Lots of people have asked me about couponing, but lots of them "don't have the time" to get fully into it. Here are a few easy ways to get started and also to use less time couponing.
1. First of all you have to get the newspaper. You must have coupons to use them. There are printable coupons too, but you really need to have the weekly inserts.I recommend at least 3 per family, more if you can. Ask around to see if people will give you their coupons!
2. Buy only the hot deals - and buy a lot! So you don't have time to go through the ads every week, but you want to keep your pantry stocked. If you hear of a deal where something is a five star deal buy as much of it as you can, granted it's something you know you will use. For instance wipes are only $.29 this week at Target after a Target printable coupon. I am going to buy at least 10, probably more!
3. Every week there are a few produce items that are on sale. Plan your weekly veggie intake around these items that are on sale.
4. When milk or cheese, which rarely have coupons, go on a great sale then buy A LOT and freeze them. This brings me to my next point:
5. Make your freezer your best friend. Right now turkey is on sale for $.40/lb at Walmart. I am going to fill my freezer! Ok so only 3 at the most will fit in there, but I am going to make it fit. If I had a deep freezer I would buy 10. When there are rock bottom prices on meats or anything for that matter buy in large quantities and freeze it.
6. Know when to buy what. There are a lot of seasonal sales during the year. Right now, in the fall, baking items are on sale. In the summer there are condiments, sodas, and meats. A lot of stores have case lot sales in the the fall as well. Buy at least a six month supply of these items when they are at their rock bottom prices.
7. Know what is a good deal! When I first started couponing I didn't know what a good price for meats or produce was. I had no clue! Start paying attention to what a good price is.
8. Plant a garden. I am looking forward to having a garden now that I have a backyard to put it in! Plant what you know your family will eat.
9. Can or freeze produce from your garden or when they are in season. I made raspberry jam for the first time this year and it was so much easier than I thought!
10. Figure out one drug store and stick with them. Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid all have good deals. This does not mean you need to run around to all of them! Pick one, get it figured out to a science, and just stick with them. Of course if you hear about a smoking deal that you can't pass up, by all means go to the other store, but otherwise I would stay loyal to one so you don't overwhelm yourself.
11. If you need to go to the store for just one thing check the blogs or forums for free/smoking hot deals for that store. That way you are not making an extra trip for your couponing, but you can still get a few perks.
Here are a few blogs that I like:
If anyone has any questions please ask! I am still trying to get this coupon thing figured out here in Texas. I am REALLY missing Albertson's. I am going to get my budget down to about $50 bucks a week again, but it's been tough to get going. I can't wait to plant a garden. Planting starts in February here in Texas!
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