The Simple Gal's Guide: Coupons

As you know, I am a couponer. I tend to brag about my deals, and I want everyone to know about what I got, because I think it is so much fun, and I want You to find the same deals or better! I don't think I will ever stop using coupons. Even if I had millions of dollars, I would probably still use coupons. There is something so exciting about getting something for free, or for pennies on the dollar. It is really rewarding!
Every time I post about my shopping trips, I always get comments from you lovely chicka's about how you can't find deals, or don't have the time, or the brain power to coupon. Ladies, all of that ends today! I am sending ya'llto school, couponing school. Here is the Simple Gal's Guide to: Couponing. It is simple, and trust me, if I can do it, you can do it.

Step 1: Getting and organizing your coupons.
A. Buy a paper and pull out the inserts. Every week I go through the inserts and clip the coupons for items that I would typically buy. (I.E.-Soap, detergent, pickles, bread, Soy Milk, Salad dressing, etc.) Then I take the insert and put it in a file folder with the date listed, and keep it in the box below.

Step 2: File your coupons

I file the coupons that I have clipped in my accordion file that I keep in my purse. This way I have the coupons with me at all times.

Step 3: Finding the Deals

A. I do not do any of the work myself! I find out about the deals by using couponing websites. There are HUNDREDS of them. Each site tells you the store to go to, and the coupon to use with the date that coupon came out. So, I either go my accordion file and pull the coupon, or if I have not cut it out yet, I go to my file box pull out the appropriate flyer and clip away. Or, I print the coupon off line, and most sites give you the link to find the coupon.

B.I use 2 couponing website, My Frugal Adventures and The Krazy Coupon Lady. I have them in my google reader and I scan each entry and decide if it is a deal that I want to go after.

C. Finally, I write down the deals on a sheet of paper and I put the coupons into an envelope with the name of the store written on it. When I have time in the week, I head to the store, whip out my envelope with my list and coupons in it, shop quickly.

Step 4: Brag about your purchases!

That's it ladies, that is how I do my couponing. It takes about 4 hours a week. I scan the websites a couple times a day, usually in the morning, at lunch, and in the evening when I surf the web.

Here are my final tips:

1. Pick the stores you want to shop at and get really really good at shopping there. I found for our situation and location I shop at CVS, Target, and Walmart. I miss out on a lot of deals because I don't want to run around shopping at 10 different stores each week, I just don't have the time for that.

2. Use green bags. CVS and Target give you a discount for using your own bags. Target takes .5 for every bag you use, and CVS gives you .25 cents off every time you bring in a bag.

3. Shop at Target. If you go to the Target website, you can print store coupons there. The great thing about Target is that they allow you to use a Target store coupon and a manufactures coupon on the same item. Not many stores do that. For example, if I printed a coupon from the Target website for Colgate toothpaste and I had a coupon from the paper for Colgate toothpaste, I could use them both on the same item and get double savings!

4. Read the fine print.

5. Don't stress out, it is really not that hard!

I hope that is clear. Please email me if you have any questions about couponing.