Get Organized for more Savings!
by Kendra Neal
November 29, 2000
I started using coupons heavily in August ’99. I had been married a year at that time and we had been going through some tough financial situations and I needed to find a resolution for our problems and figured if I could cut cost in our everyday uses that would help drastically!! So I began researching the internet and came across a website formerly called Refunding Makes Cents. The website is a daily update of the monthly publication of a magazine with the same name. The editor finds online discounts or in-store discounts and shares them with the subscribers. There is also a section for readers to share the same. She is also known as the "coupon queen" and has been publishing the magazine for 20 years. Her website is mainly password protected and only subscribers have access to many parts of the site. At first my husband thought I was a crazy woman, using coupons on almost anything, but he became convinced when he was able to get a brand new playstation for $20 out of our pocket from online tips and coupons. Using the tips and info I collected from reading the magazine and the website, I began my coupon usage!!
The first thing to do is GET ORGANIZED!! This was not a problem for me, as I seem to be a naturally organized person. At the time, I was using one of the accordion style coupon organizers, but soon found that to be too small. I decided to make my own organizer using Index Dividers, the 5x7 size, regular size envelopes, labels (#5160 size) and a container by Sterilite that can be purchased at Walmart for about $2. I decided on the categories I needed, and then subcategories for those. For example, Baking has the subcategories of Cakes & Muffins, Cookies, Frosting, Oils, Pies, Sugar & Milk. I have recently begun using the Binder Method for my current coupons. I have found the Binder Method to be VERY easy to follow and VERY convenient to use for current coupons. I have too many expired coupons to fit into a binder, so I have kept my method of envelopes and container for my expired coupons!! (Most of the large grocery store chains in Chicago accept expired coupons, no matter how old they are.)
The next thing to do is start collecting coupons. I buy the paper every Sunday and have family and friends who save the coupon sections for me. Also, if you know someone who delivers the Sunday paper in your area, ask him or her if they can save the leftover inserts for you. If you can, it is easier to clip and file each week. I also buy coupons from the Internet and trade from the Internet. (A listing of my favorite sites, will be at the end of this) You pay for the coupons depending on the value of the coupon. For coupons valued under $1 it is 5 cents per coupon and for coupons over $1 it is 10 cents per coupon. I know that it may seem strange to purchase coupons, but considering the amount you save in the end, it is well worth it! The major grocery store chains in the Chicagoland area usually have some of their advertised sales for at least 10 days at a time on come items. So as soon as I get the new ads, I order the coupons I need or start trading for them.
The most important thing for using coupons is to match them with sales ads. In Chicago, the ads for the grocery stores come out on Wednesday, and the sales start on Thursday until the following Wednesday. I go through the ads on Wednesday and figure out what is on sale and what I have coupons for. Then I go and match the ads to the coupons I have and get to the particular store before the sale ends. For example, Prego Spaghetti sauce frequently goes on sale for .99 cents and I usually have coupons valued between .40 and 50 cents. So after coupons, I am paying 49 to 59 cents a jar. The regular price is anywhere between 1.99 and 2.39 a jar. For a total savings of about 1.50 to 1.80 a jar!!! I usually buy 10 or 15 jars at a time.
I also look out for rebates on products I buy. My best rebate deal on groceries happened in ‘99 with Del Monte Vegetables. I matched the sale price with coupons and will receive a rebate on top of that. This is called a triple play in couponing. For every 10 cans of vegetables I purchased I received $1.25 back. I did have to do separate orders, but the cashiers of the stores I go to know who I am, so they expect this now. The vegetables were on sale for 5/$2. The coupons I had were .40 cents off on 3 and I also had buy 3 get 1 free. I was at the double coupon store, so for every 3 cans I was getting 80 cents off, plus 1 free. So 4cans x40/can =$1.60- 80 cents for coupon=80 cents-40 for free can= 4 cans of vegetables for 40 cents. So for every 10 cans I was paying $1.00 then I received $1.25 in a rebate for every 10 cans making a profit of .25 cents for every 10 cans (You can’t even get generic brand that cheap) So matching rebates with sale prices and coupons is very beneficial!! Drug Store chains such as Walgreen’s and CVS have great rebate programs.
In summary, these are the steps to using coupons and getting the most for your money!!
1. GET ORGANIZED!!
2. Collect as many coupons as you can from any source that you can!
3. Match sale prices with coupons and rebates.
4. Stock up when you can on things that you use often.
5. If you have them in your area, shop at double and triple coupon stores. (My sister and I have driven 1 ½ hours to get to a store that was doubling up $1.00.)
Some of my favorite website for information on couponing and refunding are:
www.refundcents.com
www.coolsavings.com
www.smartsource.com
www.dealideal.com
Some of my favorite websites for buying coupons online are:
www.thecouponclippers.com
There are also many yahoo groups for trading coupons and refunding. If you do a search for coupons or refunding you should come up with some. www.groups.yahoo.com
If anyone would like more info or help, please feel free to email me and I would be more than happy to help!!!