Couponing 101

First, let me just say, WOW! I had an overwhelming response to a recent Facebook photo I uploaded of a free trip to CVS. I guess seeing is believeing! I decided that my blog, which I am bad about keeping updated, would be the perfect place to share my method for couponing. Sure, it may not be the best, but it is working great for me! It will at least be a good starting point & then you can tweak it until it works for you.

I wanted to go ahead & get this typed up & then I will add in the photos I took so you can see just exactly what I am talking about. First & foremost, to begin couponing, you MUST subscribe to the newspaper! There's no other way to get all the coupons you will need! For those of you here in the Birmingham area, you can get the Sunday & Wednesday paper for only $1 per week. This is waaaaay cheaper than going out & buying a Sunday paper, plus it is delivered to you. Sunday has your coupons & some sales papers & Wendesday's has all the ads for the new week, plus your weekly Publix coupon. All new sales for grocery stores start on Wednesday in this area. Some other areas start on Thursday. The sales of your drug stores starts on Sundays.

Secondly, choose your grocery & drug store. There is no need to hop from store to store to get all the good deals. Now, if there is something on sale that is a super buy, run in & grab it! I prefer Publix & CVS. Here is why: In Hueytown, they are right next to each other, they BOTH accept competitor coupons, Publix doubles coupons up to $0.50, & they are close to me. Since there is a Rite Aid & Walgreens right next to them, they accept their coupons. Both stores accept internet coupons & also competitor coupons! Look in your area & those are the competitors they will accept from. For my area, they will accept CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreen's, Winn Dixie, Food World, Target, & Publix I know for a fact. Sometimes I run in Winn Dixie for something & get printout coupons that I then use at Publix. This is completely legit. Here's why: a)Most of these coupons are actually manufacturer's coupons & they'd rather you come into their store than go elsewhere, & b) they'd rather honor that competitor's store coupon than to lose your business completely. The purpose of sales is to get you in the door with great "GIMME" items. These are usually things that are on the front page of the sales ads that grab you & get you into the store. Then you know the drill. Kids scream for everything & then they have all the well-placed items that remind you that you "really need to grab that too". Make sure to get your CVS ExtraCare Card also. You can get one at the register.

Lastly, get ready to get organized!!!! There is no need to go out & buy those expensive coupon organizers or huge books you see some people with. They are overkill in my opinion. Gather these things if you want to do it like I do. Like I said, you can tweak it for yourself after you get the hang of it.

You will need:

• a box of some sort (sadly, I must admit that I used a grits box with the top cut off until recently, hehe)

• A simple coupon organizer (look at Walmart over in the office supplies, usually only a few dollars),

• A 4x6 "brag book" (again, look at Walmart. They usually have those little albums with the awful drawings stuck in the front of them. Yank those out & you are set. Also usually $1).

• Scissors & a pen. That's it!!!!!!

Here is my complete box of coupon stuff:  I have a plastic box that used to be the insert of a cooler that I used at Alabama Adventure last year. Talk about recycling! This is the collection box. It is a place to stick your coupon organizer, "brag book", scissors, pen, loose coupons, & also the coupon booklets you will get from manufacturers. I usually like to keep these collections of coupons together instead of cutting them out & filing them away. It is actually easier for me, but again, that's just my way. I also put any restaurant coupons that I have in here so I can keep up with them. Whenever I cut coupons & don't have time to file them, I simply stick them in the front of the box until I get around to it. I also throw in any coupons that I come across in mailers & just have a quick minute to throw it in.

(****Here's enough to get you started on organizing, & then I will be posting again soon to let you know the next step to getting started on clipping. Organize 1st or you will be overwhelmed & give up!****)