Using coupons

I have had so many friends and family ask me "How do you do it?"

I feel bad that most of the sale posts I listed below are unavailable anymore. I had meant to get things posted sooner this week but was unable to because I wasn't feeling so well and also school started so it has been a crazy week! I will try and do better so that everyone can get the same good deals that I am getting.

Here are some tips! And if you ever need help just ask!
1. Get organized!!!! I can't stress this enough! If you go into the store without a strategy it will take you at least twice as long and you probably won't even get what you needed because you will end up getting frazzled!

The way that I like to organize myself is as follows.
-All of my coupons are in a folder/binder. I don't cut them up as soon as I get the paper. Rather I keep them in their original inserts and just clip them as I need them. This helps me to know which coupon came out of which insert.

-I go over the ads, plan what it is I want and figure out how many different transactions I will have to do. For example, if Albertson's has a bunch of double coupons available I will do multiple transactions so that I can use all my sets of doublers. You are only allowed 1 set of doubles per transaction. Sometimes they have 2, sometimes 3. Yes this makes it a little more confusing because you really have to keep track of what you want to go in each purchase.

-I like to use the envelope system. I use a separate envelope for each transaction that I will be doing. I write on the outside of the envelope exactly what I need, the quantity that I need, and how much it is on sale for. Then I subtract my coupons from that price. This helps me know what my balance should be so that when I am actually in the checkout line if the total isn't correct then I know the checker or computer system messed up (which happens frequently) and we can catch it and fix it. After you have written these things on the envelope place the corresponding coupons inside so that they are readily available and you don't have to dig for them. Some people also like to put the amt of cash in the envelope that they will use for that transaction.

2. Take advantage of other people's deals!!
There are so many people out there couponing that they come up with some fantastic deals that I would never think of on my own! I use a lot of people's couponing blogs to come up with a lot of my deal scenarios. My favorite websites that I use the most are listed at the side of my blog. My favorite being The Krazy Coupon Lady. Check their blogs often as the deals update continuously. Also they list things not only for coupons but also for mail in freebies and goodies. A lot of these things are available for a limited time or a certain amt so it pays to check them frequently to be sure you get in on all the free goodies!

3. Where to get your coupons?
There is a coupon for almost everything online!! Sometimes it may take a little bit of searching for but it is worth it! Coupons.com has a huge coupon database. You can print most coupons from each computer twice! If you have to go to your friends or family's to print off extra, hey I do it all the time! Also at the side of my blog is a link to the Krazy coupon printable database and there are hundreds of coupon links available there in alphabetical order so you don't have to spend the time searching yourself!
Also there are awesome coupons every sunday in the paper. I have a paper subscibtion so when I get my paper I browse through the coupons and see how good they are. I will then buy extra Sunday papers and the amt that I buy depends on how good I think that the coupons are and how much I think I will use those products. At most grocery stores (for sure I know smiths and albertsons) they sell the paper for $0.99 instead of the usual $1.50 so it is worth it. I usually buy around 10. The money that I save from the coupons far exceeds the amt I spend on the extra papers.

Hope that this has been helpful to some of you!! Let me know what other questions you have!