I am NOT an extreme couponer by any means, even though people look at me funny when they see my coupon binder. I use my coupons to buy the things I normally buy. Using coupons helps to lower my grocery bill tremendously. I know everyone has their own way of using coupons and my way may not be the way for you. I have tried several different ways to plan my trips and found that this is what works for me.
- Sit down and make a list of what you need for the week (or month, depending on how often you shop)
- Check to see if you have any coupons for the items you need
- Get out your local sales papers and check to see if anything you have on your list is on sale that week. I usually circle the items in the ads that I need.
- While perusing the sales papers, make a note of items that you might be able to get for free or really cheap to stock your pantry. I usually circle these items with a different colored pen thatn the other items I have circled
- Match these stock up items with your coupons
- You are now ready to make your lists. I usually make a list for each store and then place the coupons in a stack for each store. I try to make my lists in order of the store layout. This helps to make it a quicker trip and I am not constantly going back and forth all over the store. I then stack my coupons in the order of my list.
- I take my list and paperclip the coupons to it. I am then ready to hit the stores.
There are 3 main stores in my town to do my shopping-Kroger, Brookshires and Walmart. I do the bulk of my grocery shopping at Kroger and Brookshire’s due the fact that they will double and triple coupons. Every now and then, I will price match at Walmart. I also try my best to stick to my list, but in some instances, I will find a deal that is too good to pass up. If there are items that I need that are not on sale at Kroger or Brookshire’s, I will usually get them at Walmart if I really need them. The good thing about using coupons is that once you get a small stockpile built up, you will hardly ever pay full price for anything (except for items that you never seem to get coupons for-such as bread, milk, meat, produce, etc).
My average savings usually run at more than 50%. Remember, most people have to buy other things besides just the things they have coupons for. Even a savings of 10% is better than paying full price!
How do you shop for your groceries? Share your helpful tips here! If you have a blog, write a post to tell others how to save and enter your info in the linky below. I am looking forward to reading your tips!
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There is no shame in carrying a coupon binder into the grocery store by any means. For those of us who have to work for our money, I take great pleasure in saving it also. My wife started using coupons in Jan. and we already have saved a few hundred dollars. Journal With Coupons was just a way to keep track of her shopping trips and now has been evolving into a great place to learn new coupon techniques and ideas to save. I wish we had a Kroger store close by to get the extra store saving such as I know you do!
I really need to do this !! Most of the time I even forget to bring them in the first place belensmama@yahoo.com
This would be nice but I live in a little bitty town with one store!
When We go shopping we bring ours too, funny part is my husband does the same thing without me it pretty cool though.
Very informative post! Thank you so much for sharing!
I wish they would double coupons in CA
Yeah, I don’t think it’s a bad thing or anything to carry coupons when you shop. I really like your points. Making lists is really useful because then you don’t buy unnecessary things and just stick to what you need.
I love this post. I’ve been trying to get some lessons in couponing and every little bit helps. Thank you!
This is exactly how I shop and since I have family at Kroger and Brookshires I get a sneak peek ever so often!!
This is how I shop and I ‘m proud of my binder! However, I dropped it in my car once and spilled out a couple of pages. Also I am tempted to buy more and use more coupons when I have them (not just wants on my list) so I don’t take my binder to the store. I just take the coupons I intend on using like you do. Found you on Simply Stacy.
I think the most I have saved on a grocery trip was 41%. I have not figured out how to save more since the brand name stuff even with coupons is more expensive than the generic. How long did it take you to establish your system to save that much?
Since I have started using coupons and my husband (who likes to shop for groceries with me) saw how much I was saving, he reminds me now to make sure to take them when we are going to the store.
In Canada it is really hard to get great coupons. We never have double or triple coupons (at least none that I`ve seen.) Maybe you could find out what tricks there are for saving in Canada. I`d love to read that post! I get some coupons from http://www.save.ca to get some discounts. You can use them at any Canadian store.
Don’t need a binder! Check out my website to see The Couponizer!
http://lookwhatigotforfree.blogspot.com
Great tips, I want to be a couponer but it’s a bit hard to get into. I don’t subscribe to local papers and I don’t have a printer– ack, if only they all take electronic/digital coupons from the phone, then I’d save more money! I just go to the local store and look at their weekly circular and base my purchases on that.
I try to use coupons when I have them or when things are on sale i’m just not the organized to have list
I’m getteing better though.
I agree with you…not an extreme couponer myself but I love saving for my family as well. I have gotten those binder LOOKS too! On average we hit the 50% or more also and am loving the savings! I am a new follower from the blog hop! Come visit when you have a chance..http://www.thrivingwith5.blogspot.com