This post is for my neice Kodi. I have been meaning to do this for some time but I read her post today and thought I would finally follow through.
I started coupon shopping about 5+ years ago. Then I taught Crystal, Jessica and Amanda. Now I'm working on RaLee, she hates it, but oh well! At first I joined an on-line group/program called Coupon $ense. Then after two years I realized that I could do this on my own. So this post is my attempt to show you my method of organization and so on.
1. My Coupon Book AKA - THE BEAST!
This is my binder. I buy 3 Sunday papers and that's all this binder will hold. I used to buy 6 when I had Jessica's family too. Yes I had 2 binders.
2. My Labeling System
I label each section by product type-which coincides with Grocery store aisles. These are my sections. baby, baking, breakfast, canned, cleaning, cleaning tools, condiments, cosmetics, dairy, dental, drinks, feminine, frozen, hair, meat, medicine, miscellaneous, paper, pasta & rice, personal, pets, rebates, salad/produce, side dishes, skin care, snacks, spices. Then I label one for each store I shop at, ie, Fry's, Safeway, Basha's, Walgreens, CVS, and Albertson's. This is where I file "Store" exclusive coupons, Catalina's and rebates. I also place a clear sheet cover that hold's an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper in each store section. This is what I put each stores sale ads in.
3. I put my coupons in baseball card holders/sheets. Two in each pocket for front and back viewing
4. As you can see on the receipt above I got $82.91 worth of groceries. Minus $62.48 for cpn and club card savings. I paid $20.43 for my groceries. For a savings of 75%. I save anywhere from 55% - 100% each shopping trip. I have had times that the cash register would freak out because it would show that it owed me money. Yes that meant they should have paid me to buy my food. But they call a manager over to unlock the machine and fix it because they won't actually pay you.
5. Seperate your coupon booklet's. Then stack all "like" coupon pages together as shown below.
6. Stack the "like" pages together making sure you match your corners evenly. Then use your ruler. I like the 6 inch type you see below the best.
7. Using your ruler just rip each coupon along the dotted line. NO SCISSORS! It's fast and easy.
8. This is my latest invention. I drew boxes on a tri-fold science project board. Then labeled each box with my category starting with the first section in my book and working my way to the back. Then when I rip a coupon I place it in it's appropriate box. Making placing them in the book much easier and it saves time!
9. SHOP!
This is time comsuming but well worth it! I find that the thing that takes me the longest is talking to all the customers. I have at least 2-6 people approach me each shopping trip. Some want to know all about my system for a good 20 minute chat. I like to go early in the morning when the store is not so busy. My book is universal to any grocery store. I really don't even have to look at the ads. I just go down each aisle and when I see something on sale I flip to that category and if I have a coupon I get it. I don't go to WalMart because they won't double coupons. I also don't like the time it takes to ad-match. WalMart's ad match is good when I need milk. I just say, "Hey milk is $1.88 at Fry's" and I get my deal. But other than that I go to grocery stores, Walgreen and CVS for the better deals.
10. I almost forgot! I keep a zippered pencil pouch in the front of my coupon book. This hold's all of my store club cards, a small calculator, pencil, receipts, shopping lists and my "Ripping Ruler". That way I'm always ready all I have to do is grab the "Beast" and go. Each trip is interesting and I always feel like I just ripped them off! I keep old receipts with me because customers do not believe I save that much money. I spend about 1-2 hours each week filing and then 2-3 hours shopping but it's worth my time!
I have a strong testimony of food storage and have found that shopping like this has blessed us in many ways. It has allowed me to spend less on everyday food and with the money I save I can buy my year supply dry pack goods at the cannery. Coupon shopping has been a huge blessing in my life. When I served as Compassionate Service Leader for a ward with 1,100+ ward members there was always a need for meals. I found because of my coupon shopping I always had enough to make a few extra meals each week for a sister in need. Now I'm watching the blessing's this is bringing to each of my married kids.
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