Couponing 101

 I thought for years that it was always cheaper to buy generic than to use coupons on name-brand items. That certainly isn't so! When you combine a coupon with an already dirt-cheap sale-priced product, I learned that you can usually get those items for 50% off or more. Sometimes you can even get them for free. Yes, FREE!!! Since I'm all about getting something for nothing, I decided to look into it further.

IT IS VERY POSSIBLE TO SAVE 50% (OR MORE) ON YOUR GROCERIES WEEKLY!
You will save the most if you're willing to go with any brand. However, you can still save loads of cash if you're brand-specific. This may sound complicated at first, but I spend very little time preparing. It is much less time-consuming than clipping all of your coupons every week and wandering aisle-by-aisle looking for things you might need. Plus, you'll save a ton. 

HERE'S WHAT YOU DO (IN A NUTSHELL): 

*****This doesn't take as long as you'd think.*****

1) Hoard coupons. Get coupons from newspaper inserts (ie, Red Plum, Smart Source and Proctor & Gamble), magazines (ie, All You) and from online sites such as www.coupons.com . Also, if you go to a store and see coupons, add them to your stash!
-For easy access, I pull the coupon inserts from the paper each Sunday, label them with that day's date, and put them into a binder with the dates labeled on it. Loose coupons (ie, internet and store coupons) are stored in the front divider
2) Keep your coupons until they expire. Even if you don't think you'll need it--keep it! Too many times, I've been unpleasantly surprised to see that I got rid of a coupon for something that could have been nearly free.
3) Begin to learn what prices are cheapest.
-If it helps, keep a record (over a 4-week timespan) of the prices of the top 20 items that you buy.
4) Shop the weekly ads.
5) When your product is at its cheapest, it's time to buy.
-Stores usually work on a 12-week rotation, so when your product is at its cheapest, stock up on enough to get you through the next 12 weeks. This step is what makes you save the most money.
6) See if there's a coupon for your product.
-Try the Coupon Matchup (http://supercouponing.coupontom.com/coupons/match) or the Coupon Search (http://supercouponing.coupontom.com/).
7) Write down your shopping list, prices and stick your coupons in an envelope. 
-Bring a pen with you so that you can write down a "Raincheck List" on your envelope. Just give the envelope to the employee when you check out and ask for a raincheck for each of the items.
8) Shop at coupon-doubling stores if you can. Imagine that 50 cent off coupon becoming $1 off! Coupon doubling is amazing!
9) STICK TO THE SHOPPING LIST! Impulse buys are costly. What you need is on your list. It's understandable to see one or two things that you may have forgotten, but more than that will just get you in trouble financially over time.

This whole process, along with shopping, should take 30-60 minutes. It may take you longer initially, but it will get much faster as you learn the process.

You won't believe how good it feels to get out of the store having saved a huge percentage of your bill. Why pay more when you don't have to?? Give it a month. If you don't like it, eh, at least you tried.