I live it seems sometimes way out in the boonies, Maine, United States
I also make reusable shopping bags out of material that had a different original use. I purchase all of the material from a thrift store that uses all of its profits to care for animals in an animal shelter.
I have three children. One is 19 and just started her first year in college. One who is 16 and is a Halo expert, and one that is 2! He is my little surprise blessing!
OK so when I started using coupons I sat at my table every Sunday clipping, and clipping and clipping. It was very long and time consuming. You don't have to let your coupons take over you. YOU TAKE OVER THEM!
Through trial and error I found a process that works for me, because it takes less time. Some people still clip ALL of their coupons, but it seems like a bunch of time wasted to me.
I have a three ring binder, (my friends call it my FREEBIE KIT hehe) but it has folders with pockets and tabs on them. I use a pocket for each week of coupon inserts. Then when I get my coupon inserts out of the Sunday paper I write on the top of them the date. Then I put them in first to last.
When the coupon preview comes out (I will put the list on my site.) I print out the list of coupons for each week as they come. Then I stick the list in front of each set of inserts. So if I am in the store and I see a deal and I remember I saw a coupon for it all I have to do is look at the list instead of fumbling through my coupons in the middle of the isle.
One the rest of the folders with tabs and pockets I have the stores I go to the most. Like Walmart, Food City, Shaw's and Walgreens. In each pocket I keep my coupons I will use for that store and on the flip side pocket is where I keep the weekly circular or any other stuff like rebate information for that store.
Having the date on the top of the inserts will save you time, because most of the blogs like mine tell you what coupon to use with each sale and what date insert it came out in the Sunday paper. So all you have to do is see that you use the 4-5-09 SS for that sale.
SS = Smart Source RP = Red Plum PG = Procter and Gamble
I can take just the folder for each store into the store if I don't want to carry the whole binder. When I go shopping or should I say BEFORE I go shopping I get my list ready of what is on sale and what coupons I am using. Then I stick to my list when I go to the store.
Sticking to your list really does help save you money. If you go to only get what is on sale you won't overspend. You will end up with a stock pile of groceries and other household items so you don't HAVE to go to the grocery store and spend $200 a week.
ECB - Extra Care Bucks - CVS "money" printed on receipts to be used like cash in store on your next purchase.
RR - Register Reward - Walgreen's "money" printed on receipts to be used like cash in store on your next purchase. ESR - Walgreen's Easy Saver Rebate Program ESC - Walgreen's Easy Saver Coupon OOP - Out of Pocket - actual cash paid BOGO - Buy One Get One FREE! SS - Smart Source insert in Sunday's paper RP- Red Plum insert in Sunday's paper P&G - Proctor and Gamble insert in Sunday's paper Peelie - Peelable coupon located on packages Blinkie - These are the ones hanging in the isles of the grocery store and they usually have a blinking light. 2/$5 - This means 2 items for $5, can be any combination. $1/2 - This means $1 off of 2 items, can be any combination. WYB - when you buy MIR - Mail In Rebate
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