Baby Step 2 - Decide What To Buy

So that might sound easy but how many times do you just go to the store? I mean really, you run in for milk and come out with $100 in who knows what. Spontaneous purchases really run up the grocery bill, so if you have a list and stick to it you'll do great.

Now making the list saves you money, big time. The fastest way for me is to use a site where someone has already done the work for me. We are talking about trying to do this fast right? I use www.southernsavers.com her site is very user friendly. Go sit at your computer and take the sale ad with you because there are usually some small differences.

On her site you'll see at the top of the page tabs with the names of the stores she has the most info on. Chose your location, Publix is my go to store, they have the best coupon policy and take competitors coupons, that's something to look for.

Now, click on your store of choice and it will take you to a page with all the posts about that store. Click on the heading for that weeks ad. The page that opens will list all the sale items for that week. You will see little check boxes to the left of each item, if it's something you want or need check the box.

At the bottom of the list you will see a button that says "create list", click it and you will have another window open with just the items you checked. Under each item will be listed the coupon match ups as well as the printable coupons. We'll talk about that next time.

Baby Step 1 - Paper Coupons

First, start buying the Sunday paper (but don't start this Sunday, no coupons on a holiday weekend) or get them from a friend or family member that gets the paper but doesn't use coupons. I usually buy 2 in case there is something that I want to stock up on. You can of course buy more, just be kind, don't steal from coin operated paper dispensers, or your neighbors, or anyone else!

When you buy the paper, pull out your coupon inserts and write the date on the front. You'll also want to pull out the sale papers so you'll know what's on sale for your particular store that week. That's it. You don't have to cut everything out. Put them away somewhere safe so you can find them when you are ready to make your grocery list. We'll talk about filing systems another day.


See, paper coupons are easy, just remember to put the date on them!!

So you want to Coupon?

So we've all seen, or heard about, the coupon shows where people go into the store and come out with 3 carts over flowing with groceries, receipts 10 feet long and spent $8.34. Better yet, they get money back! These people are documented spending HOURS and DAYS collecting their coupons, cliping, sorting and arrangiing. If you've got the time and desire to do that more power to you! However, as a full time mother to 3 small children, working a full time job, and trying to stay happily married, I just don't have that kind of time.

I've only been couponing about a year now after watching a friend of mine post her savings on Facebook and finally asking her how to do it. She directed me to a site that has made all the difference for me www.southernsavers.com and even since I've gradually taught myself what works for me. I've never walked out of the grocery store with a cart full of goods for free, but I do consistently save 50-80% on my grocery bill.

The girl at Publix asked me last night what I was doing with all my savings... hmmm, I never really see them, but now that I think about it, we do get to eat out more and do more fun things than we used to. A little extra cash flow never hurt anyone.

I was going to do a little coupon class at my house for friends but after I was asked to Skype and use a web cam, I decided to try this method. So to my friends who asked, here you go. Let's take some baby steps and see how it goes!