Well now that our coupons are all organized and ready to be used, the challenge is where to use them and when. This is where a strategy is important. All of us have clipped a coupon or two to use at the store saving a couple of dollars. However, when you come up with a strategy, you may use 20 or 30 coupons and begin to see some serious savings.
The idea is to use coupons when an item is on sale, therefore, maximizing savings. Then, buy three of that item at that crazy, low price so you do not have to buy it again until it is on sale again and there is a coupon again. You will begin to notice that coupons repeat about every four weeks and items go on sale every six weeks. So if you stock up on an item at today's sale, you will not have to buy that item at full price again...because you will stock up, using your coupons, every six weeks.
If this is your first time couponing, I would suggest starting with
one grocery store this week. If you are one of my friends in Arizona, I highly suggest checking out
Coupon$ense. In my opinion, it is by far the best resource you will find. There is a monthly fee, but it is soooo worth it. It saves you tons of time and energy. You can read more about why I love it
here. If you are not in Arizona or just do not want to pay at this time, I have listed my favorite couponing blogs at the bottom of this post.
Since today is Wednesday, it is time to make a list. You have your coupons all collated and organized, so now you need to gather the weekly grocery ads, a notebook and a computer or tablet and start searching for the best deals. I would suggest taking a few minutes to get familiar with one of the blogs first, look around, view different posts, see how that blogger lists the current deals. Then, pick one store, let's say Safeway. Get on each blog and look for their most recent post for "Safeway Coupon Matchups or Deals" for this week. Most of the blogs I have listed will tell you what is on sale and for how much, what coupons are available, printable and newspaper and then tell you the final price you will pay.
As I go through the list, I write down the things that I think are a GREAT deal, I really like free the best, but under $1 always gets my attention as well. On the list, newspaper coupons will be listed like this: $1/1 Colgate Toothpaste RP 8/25/13. You will notice the "RP 8/25/13" This tells you which date the coupons came out and which set to find them in. Since your coupons are all organized so nicely, after you make a list of all the items you are interested in, you can easily pull out the insert you need, cut all three coupons at one time and put them in a coupon, purse organizer or an envelope for your store. Then, take your list and all your coupons and you are ready to go!
The blogs can be a bit overwhelming with tons of information, that is why I suggest starting with only one store. As you are more comfortable with the whole process, adding stores will be simple. I also suggest you go to each store's website or facebook page and print their coupon policy. They are all different and it will help you to know what the store's rules are. I also take the ad with me, just in case I cannot find an item. So check out the blogs below and dive in! I would love to hear about your first shopping trip! Check back tomorrow where we will venture in to Couponing At The Drugstores...they are bit tricky, but huge savings are found in them! Of course, as you get started, if you have any questions, please just ask!
Arizona Blogs and Resources:
Coupon$ense
Cents'able Shoppin
Washington Blogs:
The Coupon Project
The Thrifty Northwest Mom
Anywhere Blogs:
Fabulessly Frugal
Krazy Coupon Lady
Couponing To Disney
Each of these blogs is also on facebook and if you Like their pages, you will see deals in your news feed all day!
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