The hardest part about using coupon’s, other than finding one you use, is keeping them organized and/or using them before they expire.
For a while I was using envelopes to keep track of the coupon’s, I had one for each month and I ended up find this way too hard. I would have twelve envelopes and then I would have to look through them all for the coupons I needed.
Then I found a coupon organizer, I had one before but it wasn’t very sturdy and broke, it took me forever to find one again and it is currently what I use.
So your thinking, she now has no excuses for not using her coupons, you would be right, but I still seem to have problems. I usually tend to forget the coupons at home, because I haven’t gotten around to putting them in the organizer and then even if I have remembered, I tend to forget the coupons when I go into the store. I am just as bad about leaving my shopping list at home/ So how do I expect you to use coupons, when I can’t even remember to use them all the time. Well! Here’s how you can do it.
(1) Cut, download to your Kroger card or print off coupons. A good way to find coupons is in the Sunday paper as well as online.
(2) Find something to put coupons in.
Envelopes, 3×5 index card holder, buying a coupons organizer. Some organizers are more complex than others. The one I currently use, just has a spot for each month, and it works OK. I have seen ones that are broken down by month and type of coupon, each month also has it broken down into things like, soup, bread, meat, condiments.
(3) Have a place to put the coupons.
This will help you use them better. Say by the front door, your purse and or in the car.
(4) Don’t be afraid to try a brand you have never heard of, if you can get it at a good price.
This also go’s for things that you have coupons for, remember sometimes stores don’t carry the brand’s you have coupons for. I agree, there are certain things that must be bought brand name, because of taste and/or allergies.
(5) Make a shopping list of things to buy.
This can be item you want to use both the coupons or not using the coupons to purchase. Some stores will even let you make a shopping list online, which you can then print of later. If you get a Sunday paper, use the circular’s to plan you shopping list.
(6) When making your shopping list, plan your meals around it.
If you have chicken in the freezer, and you want to make a healthier meal out of it, you can then add salad, bread and or a desert to the shopping list. This will also help cut down on the not knowing what to cook problems that we all run into
(7) Regularly check your coupons for any that have expired, or are getting close to expiring.
Try and use the ones close to experation and throw out the ones that have expired. This will help, keep the coupons current, and you know which ones you have to use.
(8) Never go shopping on an Empty Stomach.
It has been proven that, your more likely to buy more food than you need, when you shop on an empty stomach. While this is not always a bad thing, they have shown in these studies, that you tend to buy Junk Food.
(9) Some store mark off all their items on certain days, some stores mark down meat on Wed.
Sometimes you can call them and ask when they mark things down. You might if you can manage it, want to go shopping during the week, instead of on the weekends.
(10) Don’t forget to check the clearance racks. Walmart has a bakery tray usually by the cheese and yogurt, that has clearance bakery items.
You can get doughnut’s, rolls, cakes, cookies and gourmet bread this way.
Last month, I was able to get cheese rolls, Bismark and rye bread for $1.80 each, when some of them were normally $3-5.00.
(11) Buy in bulk.
This may not seem such a big thing, but if you bought chicken breasts when on sale or as a family pack, you can then freeze what you don’t need, to use at a later date. Coupons also some times will say the sizes on them, you might have $1.00 a 15oz or larger can of sweet corn.
(12) Shop around.
It might be annoying to shop at two stores, but sometimes you can save enough that it makes up for the price of gas and your time. Not sure if it is still the same price or not, but Kroger’s had tuna for $.65 a can, walmart had the same tuna for $.55 cents. With gas prices going up, this may not be as feasible as it once was, but it’s an option if it can be worked into your errand running.
(13) Combine Shopping trips.
Why would I suggest this?? We all have neighbors that might need a little help here or there. Stop buy and offer to take them shopping with you, this will provide a service for someone as well as being able to save a little gas here or there, especially if you take turns driving.
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