Rachel's Couponing Tips (especially for Michael)

This post is going to stink if you don't care about how I get all my free stuff.

Keep in mind, that I am a complete amateur, and I really am not very good at the whole couponing thing. First I'll list my tips, and then some things that I've done to make things easier for me. Also, it really helps to live near a CVS. That's where I'm finding my best deals. Walgreens has some good 'uns, but it's no CVS.

1. Clip every coupon from the Sunday paper ect. and save them in an organized fashion. (All You magazine usually has a ton of coupons and is many times worth buying just for the Qpons)

I keep my Coupons in a make up bag I found at Target. I used the small size envelopes and taped index cards vertically in them to make my category holders. I have the following categories: Baby, Bags, Baking, Bread, Canned goods, Cereal-Post, Cereal-Kellogs, Cereal-General Mills, Cereal-Other, Cleaning-Laundry, Cleaning-Kitchen, Cleaning-Misc., Condiments, Dairy, Frozen, Hygiene-Feminine Care, Hygiene-Body Wash/Lotion, Hygiene-Hair Care, Hygiene-Make Up/Face Care, Hygiene-Oral, Hygiene- Razors/Deoderant, Meat, Medicine/Supplements, Mexican, Refrigerated, Seasoning/Spices, Pasta/Rice, Paper Products, Snacks, Miscellaneous, CVS, Resturaunt, Target, Walgreens, Other

It's a lot of categories, I know, but it helps to not get a bazillion coupons in one slot. It makes it much easier to find this way. I didn't used to have all these categories, but found I needed more as time went on and I accumulated a larger coupon stash.

2. Be lazy.

I have a Google Reader account. It is invaluable to me. There are tons of great bloggers out there who are willing to do all the hard work for you. I subscribe to many blogs and follow them on Reader. Reader tells you when there is a new post to any of your subscribed blogs. Many posts I'm not interested in, as they may be telling me about deals at stores that I don't have access to. (Boy do I wish we had a Publix grocery store around here!). Here are the "frugal" blogs I follow: http://babycheapskate.blogspot.com/ http://budgethelpers.blogspot.com/ http://www.couponcravings.com/ http://www.kingdomfirstmom.com/ http://www.moneysavingmom.com/ http://thecentsiblesawyer.blogspot.com/ http://thecentsiblesawyer.blogspot.com/ http://www.swaggrabber.com/blog1.php http://www.5dollardinners.com/

The women who write these blogs keep track of practically every coupon available and match them up with sales, deals, other offers etc. I let THEM tell me what will be free at CVS after Extra Bucks and coupons with sales etc. They also will have LOTS of links for Internet Printable coupons, that you can print right from home. If you're a mom of a baby, the babycheapskate blog tells me every week where the best prices on diapers are. She'll also let me know if it's a stockup opportunity (really great price per diaper). Since following that blog, I haven't bought diapers for more than the stockup opportunity price. It's great.

3. Set your limits

I say set your limits because couponing and deal finding takes time. I could make a full time job out of it! Seriously. There are many more deals to be had out there that I don't particiapte in because I only want to spend a certain amount of time going to the grocery store etc. Many of the excellent Frugal people recommend that you grocery shop at at least 2 stores. I don't do this. I don't want to be running all over the country side. I want to go one place and be done with it. So that's what I do. Could I save more money the other way? Sure. But I'm lazy. Also, when I clip coupons I only clip the ones if they meet my Yes criteria...if this product were free because I had a coupon, would I get it?

4. Don't be brand loyal.

If you really want to save the big, bucks, you can't be brand loyal. I used to be brand loyal in almost everything I bought. Now I'm brand loyal for Shampoo (since I color my hair to get rid of the grays, I need a sulfate free shampoo...usually pretty pricey). I'm not brand loyal for toothpaste, conditioner, body wash, deoderant, make up, moisturizures etc. I'm brand loyal to Bartilla pasta though. Love that stuff!

5. How I plan my trips

Throughout the week, by following blogs, I keep a spread sheet of things that are Free This Week at CVS, Walgreens, Target and Walmart. CVS alwasy has the most, followed by Walgreens, Walmart and then Target. If it's a good week and there are quite a few free things to be had, I'll make a run. If not, then I skip. I usually won't make a run if I'm only going to get 1 thing for free. There are a lot of other good deals to be had, and I do use other coupons, mostly for my regular grocery shopping etc. Once I decide to go, I usually spend about 20 minutes comparing the deals to the coupons I have etc. and decide where I'm going to go, if anywhere, besides CVS. I like to have my plan and my coupons organized before I go, becuase that makes the actual shopping trip so much easier.

Note on Walgreens:

Make sure you get the Walgreens EasySaver catalogue that comes out every month. Every month there are a few items that are completely free after rebate and others that can be free after rebate and coupons etc. You can submit your receits for rebate via the mail or internet. I like the internet, of course, because it's faster. Always choose to get your rebate in the form of a Walgreens gift card (and they can add it onto an exsisting one so you don't end up with 900 of them). When you put it on the gift card, you get a 10% bonus, covering the tax you paid on the item, plus a little profit. So really, they're paying YOU to take products out of their store.

What to do with extras? There is always a local food pantry or mission willing to take your extras. I took mom 6 bottles of Excedrin (can't take...upsets my tummy) that I got for free. I can't use them, but she can. Let me know if you have any other questions!