufacturer coupon collection I could use those to get more of a discount but I did not have any) I got 4 family size loaves of bread, 2 jars of 16 oz PB, 3 rolls of Scott toilet paper, 1 gallon of milk 15 dollars and a savings of 6 dollar so I paid 9 bucks. At the drug store I got fruictis shampoo 1 bottle of axe shampoo, 2 bottles of 50 loads each laundry detergent for 7 bucks. I used to pay 10 just for my laundry detergent alone! So, you save all your coupons, all brands because the coupons for for a few months before they expire and something might go on sale where you can use it and get something free. Luckily for me all the stores are closeby. Tomorrow I will go to my last store for the week to get their instore coupon sales, shredded cheese for 1 buck, cans of spaghetti sauce 75 cents, and hamburter 1.88 a pound, which is good. Also, check if your store does double coupons and check how many items you can get on the coupon. Just remember like toothpaste on sale for 99 cents is not a deal because you can get it at the dollar store for that price and if you dont need it now, usually you will get a coupon for at least 55 cents off or more and get that item free then. If the coupon does not specify size, then get the smallest size, use your coupon and many times the item will be free. That is how it works. Keep your coupons organized and with you all the time. take 1/2 hour to write down what you need to get from each store and dont buy extra stuff just cuz you are there that you dont need like a bag of candy or a craving item you see. Then you blow your savings. Mostly the pharmacy stores like walgreens and CVS have the best deals, you get your money back to spend back in their store and they have great deals so you always get free and/or nearly free stuff. Also, check the net on frugal meals. Zillions of them and good too.