A great way to say money is by using coupons.  Couponing is becoming very popular as more people are trying to find ways to save money.  Here’s some simple steps to get you started.

1. Go about it as a game or a challenge.  Try to beat your record on how much you can save at a grocery visit.
2. Combine coupons with sales if possible.
3. Only use the coupon on items you would buy anyways.
4. If the generic is cheaper than name brand w/ coupon and your family will eat the generic, then buy they generic. 
5. Get your coupons organized.  I am working mine into a binder, which I hope to show in a future post after it is done.
6. Take a calculator with you to the store so you can figure price per weight and can get the best deal.
7. The Sunday newspaper is one of the best places to get coupons. 
8. Ask friends, family and neighbors to save their extra coupons that they don’t use for you. 
9. If you belong to a homeschool group or Bible study, see if the other women would like to bring their extra coupons and do a coupon exchange.
10. There are several places on the web that you can print your own coupons.

                      http://www.coupons.com

                      http://coupons.smartsource.com/

                       http://www.upons.com/

11. You can order coupons on line for a very small price.  A lot of times there is a small minimum to buy.  Example:  You may be able to order a $1.00 coupon for Huggies diapers at $.05 a piece, minimum to buy 5.  So if you buy Huggies all the time, you spend the $.25 for the coupons and save $4.75.  Some of the places may have a separate processing fee for the total order so make sure you read the terms and decide if its worth it. 

                        http://www.thecouponclippers.com/

                        http://www.cnfcentral.com/coupons.asp

                        http://www.thecouponmaster.com/

12. Watch the cash register total.  The sale price does not always come up, coupons don’t always ring up right, they swipe too many times, ect.

13.  Do not go shopping hungry!! Everything will look good to you.
14.  Stick to your list but be flexible.  Sometimes stores have unadvertised sales that you may want to take advantage of especially if you have a coupon for that item.
15. Last but not least, leave your children at home if you can.  It will save you money.  If you husband is not happy with the idea about being left with the kids, explain to him it is an effort to save more money.  It’s really hard to calculate prices, search for coupons, watch the cash register total and such when the kids are begging for things, whining about being tired, trying to grab things, trying to climb out of the shopping cart, ect.                               

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Posted by HeartnSoul

Pretty savvy! I almost thought we were going to post the same one, but mine is online bargains..

Have a wonderful week
Denise

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Posted by proverbsmama

I have found that it is much cheaper to go to stores like Aldi's or Save-a-Lot. It seems that when I have a coupon, it is often for an item that has been marked up in price, so the generic is always cheaper.

I do use coupons for things like air fresheners though.
I don't use laundry coupons because I make my own laundry soap, fabric softener, stain remover, etc.

It ends up saving me time because I'm not spending all that time looking through the coupons each week.

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Posted by jenn4him

Thanks, Lynn! I need to try to do this again.
Jenn

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Posted by naturalpaths

Years ago I kept my coupons in baseball card pages in a 3 ring notebook. The card pages made it really easy to see what I had. The only problem was cashiers would see the notebook in my grocery cart and tell me I needed to pay for it. I would then have to open it up and show them the inside to prove I had brought it in with me and wasn't trying to steal it (never mine I had written on the front of the notebook COUPON BINDER). Now that we eat organically I use far fewer coupons and don't carry a binder with me any longer. It was very handy at the time!

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Posted by MOMflippedisWOW

Good morning!!

I've tagged you over at my blog!

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Posted by jab300

Those are all great tips! I love using coupons. I also find that if you have a brand you buy regularly it helps to sign up if they have a website and they may have coupons and promotions there (I do this with Betty Crocker and Pillsbury...the site will have coupons with higher discounts than the ones in the papers.) Have a great week! Julie

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Posted by Canadagirl

Neat, I will have to try the online cupons. Is it only for the US ?

Blessings and ((hugs)) my SSiC
In Him<><
-Mary

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Posted by sahmto4orMore

Oooh, great post!

I do couponing like this, too. It's amazing how much can be saved in each visit. My kids help sort through the coupons.

Blessings,
tracy

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Posted by bakerswife

These are great! I really need to get my act together and save coupons. We will eat generic or what is on sale, so I do not save them normally.
Blessings, Mama Karen

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Posted by psalms16vs2

Thanks for the coupon links, those are always nice to have. :)
JoAnn

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Posted by socalval

Hello, Hello. Just got home from a fun trip to the Aquarium. Lots to see and lots of walking around. Fun though.

Just wanted to give you a reminder about tomorrows Weblink Wednesday. Hope to see you there...

Valerie

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