Am I too busy to coupon?

Hi again, remember me? Sorry about the hiatus, school work hit me like a truck, and while I am still crazy busy, maybe even more so right now, I thought I'd take a break to come back and visit you. Hopefully with some more consistancy. :)

The other day at Pick N Save (double double daze!), a customer and I struck up a short conversation while we were searching for items on our list. I was discouraged that I could not find the yogurt smoothies I had on my list - they would have ended up being only $.16 after double coupon! I had never bought one before, and I was looking forward to trying them. The lady sounded surprised when I told her how much they would have cost me, and she responded "oh, I don't normally coupon, I just want to use these up." I laughed as I showed her my coupon binder, to which she responded "Oh, I don't have that kind of time."

Do I have that kind of time? How much time does she think this takes me each week? Do I come off like one of the crazy people on TV who spend 40 hours a week? I was surprised by her comment - sort of. Yes, I am a crazy lady with a coupon binder, and other couponers recognize me in the store because of it. I had one lady that same day, ask me if I was on my first, or second around... well in general, I only have enough time and money to shop once, but oh boy wouldn't it be nice to have the time to make two lists?! :) But even if I AM one of those crazy binder ladies, I don't buy ten papers, I don't jump in recycling bins, and I don't spend 40 hours cutting coupons. So how much time DO I spend?

Well, since school is in full swing, not as much as I used to but my stockpile is still growing, and we are eating delicious dinners for little money. In general, it all starts with Sunday morning and the paper. I used to have it delivered, but since I never had time to actually read the paper, getting everyday was a waste of paper, and money. Now I drive into Cascade in the morning, and pick one up.
 It usually takes me an hour or two to clean out expired coupons, cut the new ones, sort, and file. Now mind you, I usually do this in the livingroom, on the floor, with a DVR'd tv show playing on the tv... relaxation time!!
As for making the lists, I will pull up the ad matching blogs I have saved, and take a half an hour sometime during the week. Another night, I may pull out the ads from Sunday's papers and make a list of things I am interested in. That is maybe another half an hour. Then another night I will look at my list, pull out all the coupons I can use, and print others. Since I already sorted my coupons, it is easy to see what I have, and what I need. Then on shopping day, I grab my binder which has all my coupons and my list, and I shop. Shopping for me, used to take forever - because I would wander the store aimlessly trying to decide what I wanted, or what I could afford. Then came coupons! Now I know what I want, and how much it will cost, so grocery shopping takes half the time!

So if we estimate 4 hours of couponing a week (a little less if you count the time I save in the store now), and 40% savings on groceries, then I would say couponing is well worth it for me. Also, since we live off a construction workers pay, that stockpile of extra products under the stairs leaves me with a nice feeling of security knowing I won't have to worry when the weather turns nasty and Cecil is home for an entire week. We just skip the grocery shopping that week, and snuggle in with a bowl of 'mater soup and grilled cheese and enjoy our extra time together. :)

Yes, I think I have enough time for coupons. :)

Recreating a stockpile...

okay folks, I'll admit it, I've fallen off the horse. My stockpile is dwindling... So while I was browsing the web for ideas to start over, I found this wonderful post on another blog about starting stockpiling from scratch. I am including the link to the original post, then I'll copy and paste her words of wisdom. Ready to learn with me? Here we go!

http://thecouponproject.com/2010/01/how-do-you-start-building-a-stockpile-when-theres-nothing-in-the-pantry.html

How do you start building a stockpile when there’s NOTHING in the pantry?

 

Reader Jennifer left a very good question at the bottom of one of my posts this week. I felt it deserved answering in a separate post and not in a quick comment. Here's what she writes:

I need help! I'm new to this & I'm not sure what to do in the meantime while trying to grow my stockpile. I currently have 0 groceries & I mean that literally. The fridge is empty for some condiments, eggs, and a few bagels. The cupboards are bare except for cans of soup….This is mostly because I'm so busy at home with my baby and hubby is so busy at work we just haven't had time to shop.
I just started collecting coupons… I'm going shopping tonight and I know that a lot of the coupons expire the end of this month. Should I go ahead and use all of the coupons (that expire soon) to stockpile items that I need anyway even if they're not on sale? I hate for the coupons to go to waste & then end up paying full price anyway…  
Jennifer, I'm going to do my very best to take you from square one to stockpiled!
Let's start with your last question – and it's a great one. Should you use coupons just because they're about to expire? In short, NO!! It sounds like you're in a place where you simply NEED some food. Here's what I propose you do. Head to the store with your coupons, but pay attention. Often you'll find the generic counterparts are cheaper than the name brand at full price with a coupon. Your goal is to simply find the lowest price on the items you need – coupons or not.
So let's talk about two kinds of shopping that we do as couponers and I think this will clear some things up. First, there's NEED-BASED SHOPPING. These are the items you need for the week ahead to complete your meals. For instance, produce, dairy, bread, meat, and/or anything you don't have in your stockpile. When you are starting out, most of your shopping will likely fall into this category. But as your stockpile grows over the months, you'll notice the items on your NEEDS list declines. You'll also learn how to become a more savvy shopper and you'll discover how to find deals on these items.
The second type of shopping is STOCKPILING. The idea here is that you buy items your family needs and uses when they are at their low prices. By using coupons on low prices, you sweeten the deal. But let me get something straight – not every stockpile deal uses coupons! I've stockpiled cans of broth when my store had them for $0.33 each. Don't think you MUST use coupons to stockpile! If you find a good deal, go for it!
Knowing this, how do you start? I recommend that you start each week with a meal plan – do not go to the store willy-nilly to buy things you "need." Make sure every item has a purpose. The items on this list become your NEEDS-BASED items. Do your best to find deals on these items, but do not stress! I like to shop at Fred Meyer or Winco for items I need but aren't on sale. I know that because these stores generally offer lower prices than their competitors, I'll be saving money. For more ideas, read this post I wrote about how to save money without using coupons.
With your need-based shopping out of the way, start to slowly add in a few stockpile deals each week. For instance, you might find a deal on soup you like. Try to get as much as you can reasonably use and store before it goes bad. I also recommend you start slow so you don't overwhelm yourself. Ease in! I also recommend you start looking to acquire household and personal care items such as toilet paper, shampoo, soap, and toothpaste as soon as you can. Why? Because you can often find these items very cheap if not free and these items can easily eat into your grocery budget otherwise. I think they'll make the biggest difference in your budget the fastest.
So how can you find these great stockpile deals? Well, are you not reading this blog?! Each Saturday night (hey – that's today!) I feature Walgreens and Rite Aid matchups. I also do Fred Meyer deals. All of these come late in the evening. On Wednesdays, I tackle Albertsons. Simply scan through my list and pick and choose a few deals out that make sense for you. I'll tell you the sale prices, which coupons to use, and what you can expect to pay. After awhile, you'll get the hang of it and you'll be able to find similar deals in nearly every ad you pick up.
I decided this morning to give this post a great visual, so I turned once again to my friend Mr. Excel:        

 

I created this chart to illustrate how your shopping might look now and how it might evolve over time. Suppose you ordinarily spend $100 a week at the store. For the first couple months, you may continue to spend this amount. However, the composition of your trips will be different. Now you'll start looking for better prices on the items you need and you'll begin to carve out a small portion of your budget to stockpile. 
As the months progress, you should notice a couple things. First, the amount of the items you need each week should slowly go down. Why? This is simple. As your stockpile grows, you'll be able to draw on those items to complete your meals. The second thing you should notice is that you'll be spending less overall. You'll also begin to notice that different items go on sale at different times of the year. This means it's going to be important to cycle through one calendar year to fully develop your stockpile. 
At 12 months, I would say I've seen the biggest savings in my budget. As of late, I've devoted more of my budget to stockpiling – particularly meat and other "more expensive" stockpiling deals. I couldn't have afforded to do this at the beginning. Three months from now, the chart may change again. But the conclusion is I've ended up with a nicely rounded stockpile and am spending less overall. Of course, your personal shopping and stockpiling needs may yield a different chart…but this illustrates how it *might* look for some.
Jennifer, I hope this serves to help answer your question. I also encourage you to read the series of coupon lessons I wrote – you can find them in Getting Started. I know I have a lot of knowledgeable and talented readers and would love their input too!   

Piggly Wiggly week of 6/22/11

Good morning all!

I had fully intended to have this Piggly Wiggly post up last night, but life got in the way. Isn't that just the way life goes? I think I tend to over plan my days, LOL.

Today is the day I will be stopping at the Piggly Wiggly for groceries, so let's take a look at what is on sale this week.

Front page, bold letters - 99¢ for previously frozen all natural split chicken breasts or natural chicken wings by the lb, or a 6 oz pkg of Butterball Turkey Bacon.

California peaches 99¢/lb

Piggly Wiggly Gallon Milk $2.49

Crystal Farms chunk or shredded cheese $1.49 limit 3

Era Liquid detergent 50 oz $1.99 limit 2

Coke products 4/$10
7-up or Dr. Pepper 6 pk bottles 4/$10( I think this is a good week to stock up on soda! )

Food Club Granulated sugar 4 lb 99¢ (with coupon from ad and separate $10 purchase)

Of course you all know there is no way for me to list all of the specials in the ad this week, that would take forever, but these are a few that peaked my interest. Take a look at the full ad HERE and tell us what deals you find. Also, if you know of any available coupons for the deals, please let us know! We're here to help each other out! :)

A great week to stock up on groceries!

Hello friends! This week is a very exciting grocery week for me for a number of reasons. (oh  boy, am I a dork, LOL) First, Pick N Save is having double double daze Saturday! That means we can double 10 coupons up to $1 with a $25 initial purchase! :) Also, with the All You Grocery Challenge running, I am extra excited to put together my grocery list this week. AND the Piggly Wiggly ad has some great items in it, so I will have two great ads to shop from. Even better? I think I will be able to put together a list to make two trips to Pick N Save on double double daze to stock up on cereal for Justin to munch on. First things first, lets double them coupons!

To see the list of deals pocketyourdollars.com has put together for the Roundy's stores, click HERE.

What is on my list? I'm looking at stocking up on cereal. Select General Mills Cereal is on sale for $1.99 per box (limit 5), and with double coupons, I should be able to get my 5 boxes down to less than $1/box. If I go twice, I think I'll get cereal both times, because we sure go through it! :)

Also, I see some great deals on soda - Pepsi products 4/$10. We always get the 6 pk bottles, but the sale is also on 12 pk cans.

With coupons I think I can get Best life Buttery Spread and I Can't Believe It's Not Butter for under $1 each.

Palermos Pizza is on sale for $2 each, and there is supposed to be a coupon available for $1 off, so that would make them $1 each. That'd be handy to have around!

Bar S hot dogs on sale for $.99 each! No coupon needed!

Skippy peanut butter on sale $.99 each, limit 1. I got a jar earlier this week, may I just put my vote in for the Skippy Naturals Creamy with Honey... yum, yum!

Lipton/Knorr side dishes on sale for $1 each - this is a common sale, but I love having these side dishes around to add to dinner.

Oh, and Aussie or Herbal Essences shampoo are rumored to be on sale for $2.50 with a $1.00 coupon available making them $.50 after double coupon! :)

Also, Purdue Oven Ready Roaster's are on sale for $.99 a lb. This is a little more expensive than the $.79/lb chickens I found a few weeks ago, but those are actually all gone already. :)  I love roasting up a chicken for dinner, then using the leftovers to make a chicken salad for Cecil's work lunch. It's a lot easier, less expensive, and healthier than using processed lunch meat, and I think Cecil likes it better too! There is no limit listed in the flyer, so check the signs at the store!

Honestly there are tons of things in the Pick ad that jump out at me. What are YOU buying this week? Any tips to share on making a $ stretch? Can't wait to hear your ideas! Stay tuned for my Piggly Wiggly shopping list!

Extreme Couponing

Whew! What a weekend! I would like to send out congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs Breit, and thank them for letting me be part of their big day!

Now, on to those coupons! Did anyone watch the Extreme Couponing episode from last week? There were so many things about the show that didn't make sense that I had to take notes.

It bothered me that it showed a lady getting three cart loads of groceries and getting money back. I am sure they are lifting some coupon policies for the show to make that work. The things to remember about couponing here locally is

* The only local store that I am aware of that will give you change back on an overage is Walmart, and I find it hard to create a scenario where you would get anything back, let alone a gift card for $50+ dollars like in this episode.

*Pick N Save is the only local store I am aware of that will double coupons, and they have a limit built into the computer, so the spots in the show where they say " I have 382 coupons for $.75 off that will double to $1.50 making it free", yeah, not realistic, at least not around here. I think I'd like shopping in their stores, LOL.

Something else that I noticed about last week's episode, was the couscous scenario. I love couscous, and if I could get a couple boxes for free, I would definitely stock up, but honestly, 134 boxes of couscous could last me a decade, and I think it may be a little overkill, LOL. The she mentioned that she had never tried couscous and wondered if she'd like it! :) Just some funny things I noticed.

Another little something I think may need clarification is the catalinas. Catalinas are coupons that will print at the register when you check out provided you have purchased the correct number of items. Walgreens register rewards are a catalina coupon. On last weeks episode, the narrator said something about the yogurts generating a $.75 catalina for every three yogurts bought, bringing the price down to $.xx each after catalina. This can get confusing. I never count my catalinas or register rewards in as part of my saving because it is not taken off of your current total, it's taken off a FUTURE purchase. So they were paying more for those yogurts than they let you believe, they just got a future credit. This is why I only count my Catalina savings on the days I spend them, not earn them, because the true money savings takes place when you cash them in, and if you'd like an accurate account of your savings, you don't want to count them twice!

Some of the ad match ups will list things as "free after register rewards". This often confuses people, and is why I try and avoid that type of wording. If I $2 item will earn you $2 in register rewards, you still pay $2. The plus is when you can use that $2RR in the future. I love register rewards and catalinas, I just don't count them as immediate savings. :)

What other tricks have you found? Any great deals? I'd love to hear how you've saved your family money! Remember, we are all here to help each other! :)

Wheww! What a week!

Hi all! Is your weekend as busy as mine? I had my last day in the 4k classroom yesterday, then it was time for a rehearsal dinner and hall decorating for the wedding I'm in today. This morning is hair and make up, so I guess I won't be getting that post on Extreme Couponing up today. I'll work hard on it tomorrow I promise!

Just a heads up for tomorrow, when you buy your Sunday paper, there should be two inserts in it. Click below for a preview of what coupons should be included. :)
Sunday coupon preview

My number one couponing tip:

All You Magazine! Seriously folks, I get the best coupons from All You Magazine, AND I love the articles! The July issue arrived in my mailbox today. I will probably spend this evening reading the articles, then tomorrow afternoon I will tear the magazine apart and clip all the coupons! Articles in this issue include:

154 ways to live on nothing
cool off with summertime drinks
The tasty foods that help you lose weight
outsmart high gas prices
enjoy summer! Entertain friends without spending a lot
Beat Fatigue per up and feel great today

This issue also claims to save us $56.76 in coupons! :)

All You is available at Walmart, or through subscription. I have a subscription, and it's great to see the deals show up every month in my mailbox! :)

On a side note, I just wanted to thank all of you for your questions and comments! I am really having a lot of fun with this blog, and I love being able to help you, and love to hear your tips and suggestions as well! This is a learning process, and we will learn together!
Stay tuned tomorrow for my thoughts on last night's episode of TLC's Extreme Couponing!

Sunday, The Beginning of the Money Saving Week!

Good morning! It’s a beautiful day here in Southeastern Wisconsin! What is on your agenda? Gardening? Headed to the beach? My Sunday routine always starts with a trip to the convenience store for a paper! Sunday is the best day of the week to start saving money!

I have found the best way to start your coupon collection is to buy a paper every Sunday (holiday weekends tend to not have coupons, so I usually skip those). There are many ways people like to organize and collect coupons. I’d like to share my method, which I compiled from a number of different blogs, taking the ideas I like best from each blogger.

To start – I cut every coupon. If you look in my binder, you will see coupons for diapers and denture cream, neither of which we use of course. The reason I cut all the coupons is simple – free. I follow many other bloggers to help me learn, and they often will post coupon ad match ups, and if you have the right coupons, you can get the item for free. If I have an opportunity to get diapers for free, or even denture cream, I can find local shelters and nursing homes in dire need for these products, and I figure it costs me no more time to clip every coupon than it would to decide which I want and which I don’t.

When I started couponing, I had a little plastic coupon file with thirteen slots in it. Since I cut every coupon, that didn’t take long to fill up, and it was quite a mess to dig through at the store. It took me a while to realize that if I wanted an organizational system to hold all my coupons, there was no way it would be able to fit my purse, LOL. Enter my coupon binder.

Yep, it’s pink! Like it? This large contraption actually helps me cut my shopping time, and my grocery bills! I have been consistently saving 40-50% on my grocery bills! :)

Just a quick tour of my binder – I keep a pack of post it notes in the front pocket, to jot down sales I see in the store, or to keep my coupons labeled by store for future trips.

The front flap on my binder opens up to reveal a spot for pens and pencils and other little odds and ends.

There is also a zipper in that front part, and it is perfect for a pair of scissors and a calculator. The calculator is a great thing to have along, sometimes I use it to keep a running total of my groceries, or sometimes it’s handy to figure out per unit prices.

Inside the front cover of the binder is sort of an expanding file. I love this for my restaurant.com gift certificates, and my grocery store flyers. I also keep printed internet coupons I haven’t gotten around to clipping yet. It’s a very nice feature.

Next is my table of contents. I printed this one from hip2save.com, try following this link, you should be able to find the table of contents in my binder. Sometimes I think I’d like to add new categories, but in the long run, this is pretty perfect to start out with! It seems like a lot of categories, but the more categories, the fewer coupons in each, and in the long run, the easier it is to find what you have, at least I think so. :)

My next page is where I store my shopping list. I use an excel spreadsheet that I’ve programmed to keep tally of the totals for me. If I ever get it perfected, I’ll post it for all of you to use too, I promise! Right now, it may just drive you all crazy, LOL.

The next page is an empty sheet protector I use to keep all the coupons I’ve organized by store for that week’s shopping trip. The coupons are sorted with a paperclip and a post-it note for the specific store. It’s working well for me so far, but I’m always open to new ideas!

The very first category I put in, which is not listed on the table of contents I used, is my store cards. I used to keep them in my purse, but they were always so hard to find, so I decided to put them in my binder! The pages are meant for baseball cards, and they fit the store cards perfect. I also use these pages for my coupons. I’ve also used 4x6 photo pages in some places, for bigger coupons, but I like the size and quality of the baseball pages better. I also know you can purchase pages with 4 pockets, or pages with long skinny pockets meant for currency. I think by the time all is said and done I will have a million types of pages, and a type of coupon that works best in each one. I plan on creating a binder just like this one for my mom, so if I keep buying pages, we can split them up between the two binders.

My tabs – I hate them, LOL. I really want to invest in some high quality plastic dividers, but as impatient as I am, I purchased some inexpensive stick on tabs, and used some white cardstock from my craft room. Don’t get me wrong, they serve their purpose for the time being, but eventually, I will invest in the higher quality, because sometimes these dividers get hidden behind the photo pages because they are a tad bit wider, but it’s a work in progress!

This is what the coupons look like in the baseball pages. I keep one coupon type in each pocket. By type, I mean if I have three $1/1 Truvia coupons, they will all be in the same pocket organized with the coupon that expires first on top, but only that coupon. So I know exactly what I have. When I started, I’d put a few similar coupons in one pocket, because I didn’t buy enough pockets, but now I have enough, so each coupon has its own pocket. It makes it so easy to see what I have! :)

So, this is my binder! What do you think? How do you organize your coupons? I’d love to see what you do, it’s so nice to be able to learn from each other!