I love using coupons. However, if I am not diligent in managing them, they become just like any other paper clutter in the house. Coupons are just like money and I wouldn’t leave money laying around to get lost so why would I do that with my coupon stash?
Over the years, I have tried various methods for storing coupons. I tried clipping them out, but then they would get lost before I could use them. I tried a coupon organizer, but I would forget to bring it to the store. The method I finally settled on (and the method that works for me) is the one outlined at the Coupon Mom site.
The Coupon Mom advocates saving the entire coupon circular(s) that comes in the weekend newspaper. You write the date on the front of the circulars and then store them in a folder. The Coupon Mom database (which is updated weekly) then tells you which coupon circular by date has a particular coupon that can be matched with the current week’s sale.
Here’s how it works. Each week The Coupon Mom site gives the run down on the current weekly sales. For instance, you can look at the Publix list of sale items for the week. In the left hand column of the list there is a code of RP 3/05 next to Mott’s applesauce. That means that the Red Plum circular dated 3/05 has the coupon for Mott’s applesauce that can be used in combination with the current sale. Publix regularly has Buy One Get One Free (BOGO) sales and you can use coupons on these items to make them even cheaper. Each store’s list is done in the same way – by showing what coupons are available to be matched up with sale items. This makes it so easy to put together a shopping list and to get the coupons I need without spending time clipping ones that I will never use.
I’ve mentioned The Coupon Mom site because it’s free but there are other websites that do essentially the same thing. They combine current coupons with sales so you can maximize your savings.
The key point I am trying to make here is that you need to establish a coupon system that works for you. Then you implement and maintain your system to save money. A coupon won’t save you money if it’s sitting on your kitchen counter!
What I’m reading:
Save Money By Skipping Disposable Products – We do this in our house too. It is just cheaper to use a dishtowel to clean up spills rather than constantly buying paper towels!
How to Stop Sweating the Small (and Big) Stuff – You’ve got to learn to set priorities in life. For me the top priorities are faith first then family. Everything else takes a backseat to those two.
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