How can I shop with coupons?

 

Everyone keeps asking me.  How do you do that? So here is what I know.   I'm sure there are so many more tricks of the trade but this should help.

This is what I picked up today.  I spend $24. It's everything that you see in these two pictures. The top picture is what I paid for.  The bottom picture is what I got for free.

Start cutting and Organizing!

First you need to start cutting and organizing your coupons.  There are several different places you can get coupons.

1. Sunday Paper (Buy at least 2 papers)  The Detroit free press is the best in our area.

2. Online 

3. Recycle centers

4. Friends & family

Where are you going to shop?

You need to call around in your area.  Some store double coupons everyday, others have specific days.  You also need to know how many of the same coupons you can use at once in each store.  Everyone is different.  For me, Meijer allows me to use two coupons, Kroger allows me to use 3 coupons.  This is way you should buy at least 2 papers.

Who Doubles?

(In my area)

Kroger doubles $1.00    Kroger allows you to use 3 of the same coupon.

Meijers doubles $.50     Meijers allows you to use 2 of the same coupon.

Walmart take coupons however they do not double, but you can use as many as you want.

Save-a-lots take coupons but do not double

Target I'm not sure

Any of your CVS, Walgreens etc. 

Keep in mind that if you have a coupon to a specific store like Target, you can also use a manufacture coupon.  This allows you double the savings.

Say tooth paste is 2 for $4.00.  You only have to buy one.  Say you have a $1 coupon.   If it doubles, your toothpaste is free.  You should never pay for tooth paste.  If you are, call me I'll give you some.  If you have 2 coupons  use them both and get the 2 for $4.00 free ( 2 tubes of paste for free!  Can't go wrong there.)

What do I buy?  

Only buy items that are on sale or clearance out, that is unless you need the item.  Also keep watch for your 10 for $10 sales.  This make stuff only $1.  When your $.50 coupons is doubled you would get these items for free.  There is always great sales for 10 for $10.  Remember you only have to buy 1, you don't have to buy ten.  If you have 3 coupons, buy 3!

Always buy extra, you don't know when it will be on sale again.

What kind of coupons should I cut?

My friend JJ (she taught me) say's you should cut at least one of everything!  You never know when it goes on sale.  Which is so true, I find when I don't cut it, I typically can get it for free. Always my luck.  When I was just getting started I could not comprehend this coupons shopping.    I would think, "I don't use that product, I don't need to cut that coupons."  Or  "Don't you spend more money buying things you don't need?"  What I've found is that, if you can get it so cheep, why not try it.   My friend Lacey came to the house one day and said, " I've never seen so much name brand product in your cub-bards!"  I know!!!  This Coupon thing really works! 

How do I organize my coupons?

Some people do it alphabetically, by product.  I do my my catagory.  For example: Chips, cookies, dairy, cereal... There are many different ways, find what works for you, you can always change it.  There are tpyes of files and containers to store coupons.

How much time does it take?

As much as you want to give it.  I get my Sunday paper, when the girls go to bed I cut and file. Once a month I pull out all my expired coupons.  On Sundays I also pull all the coupons out I'm going to use after I go though the store add.  This saves me time in the store.  Just because it's in the sale add does not mean that nothing else is on sale at the store.  They don't put everything that's on sale in the add.  You still need to go down each isle.  I tend to go at night when my girls go to bed and the store is less busy.

Online Coupons  (There are so many just start looking)

Smartsource

coupon mom

Online Coupons

Wow Coupons

The Grocery Game