Hey there!!
I've taken a hiatus from blogging while starting my new job. I don't have near as much time to post as I did before. I did want to touch on a couple of things that were brought to my attention last night while talking with my mom. (God bless her soul for starting to coupon!!)
Most people make a list of the groceries they need and head to the store. What you have just done is make a list of everything that is not on sale at the store. We need to step back and realize that groceries go on sale. They all have a "rock bottom low price", and we want to focus on only buying groceries when they are at that rock bottom price. Don't worry it's pretty easy, in most areas they follow a cycle roughly 6 weeks long. That means if we see a rock bottom price this week then buy enough of that item to last 6 weeks. That way you don't have to go back and pay the full retail price in between. Does that make sense?
So how do you know? Good question! I'm glad you asked!! When I first started posting I had asked for some feedback to let me know where you were shopping. I was willing to help out and post the sales that were in your area. I only received a few replies, so honestly I didn't think anything of it after that. When talking to my mom yesterday, it became apparent that there are few and far between bloggers that cover your area. I did find one called Little House on the Prairie Living. She has some local stores listed and some things you might find. MIND YOU... this is a LOT of work, so if you use her site, give her some feedback that you are using her site, OR she might stop posting.
One site that I use all the time is called Southern Savers. You can find drugstore buys here that include, but are not limited to Walgreens and CVS. I also use The Coupon Challenge, and The Krazy Coupon Lady.
These websites will provide you with all the sales you could possibly dream about for groceries and personal care items. Most have some links to department store savings too. The work is done for you. All you have to do is pull/clip the coupon and go use it!!
Alright, getting on with the program....
Stocking up:
Sales on items usually run in 6-8 week cycles. This means that when you see an item on sale, adding a coupon, and it making it FREE or close to FREE you should be stocking up. (I get FIVE papers in addition to my home delivery because of this. How can you stock up if you don't have enough coupons??)
1.Save the inserts on Sunday
2.Go to the website that does your match-ups
3.Get the Coupons together (Either clipped or from accordian file)
4.Print out your shopping list
5.GO SHOPPING!!
I've taken a hiatus from blogging while starting my new job. I don't have near as much time to post as I did before. I did want to touch on a couple of things that were brought to my attention last night while talking with my mom. (God bless her soul for starting to coupon!!)
Most people make a list of the groceries they need and head to the store. What you have just done is make a list of everything that is not on sale at the store. We need to step back and realize that groceries go on sale. They all have a "rock bottom low price", and we want to focus on only buying groceries when they are at that rock bottom price. Don't worry it's pretty easy, in most areas they follow a cycle roughly 6 weeks long. That means if we see a rock bottom price this week then buy enough of that item to last 6 weeks. That way you don't have to go back and pay the full retail price in between. Does that make sense?
So how do you know? Good question! I'm glad you asked!! When I first started posting I had asked for some feedback to let me know where you were shopping. I was willing to help out and post the sales that were in your area. I only received a few replies, so honestly I didn't think anything of it after that. When talking to my mom yesterday, it became apparent that there are few and far between bloggers that cover your area. I did find one called Little House on the Prairie Living. She has some local stores listed and some things you might find. MIND YOU... this is a LOT of work, so if you use her site, give her some feedback that you are using her site, OR she might stop posting.
One site that I use all the time is called Southern Savers. You can find drugstore buys here that include, but are not limited to Walgreens and CVS. I also use The Coupon Challenge, and The Krazy Coupon Lady.
These websites will provide you with all the sales you could possibly dream about for groceries and personal care items. Most have some links to department store savings too. The work is done for you. All you have to do is pull/clip the coupon and go use it!!
Alright, getting on with the program....
Stocking up:
Sales on items usually run in 6-8 week cycles. This means that when you see an item on sale, adding a coupon, and it making it FREE or close to FREE you should be stocking up. (I get FIVE papers in addition to my home delivery because of this. How can you stock up if you don't have enough coupons??)
You could, buy a box of cereal for $4 a box, every week for six weeks and you’re out $24!
or
Buy six boxes of cereal at their rock bottom price and use coupons. Pay only $6 total for six boxes of cereal.
You save $18 by purchasing them at the right time and stocking up.
Does THIS make sense?? Right now our Stock pile on cereal is HUGE... Our boys will eat for an afternoon snack, and I don't have to tell them anymore "Save it for Breakfast because that's all we have".
Add On The Coupons:
If you buy when the items is at its lowest price AND use coupons, you save a bundle! Here's how it works:
credit here
GETTING ORGANIZED:
You need to have some sort of organization that way you know where and what you have for coupons. I started out with a photo journal book. Three of them, actually. I filed them accordingly: Perishables, Non-Perishables, and Household Goods ie.. toothpaste, body wash, TP, tampoons, etc..
Then James purchased a binder with baseball card holders for me and I've been using that. I have 60 pages of card holders with 9 slots on each page. This allows me to view EVERY coupon that I have. I am giving a thought to using an accordian style folder for inserts. Using this method, you just clip the coupon you need without cutting every one at one time, and keep the rest stored by date received. (I cut them anyway because we are sending to Japan. Our total right now is over $3400 to be sent to a naval base in Japan because they can use up to SIX months after the expiration date. I still have one VS bag to go through and that will probably put our total at $4000!)
Most important, you should just organize to whatever fits your lifestyle. YOU are the one who is doing the shopping.
Then James purchased a binder with baseball card holders for me and I've been using that. I have 60 pages of card holders with 9 slots on each page. This allows me to view EVERY coupon that I have. I am giving a thought to using an accordian style folder for inserts. Using this method, you just clip the coupon you need without cutting every one at one time, and keep the rest stored by date received. (I cut them anyway because we are sending to Japan. Our total right now is over $3400 to be sent to a naval base in Japan because they can use up to SIX months after the expiration date. I still have one VS bag to go through and that will probably put our total at $4000!)
Most important, you should just organize to whatever fits your lifestyle. YOU are the one who is doing the shopping.
NOW PUT IT ALL TOGETHER:
1.Save the inserts on Sunday
2.Go to the website that does your match-ups
3.Get the Coupons together (Either clipped or from accordian file)
4.Print out your shopping list
5.GO SHOPPING!!
Good luck!
be blessed!
