Each time you find yourself embarking on a frugal couponing outing you should always take a few moments to organize yourself prior to leaving. In the perspective of couponing the organizational methods you use are skills are will not just save time but additional money. Once that you have become familiar with using the coupons you will grow much more comfortable with the method of shopping you have chosen, encouraging yourself to save much more. Do not panic if your initial coupon binder organization failed to yield the results you thought it would, as you work with your coupons you will discover on your own the method that best suits your needs. On each shopping trip I tend to triple check my couponing binder to ensure the maximum yield of savings. I recommend that once you grow more comfortable carrying your binder you do the save to deduct the largest amount from your subtotals.
1. Current Store Ads – Bring along the current sales flyer to the store that you are shopping at, if your store price matches with local stores you will need to bring these as well. Many current stores do allow price matching; this will allow the maximization of your savings with each trip. Sales flyers make all the difference when shopping at the grocery. Prior to the store I go over the current flyers and circle each item of need with a noticeable red marker, my store does price match so I will do this for each local grocery facility.
2. Couponing Envelops - I take three envelops with me to the grocery that contain coupons; each labeled stores sale flyers, grocery list, and shopping aisle. Two of these envelops have coupons from coupons I have pulled from my binder on items I know I need that correspond to my list, the store flyer, as well as the sales cycle. I have inspected these coupons to insure I can use them based on the date of expiration. The third envelop I will insert coupons into as I shop, running into sales; this can easily be done by keeping a running tally of the coupons (of all types) that are in your binder. When I use the coupons I mark out the coupons on my spreadsheet which I have segmented to department since my binder is sectioned based on store department; also both are in order to the alphabet. Your order is important as you should only have to glance quickly at your records, instead of taking time going through each pouch.
3. Items Not Listed – I always carry with me a complete list as to what I need to pick up at the grocery, which is usually under budget. This allows me to shop the grocery aisles and pick up sale items that aren’t listed in the flyer but are being sold at a discount. Most times I have a coupon, many times I have more than one as I look at the store coupon list prior to my shopping and print my needs. Not all sale or discount items will be listed with the sales flyer, please keep this in mind; this is it more important to know the coupons you have. For each item not on my list I add to my cart I document the sales price and if I have a coupon, writing down the coupon value also. This allows me to keep chart of my savings each week, month, and year. You should never create a grocery list straddling your budget as you can never budget for meat if meat if applicable for your family, there will be items not on your list you may buy. If on sale I try to keep these to a minimum.
4. Items in My Cart – The coupons in the two envelops I carry are always ordered by aisle, which can be done by memory; this is quite similar to department. When I place an item into my cart from my grocery list or my flyer list I will transfer a coupon per item into my store envelope. I always know I am buying items that I have enough coupons for, this is especially important when you are purchasing in bulk from the sales flyer/cycle. As you get the hang of using coupons the amount of coupons you will feel comfortable using will increase; perhaps triple/quadruple. On average I have more than 200 coupons that I use in my grocery transaction and save on average $255. At times I have paid only $6 for a full cart of items. This third envelop will be the couponing stash I use at the end of my transaction, after I present my rewards card to the cashier; my store allows double coupons, $200 in coupons equates $400 in doubles.
5. Checkout Lane – I purposefully wait in lengthy lines, instead of grabbing the National Inquirer I take a quick glance through the coupons I have. Most times I discover at least ten coupons for items that I can use and additional store coupons, usually I discover more at a quick line glance. I owe everything to the spreadsheets I keep and believe you will benefit, please realize that not everyone is as addicted to organization as I tend to be. The coupons that I do not use that are in my two envelops will be filed again when I get home and look over my bill and savings. The cycle changes as new product sales are released and new coupons are clipped.
*The example above is my couponing experience at the grocery, this changes by store. Each couponer will find a way he/she is most comfortable using coupons; new couponers will require experience and can mimic the savings above in no time.
1. Current Store Ads – Bring along the current sales flyer to the store that you are shopping at, if your store price matches with local stores you will need to bring these as well. Many current stores do allow price matching; this will allow the maximization of your savings with each trip. Sales flyers make all the difference when shopping at the grocery. Prior to the store I go over the current flyers and circle each item of need with a noticeable red marker, my store does price match so I will do this for each local grocery facility.
2. Couponing Envelops - I take three envelops with me to the grocery that contain coupons; each labeled stores sale flyers, grocery list, and shopping aisle. Two of these envelops have coupons from coupons I have pulled from my binder on items I know I need that correspond to my list, the store flyer, as well as the sales cycle. I have inspected these coupons to insure I can use them based on the date of expiration. The third envelop I will insert coupons into as I shop, running into sales; this can easily be done by keeping a running tally of the coupons (of all types) that are in your binder. When I use the coupons I mark out the coupons on my spreadsheet which I have segmented to department since my binder is sectioned based on store department; also both are in order to the alphabet. Your order is important as you should only have to glance quickly at your records, instead of taking time going through each pouch.
3. Items Not Listed – I always carry with me a complete list as to what I need to pick up at the grocery, which is usually under budget. This allows me to shop the grocery aisles and pick up sale items that aren’t listed in the flyer but are being sold at a discount. Most times I have a coupon, many times I have more than one as I look at the store coupon list prior to my shopping and print my needs. Not all sale or discount items will be listed with the sales flyer, please keep this in mind; this is it more important to know the coupons you have. For each item not on my list I add to my cart I document the sales price and if I have a coupon, writing down the coupon value also. This allows me to keep chart of my savings each week, month, and year. You should never create a grocery list straddling your budget as you can never budget for meat if meat if applicable for your family, there will be items not on your list you may buy. If on sale I try to keep these to a minimum.
4. Items in My Cart – The coupons in the two envelops I carry are always ordered by aisle, which can be done by memory; this is quite similar to department. When I place an item into my cart from my grocery list or my flyer list I will transfer a coupon per item into my store envelope. I always know I am buying items that I have enough coupons for, this is especially important when you are purchasing in bulk from the sales flyer/cycle. As you get the hang of using coupons the amount of coupons you will feel comfortable using will increase; perhaps triple/quadruple. On average I have more than 200 coupons that I use in my grocery transaction and save on average $255. At times I have paid only $6 for a full cart of items. This third envelop will be the couponing stash I use at the end of my transaction, after I present my rewards card to the cashier; my store allows double coupons, $200 in coupons equates $400 in doubles.
5. Checkout Lane – I purposefully wait in lengthy lines, instead of grabbing the National Inquirer I take a quick glance through the coupons I have. Most times I discover at least ten coupons for items that I can use and additional store coupons, usually I discover more at a quick line glance. I owe everything to the spreadsheets I keep and believe you will benefit, please realize that not everyone is as addicted to organization as I tend to be. The coupons that I do not use that are in my two envelops will be filed again when I get home and look over my bill and savings. The cycle changes as new product sales are released and new coupons are clipped.
*The example above is my couponing experience at the grocery, this changes by store. Each couponer will find a way he/she is most comfortable using coupons; new couponers will require experience and can mimic the savings above in no time.
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