Want to save a buck? Or 100?

So several of you have asked me for my secrets in regards to saving money or couponing. While I’m NOT an expert on this topic, I’d be happy to share with you what I do know. There are many others out there who have so much more expertise and I continually look to them for more ideas and inspiration.

“Where do you get coupons?”- Every weekend I get a paper. One thing to note is to NOT buy the paper on a holiday weekend (if coupons are your only reason for buying ) because they do NOT put coupons in on holiday weekends. I also get coupons online from site like coupons.com or redplum.com. You may need to download something in order for your printer to be able to print the barcode- it’s safe so just do it.

Another (slightly more time consuming) way is to make a list of specific brands you tend to buy or brands that are often on sale and  go to their website and see if they offer any coupons on the site. If not, WRITE THEM! I can’t tell you HOW MANY coupons- even for FREE items- that I have gotten this way. Some will write you back and say they do not offer any. But the majority of the companies I have written have given me fantastic savings!

I have also signed up with a company called Vocal Point.When you sign up you will receive great coupons in the mail about once a month for you and your friends.

Get a subscription to All You magazine. If you subscribe rather than buy it at the stands (at WalMart I believe) it will pay for itself almost instantaneously!

“What sites do you like for advice on savings?” – Look to the right hand column on this page where it says “Bargain blogs/sites/forums”. These are what I live by!

“Where do you use coupons?” – Well, for my Florida readers I’ve found outstanding deals at Super Target and Publix when combining sales with coupons. And for my Ohio readers, I mainly used them at Giant Eagle because they doubled. Yes, in general Giant Eagle is more expensive than a place like Wal-Mart but Giant Eagle doubles coupons so that was my first stop. I’ll explain more about which stores to go to down below.

“Are you brand loyal?” -Not unless it is a health issue for me. I am pretty strict about all-natural/etc. So, for example, if I have a coupon that matches up with a good sale for a juice full of sugar, I will not purchase it. I usually just leave my coupon on the shelf to bless someone who wants it. I will then go buy the 100% juice. I figure I can afford to do this because of my tremendous savings on other products. If you would rather go for the juice that’s on sale and you have a coupon for, then go for it!

When shopping, you have to be observant enough to know if your coupon combined with a sale on a name brand item is cheaper than a generic store-brand item. I’ve been finding that usually it is. But not in all cases. If you’re thinking, “There’s no way to know the prices!” this will come with time. Just be observent each time you’re at a store and you’ll soon be able to tell what the “normal” prices are for each store.

“Is this really practical savings?” – YES! You can do it! If you can just save about 33% on your grocery bill (which I’ve noticed to be my average when I’m not even really trying very had- just simply bringing my coupons with me to the store), then you’re still getting FREE food! Good trips can mean WAY more in savings!!

“Describe what you do before you go shopping?” – Well, before that I make sure all of my coupons are cut and organized (some choose to not cut them and to save the inserts but I find I just have too many papers laying around then- up to you). Then I go to couponmom.com- sign up it’s free! Click on “deals by state” and find your state and your store of choice. She will list all of the current sales (make sure you know when those sales end!) and which coupons correspond with them. She also tells you what percentage of savings you will have on that item. I made a rule for myself that I don’t go after any items where the savings is less than 70% unless I NEED that item right now. Then I go through my coupons to find the right ones and make a list for each store I need to go to and put the list and the correct coupons in a baggie for each store. I’m sure there is a better way to organize that but that’s my way! some other sites I check are : Cherry Picker (mostly Ohio stores), I heart Wags and I heart CVS for any MUST HAVE deals while I’m out. Cherry Picker will give you a lot of links to online coupons and where to buy the item on sale.  Then I head to the stores! Not THAT much work, right?

While you’re at the store, see if they offer store discount cards, baby clubs, kid clubs, etc. that may lead to MORE coupons in the mail- even for some more FREE items!!! (Hint, hint, Publix shoppers with kids!!!!)

“It’s just too much work!” – NO NO NO! Don’t say that! I’ve figured that when I spend just an hour or two prep time a week, I’m making MORE money than I was in my last job- just in savings! For example, last week- in total- I probably saved somewhere around $90. And I only “prepped” for about an hour and a half (including interruptions). Would you tell your boss “It’s too much work” if they offered you $60/hour? NO NO NO!

“What’s the big the thrill of it all?” – Ok, so seriously if you’re a woman who gets a rush out of shopping and getting good bargains, but yet can’t really afford for that shopping to be frivelous and on such things as clothes, then GET COUPONING!!!! You WILL get a rush when you leave the store with FREE stuff! I promise!