Tonight on TLC a new show aired, "Extreme Couponing." I was anticipating watching this show as I am intrigued by the savings that people obtain utilizing coupons and store sales. After six minutes of the show I was annoyed, before the show even ended I handed the remote off to my husband and told him he could watch whatever he wanted.
While I want to save money whatever ways I can, going to the extremes that I saw just in 3/4 of the one episode is not what I want. The first woman that they followed spends up to 70 hours a week on couponing. But let's take another look at what she purchased 200+ boxes of pasta. 150 candy bars. Plus other items. A look at her storage room shows that she has food items and household goods that will last her and her husband at least 2 years. But this comes as what cost? Sure she got great deals but she also admitted that she has sacrificed time with her husband to shop.
Because I am wanting to start saving more money on my purchases and outings I have started slowly getting into couponing. This is what I have discovered so far.
Don't clip coupons just because there is a coupon.
This was my first mistake. I actually find sitting down with the coupon flyers and a pair of scissors to be relaxing. Only problem was that I went overboard. I clipped coupons for items that there was only teeny tiny chance I would ever buy. I found myself throwing out more coupons than I used, because they expired and they were items I would never purchase.
Be organized.
If you are going to start couponing find a system that works for you. I started out with the small coupon accordion wallet. This became a mess of coupons and inconvenient to dig through at the store. Last night as I went through the newest flyers I emptied out the small wallet and instead moved the coupons into envelopes. Each envelope is labeled for a different department of the store. I then put the envelopes in my larger accordion file. The next time I plan a grocery trip I will go through the envelopes as I make my list and move the coupons I want to use into the small wallet to bring to the store.
What I really want to do is utilize one technique that many extreme couponers use. Purchase a 3-ring binder and the plastic pages that baseball card collectors use. This way you can see each coupon without digging through the stack.
Let others do the homework for you.
For a good part of the last year I have been a fan of Pocket Your Dollars on Facebook. Carrie Rocha has made it her career to find the best deals around. Each week she posts shopping lists on the Pocket Your Dollars website. She shows the best combinations utilizing manufacturer and store coupons along with sales at particular stores. She will also share freebies and online coupon codes.
A co-worker recently told me about Mommy Savers, while I haven't had a lot of time to look at this site I look forward to checking it out.
Find deals everywhere.
Many companies offer coupons when you like them on Facebook. Leeann Chin for example offers coupons through their facebook pages. They will post them and if you "liked" their page you will see the offers in your news feed.
Don't overlook Twitter. You don't have to tweet but sign up for an account and follow your favorite stores for online deals, etc.
Coupons.com is a site to find additional coupons for groceries and services. You will have to download their coupon printer to print.
Share your needs with others.
Are there particular coupons you know you want. Let your friends and family know! I have come to work and found Huggies coupons on my desk, flyers for a gas station that is by my Mom's house and a friend has sent me coupons that I could use in the mail.
Read this blog.
I will be sharing coupons I have available from time to time on this blog. I purchase an Entertainment 2011 book this year and will post coupons for restaurants, services and activities. The coupons will be free for the taking and I am willing to mail them if needed. I only request a SASE so I can send them out.
Good luck and while you search to find the best deals you can, don't forget to put aside the scissors and flyers and spend time with your family!
I would love to hear from others their secrets to saving money! How do you stretch your dollars?
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