I Forgot to Save Again!

In my last post Get Into The Coupon Game: Clip, Organize, & Save!, I discussed getting into the coupon game, and I gave some suggestions on how to organize yourself to best utilize your coupons for grocery shopping. But there are other types of coupons that we don’t want to forget about.

During the week in our newspapers, magazines, and mailers, we have access to coupons to restaurants, services for things like car repairs or dry cleaning, and department/misc. stores. Unlike the grocery coupons, we need to keep these coupons with us at all times. I labeled three of the coupon holders, one for Restaurants, the second for Services and the third for Stores (other than grocery). I keep all three with me in my purse at all times. You never know when you may need one, and you don’t want to miss an opportunity to save money!

Coupons = Saving Money

Today I saved 57% off my grocery bill. I spent $60 and saved $80.59. I lugged in 10 bags of groceries into the kitchen. And that’s not just buying junk food or stuff we’ll never eat. This is good healthy food (well, most of it). King Sooper was having some great deals this week, and combined with double coupons, many items were free or I actually made money on the deal.

According to the register receipt, $56.85 was saved using the King Sooper shopping card, and $23.74 was from coupons alone. Combine the two (store sales with coupons) and the money saving really adds up. I almost exclusively shop at King Sooper because they double coupons up to $1.00.

Don't Forget!

How many times have I arrived at the grocery store only to find out that I left my coupon book at home. Or, get up to the register and realize I forgot to bring my reusable bags. Or, I forgot the check I was suppose to deposit. I put a stop to that with a little organization the day before.

Now when I complete cutting my coupons and creating my lists, I immediately place them into my coupon binder. I use one of my reusable shopping bags to hold my coupon binder, grocery lists, any returns, a list of all errands and all my reusable shopping bags. I then place it by the front door. Next morning, I am not getting out the door without everything I need. Now I am not wasting my time or my money!!

Coupons=More Groceries for Less $

To summarize my Get Into The Coupon Game: Clip, Organize, & Save! blog, I talked about putting together a coupon binder as well as cutting and organizing coupons. We are ready to move on to the next step.

On Wednesday mornings, I pull all the grocery ads from the newspaper (there are usually coupons included). If you don’t get the newspaper, you can ask to be placed on the mailing list for all the grocery stores–most will be happy to mail you a weekly ad. I go through each ad and write down their best deals for the week. All of the stores lower their prices on certain items to pull you into their store, and we want to take advantage of them.

Clipping Coupons = $$$

Clip those Coupons! You hear about it everywhere, you see people at the checkout in the grocery stores with their coupons, but you figure it is not worth your time and the headache of cutting coupons. Besides, they can’t be saving enough money to really make a difference! That’s exactly what I thought a few years ago. I had a young family and I worked; where would I find the time to cut and organize coupons? If only I knew then, what I know now.

I have always been frugal and watched every dime. But I was missing out on huge savings and the excitement and challenge of coupon shopping. Yes, it does take a little of your time, but it is worth it!  We all shop a little differently and therefore can learn from one another.  Let me share with you my method.

A Growing Problem

We all love our coupons. It has been a weekly, sometimes daily, pursuit to find, clip, organize, and fill out forms, contests, and surveys to acquire coupons. Some are small 25 cents off, while others are for totally FREE products!

But there’s a growing problem with fraudulent coupons ruining the fun for the rest of us. With a computer, a simple graphic program, a printer, and a little bit of know-how, ‘thieves’ are counterfeiting their own discounts based on the real coupons, and cashing in on free merchandise or selling them to unsuspecting couponers like us.