Why Coupon? Part 4: What I Do

This post has to be quick.  I don't have time to put up links to the last few parts.  See the side bar....

I really don't do all I use to for coupons.  I use to use baseball card holders and have each coupon folded and in one.  That takes way too much time.
The fact is ....

I HATE CUTTING COUPONS!!!

So, I don't if I don't have to.  The main way the blogs alert you to a deal is to tell you which coupon to use from what insert.  For example it will say "SS 6/03/12"  that would mean that it was from the Smart Source insert in the paper and from that date of paper.  So, now what I do is just print out the post that tells me what will be in the paper and put that in front of the inserts, and then place them in a folder in my home organization notebook.   When I see I need them, I cut them out.

I get the paper, but I watch the alerts for when there won't be one, like this weekend.  That way I don't waste my money.  If I see the heads up blog post of what the coupons are looking really good for what I like to buy, I will buy two papers.  The LA Times is the best around here.  The coupons are higher value and there are more of them.  Each paper is in it's own set of coupons folder spot.

I print the printable on coupons.com and target.com.  I keep the target coupons separate and they both have an envelope.  I do cut these when I get them because I use the big paper cutter at work to save time.  I sort them in food, body, and cleaning.  I use paperclips of color to tell at a glance.

When I plan a trip to the store, I gather what I need and paperclip each deal together.  Usually it will mean a few coupons.  Sometimes, if I need to remember the scenario I write it on a little paper and clip that too.
I clip my reward "money" for that store to them so I have it right there with me.

I carry my notebook all the time in case I see a sale I know I have a coupon for.  I also use my iphone to check the blogs I keep up with.  If I'm going to Albertson's, I check her post for the sales that week.  I zero in on the red checks especially.

I check my two sites (linked in the right side bar) a few times a day real quick so I don't fall behind.

Once a month I go through the coupons and get rid of outdated ones.  I think I need to do this by-weekly though.


So, that's it.  Remember, the previous posts have helpful links for you to get started.  There are easy "101" links that make it simple.  Feel free to ask questions in the comments.

Why Coupon? Part 3: Keep It Simple

In this series:
Why Coupon?
Why Coupon? Part 2: Your Hired!

The biggest problem with coupons is it's madness snare. In fact, I found it humorous that there was even an episode of Bones based on coupon crazy women.

Here are a few guidelines I use to keep it simple:

• Skim The Surface- coupon deals can be a BOTTOMLESS PIT!  Don't fall in it.  Get the good stuff and only the others if you really need them. 
• Use the 1-2-3 Rule-  mine have to fall into three categories most of the time.  1) Is it something I need or use anyway (not 20 years from now either).  2) Is it on sale or a reward deal? 3) Do I have a coupon?  This method allows for triple the value to me.  
• Narrow Your Baseline-  I'm just getting back into this so yes, right now, I'm snagging some name brand body washes, toothpaste and such for a buck or so.   Soon, however I will have my stash piled a bit and I can afford to SIT and WAIT for a better deal.  For instance, last week, I got a great deal on Dial hand wash for .29 ea.  Now, that I have 8 of them, I'll sit and set my baseline at anything that price or less.  Soon, you will be only taking in free or nearly free items.  Be okay with starting with a discounted stash.  
• Resist The Temptation To Overstock- especially on items you don't use often or that will expire. 
• I Am Not Running A Charity- some people are, and that is great!  Perhaps I will be someday but for now, I'm not doing all this homework and running to stores to donate items.  Don't feel you have to do the deal just to not let the deal pass.  IF you don't wear contacts, don't go get free contact solution just to give it to someone.  Let your friends do their own homework.  This is a cruel rule I have for myself because I use to do a ton for my neighbor and I became over committed.  If I'm doing the deal anyway I may grab some for someone I know wants it or needs it.  If you are at a different place in life this can be an AMAZING ministry!  Do, definitely do.  
• Keep a Budget- I've not been good at this the last few weeks.  This next paycheck I'm switching to cash so I can do better at this.  It's easy, when you do a lot of transactions to loose track.  I am also going to be tracking my savings more. 
• Notice Your Inventory!-  My husband and I had over a thousand books when we first got married.  We loved book sales.  Eventually we noticed we were buying discounted books....WE ALL READY HAD!  Don't do the same with couponing.  Check your inventory of food and toiletries often!
• Less Is More!-  Yes, even here.  Once in the free zone, watch out with collecting.  If you have enough for a few months (or a year!) skip it.  The stress of clutter is a heavy problem for you psyche.  Don't become one of those crazy people!  

Tomorrow I will do my last post in this series.  It will just be on how I do things.  It will be simple.  For more info on how to get started, I suggest you go here.  

I may be doing some weekly show and tell's however as I go.  I always find those inspirational.  

Why Coupon? Part 2: Your Hired!

(For Part One, go here)
You have to think of couponing that way, as a job.  What you make an hour varies.  Sometimes it will amaze you, and other weeks it will be slow.  The nice thing is that you set the hours, and you don't even have to work that week at all if you don't want to!

My suggestion is to think of how many hours a week you are willing to give over to your new job.  For me, it's about an hour a day, and some of that is done while I'm doing other things.  For instance, I may be waiting to pick up the kids at the bus stop and I'll use my iphone to see what the deals are online.  In one hour, I can be made aware of usually about ten deals at various (or sometimes even one!) places that are going to save me money.  Usually that money amount is well over min wage, and there are no taxes lol!  So, think of it that way but....

ONLY GIVE THE JOB WHAT YOU WANT TO!  

Remember, you are the boss here, you are not a slave to all the deals, you are a prioritized busy woman, so give it just ten min a day if you can and only pick up that free of cheap item if you happen to be at that store.  It can be that simple.  Even if you only do that, you will save.

Let me demonstrate.  I'm going to go over to Southern Cali Saver right  now and time how long it takes me to see what the deals are that I would do at Target and Walgreens this week.  Ok...here go...

Ok..in 8 min I skimmed to see what deals I would do.  Here they are:

Kotex U tampons $3.99 - $1.00 coupon, get $3 rewards (used like cash in that store)
Coupon Paycheck = $4 (rounding the penny...ok:)

Ajax BOGO (Buy One Get One Free) .99  w/ in add coupon= .49 ea
Buy two
Coupon Paycheck= $1

Target

Banana Boat Sunscreen (I don't even have the coupons needed to get these free as many do.  I am just getting back into this and don't have the paper's coupons from the needed dates, but that's OK...I need some of this for my husband and kids anyway so it's still a good deal with just the Target coupon)

Buy two, get a $5 Target card....$6.49 ea
buy two= about $7
minus two $1 off target coupons
minus $5 gift card value
Pay $6 for two
Coupon Paycheck= $7
(it would have been $13 with those coupons)

That is it!  Not much this week I am doing at either of these.  I don't need a lot right now so I'm not even looking at the so, so deals.  Southern Cali Saver does this wonderful helpful thing of putting a red check on the items that are outstanding.  Unless I know I need something, I am looking to just skim the cream of this process so I don't look at the rest for now.  Also, there were some red checked diaper items and free breathe strips I have no need for, so I'm not even gleaning it all) ((UPDATE:  Those are not breathe strips, they are natural sleep aid strips, sorry.  So, I will be doing that deal especially because it has now become a MONEY MAKER: go here to find out more.))

SO...in 8 min, I was made aware of a savings of?

$12
Yes, you do need to factor in the rest of the process such as cutting and gathering your coupons, going to the store, looking for the item etc.  Still....

Let's just say that my savings would be about the same looking up the rest of the cream of the crop deals for the rest of an hour, I would be looking at a coupon paycheck of about...

$75 or so!  That is a well paying job people....just sayin.
Of course it's not that great all the time, but when there is nothing, you don't take the time to gather and go anywhere and you really loose nothing but the browsing time.  We all have a little browsing time when we do other things.  There are going to be big score weeks and low score weeks, but if you are looking for the cream of the crop, and not trying to do every somewhat discounted item, you won't use much time. Remember also, that though I call these discounted items "paychecks", for me they have to be things I would buy anyway and definitely use.  Also remember that there are often real, true, actual money makers that add to that "paycheck".

My friend Karen always encourages me when I get away from saving, back into it to do just a little something.  She is always right.  Just so you know though, I drag my feet sometimes and I just don't do it at other times.  Some balls have to just drop, and this is definitely one of them that I allow to drop.  Just starting with the free or close to free stuff with one drugstore would be saving you money.  She is so right.

Try to remember also, you live in a day and age that does homework for you!  Just the two sites I follow daily (and throughout the day on my smart phone) highlight what I should be looking for, give me links and do all the work for me!  This use to take a lot more work years ago.  My two links are in the side bar all the time.  Join the facebook pages of your favorite sites to get updates all through the day.  Many you have to act on right away because they are facebook offers that are limited.  For instance, while I was writting this, I was alerted to a $2/1 coupon for Country Time's half and half lemonaid/tea.  Most places this will come out for two free.  I had to just click over and print it.  So, it's pays to follow these blogs. More on that later....

Tomorrow, I will post what I do practically to get started to keep it simple and stress free.
Feel free to ask questions.

Why Coupon?

I use to really be into it. Back when we had Ralph's and they had a weekly page in the paper of their store coupons. It was like Christmas every time because the manufacture coupons were usually the same products and you could buddy them up for free stuff all the time. Buy three papers, prepare three sets, go through three times and the pantry starts to fill with ease. Back then I had a preschooler and a toddler, and no car so I walked. I had little to do and it got me out of the apartment I was stuck in all the time.
Then, we lost our Ralph's and I lost my umph.
Somewhere in there I had another baby and was beginning to homeschool. There was no brain power left for coupons. I would get a burst now and then but the homework was too much.
Years went by and I learned about a website called Money Saving Mom. From her I learned about "the drugstore game" and most specifically, CVS and their ECB deals. Once again I was bringing home free products and I'd caught the bug again. I eventually started a website to post the local deals.
I switched jobs and took on more hours, many more hours about a year ago and dropped the coupon search entirely. I'm just now getting back into it.
Why? Because frankly, when my CVS free toothpaste stash ran out (well over a year after I purchased them!), I was mad I was paying for toothpaste!!! I seriously would be going through the checkout and barking at myself inside "you slacker! You KNOW you could be doing better than this! You know this is free somewhere right now!"
The thing with couponing however is that you can't just dive right in. Couponing is like a slowly primed pump action. You won't have all you need right away to get all the deals, and you don't want to do all the somewhat good stuff. It's better to ....well, you know what, I'll do a part 2 soon and give you a narrowed down step by step I use to get priming your deals.
One of the turn off comments I hear from women is that it's all junk. That is so not true anymore. MSM even does a gluten free coupon post, and there are plenty of healthy food competitors wanting to help you help them now days.
In the last two weeks that I have really started to concentrate here are my favorites I've snagged:

• 6 bags of FREE Fresh Express green salad mixes. I have a few more coupons too and they are also going to come out free. You want to strategize your produce so you don't get too much at once.

• 20 FREE 2 liters if Dr. Pepper. (a rolling Catalina, which I can explain later). I only paid the CRV on these.

• Dial hand soap for .29 cents. We go through a lot of hand soap so this thrilled me. I did the deal three times and got 12 bottles, 4 for a friend.

• MONEY MAKER (you get these a lot with the drugstore game) on Jergens lotion. I made $1.40 to bring home two trial size intensive care lotions. I did the deal twice but I could have done it more.

• .99 Wonderful Pistachios for the large 1 lb bag. My hubby was happy about this one. I did the deal twice as the reward (printed "cash") was limit 2. However, I had one more dollar off coupon and with my $2.80 money maker at the same store, the third bag still only cost me $1.20.

• .95 for 5 2oz pkgs of Oscar Meyer deli meat ( came out to $1.52 per lb) another rolling Catalina at Vons still going right now. I will post the link for this deal on my FB page.

So those are just my top of the head favorites. Stay tuned for more broken down tips on part two!
(Note: I cannot link from my iPhone blogger app, which I'm using now. Tomorrow I will add links to many of the things I've referenced here. So check back!)