Mama's Coupon Corner

Welcome to my coupon corner! Here I will share some tips and tricks of couponing and also share some of my coupon deals that I will add to my stockpile :)

Coupons 101:

First off, you need to get organized. The supplies that I have are pretty similar to school supplies, so I would recommend shopping for your supplies to get started during the back to school season. This is when the supplies are the cheapest!

This is my binder - I spent about $4-$5 on this because it is durable and has a lot of pockets to hold all of my supplies. You can purchase a cheaper binder, but you will eventually have to replace it. Additional supplies that I would recommend are a pen, small writing tablet, calculator, sport card sheets to hold the coupons, and page protectors. I also printed out the categories off of http://thekrazycouponlady.com.

There are many ways to acquire coupons. You can get your coupons from the Sunday paper, digital coupons are found online, catalinas (these print with your store receipt).

Coupons come two ways, manufacture coupons and store coupons. The difference can be determined right on the coupon.

Store Coupon

Manufacture coupon

 Once you have pulled all of the coupon inserts out, separate the pages. This will give you a stack of pages to cut from.

Take all of your clipped coupons and file the coupons into the correct category of your binder.

*** Please remember to read your coupons before going shopping***

I always plan my shopping trips out prior to going to the store. I usually shop at Walmart. I do this for many reasons:

1. Walmart price matches
2. Walmart takes competitor coupons
3. It's close to my home!

I usually make a list of what I need for the month. Yes, I do my MONTHLY shopping in one day! Then I browse the ads to find the best deals. This is where your writing pad comes in handy. Next to your grocery item mark the best price and the initials of the store that it is best priced at. (SW= Safeway, Fry's = F, Albertson's = A, Target = T, Basha's = B.... etc.) After you have done this, go through your binder and pull the coupons for your purchases. This will save you time at the store and keep your shopping experience organized. My binder has a front pocket and this is where I keep my pulled coupons. If your binder does not have a front pocket, paper clip them to your list.

You can do the math to see what you should be spending at the store if anything....

Some rules to use to maximize you savings:

1. Stay organized.
2. Match your coupons with the sales.
3. Use the coupon for the smallest product allowed
4. Switch brands if needed to maximize your savings.... trying something new is never a bad idea.
5. Use BOGO Sales (Buy 1, Get 1 Free)
6. Don't be afraid to get a rain check if an item is not available.
7. STACK YOUR COUPONS - this is done when you use a store coupon in combination with a manufacture coupon.... Optimize your savings!
8. Make a stockpile!
9. Don't be greedy... leave some products for others!!