Not Too Extreme Couponing! - by Jayme Blackburn

Not Too Extreme Couponing!

It’s a new year and time to make resolutions on how to do things better. On top of most lists you will find something to do with money: spend less, save more or make more. I hope you’ll find my information and tips will help you make your money go further in 2012!

As an at-home mom, I love the idea that saving money in a sense is just like making money! It’s my way of helping to contribute financially to my family of 5. Now let me say this, I’m not an extreme couponer, I don’t spend (or have) 40 hours a week to dedicate to cutting and printing coupons,  I don’t dumpster dive for additional coupons, and I don’t have a stock pile in my garage. However, I get great satisfaction in getting good deals and from leveraging manufacturer coupons with store sales and being able to buy the things my family actually uses for just pennies or sometimes even free!

Resources to get you started:
   
 ·      CouponMom.com

·      Smart Source insert (found in Sunday newspaper each week)

·      Procter & Gamble  insert (found in the Sunday newspaper- one time per month)

·      Red Plum insert (delivered Tuesdays or Wednesdays in the mail. Not available in some areas)


**advanced couponers may consider printing or even buying additional coupons from a clipping service like CouponDede.com

Here are some basic tips to help you get started:

·      Purchase one Sunday paper for each member of your household (you can get just the Sunday paper delivered and you can pay for additional copies). This will allow you to get multiple coupons for the same item.

·      Label the front of each Smart Source and Proctor and Gamble insert with the date of the Sunday you received it.  You will use this date to reference the coupons inside the insert. (example provide below)

·      Label the front of the Red Plum insert with the date of the upcoming Sunday. You will use this date to reference the coupons inside the insert. (example provide below)

·      File your Smart Source, Proctor and Gamble and Red Plum inserts by date.

·      No need to cut out any of the coupons prior to use. Simply file the entire insert.

·      If possible, use a filing system that you can bring with you to the store. I like to always be prepared!

Put it all together:

Once you have established your system for collecting, labeling and saving your coupon inserts, access CouponMom.com. This website requires a login but it’s free and they do all of the hard work for you! CouponMom.com will provide you a weekly spreadsheet by store (Walgreens, CVS, Target, K-mart, Wal-mart plus your local grocery store) of all of the advertised sale items. The list will indicate if there is a valid coupon that you may have from the Smart Source (S), Proctor and Gamble (PG) or the Red Plum (RP) insert.  With or without the coupons this site will allow you to compare prices and find the best deals on the products you and your family use.

Sample spreadsheet from CouponMom.com:

In the example above, if you want to buy Old Spice body wash simply locate your Proctor and Gamble (PG) insert from 1/1 and clip the Old Spice $2.00 off coupon. If you have additional coupons, take advantage of the opportunity to stock up.

You’ll find that spending a little bit of time planning your shopping trip will help you to better understand where the deals are and what coupons to utilize.

Since I’ve adopted this system I am much more conscious of the price of items and, even without coupons, I now know when I’m getting a good deal or just getting ripped off. Also, I no longer pay for things like toothpaste, deodorant, razors and shampoo- with a coupon and the right sale you can usually get these for FREE….and I never pay more than $3 for my Tide laundry detergent!

As you can see, it’s not extreme and it’s not hard or time consuming. You too can shop smart and save!

All the best in 2012. Jayme

My Gallery of Great Deals!

I paid less than $7.50 for all of this:

I paid less than $3.50 (16 bottles of Powerade)

When I see a great deal – I always stock up!