Day 1: We all have to shop! Why not save money while doing it?
Day 2: The Language of Couponers – Translated!
Day 3: Where Art Thou Coupons?
Day 4: Know Thy Coupon (What does that fine print mean?)
Day 5: When to Use Your Coupons
Day 6: Buy Groceries, Pay for College with Upromise eCoupons
Day 7: eCoupons the Alternate to Clipping
Day 8: Don’t Get Mad, Get a Rain Check
Day 9: Advance Your Couponing Skills with Rebates
Day 10: Stockpiling
Day 11: Organize your coupon stash
Day 12: Surviving the Checkout Lane
Day 13: How to Handle Coupon Rejection

Spend a little time before heading out on your next shopping trip to stay organized and save time & money. You will get a feel for what works for you after awhile but here’s my before, during, and checking out strategies. All it requires is a less than $10 pocket file organizer and multiple envelopes. Use envelopes from bills/credit card offers you don’t use.

1. Use my “printer friendly” version of my deal page.
2. Look through the pages and cross out the items I know I don’t want/need.
3. Search for the coupons by insert and then clip the coupons of the items I’m interested in.
4. Write the # of items I want of each item by the item, check off the coupon to use as I find them so I know they are clipped.
5. I then organize my coupons by aisle. I paper clip the multiple coupons together and then put the list and the coupons in an envelope.
6. As I am shopping, I gather the items I want to purchase. As I am doing this, I find my coupons and place them in a separate envelope so I will be ready for checkout.
7. For coupons I don’t use either because they are out of that particular item or I decide we don’t need it while in the store, I just place those in the back “To Be Filed.
8. I do a quick double check of my coupons as I’m standing in line just to make sure I didn’t miss any coupons.

One additional thing I have been doing is carrying a 8 1/2″ x 11″ clear envelope. I place loose coupons, coupon booklets, and ads in this envelope. This has helped me a save a little extra because I usually find a few items on clearance or unadvertised deals which match up to my loose coupons.

Here’s the coupon wallet I use while shopping. I leave my purse in the car and put cash or my credit/debit card, loyalty cards, gift cards in the outside pocket. I have extra coupons in different sections in my coupon wallet in case I find something that isn’t on my list that I need, unadvertised sale, or clearance.

As you get more comfortable with using your coupons, you will find it a little easier to shop with your children with your coupons. Good luck to you!!!

The 15 Days of Couponing will guide you through the art of couponing. It is a skill that you can learn and maximize to the full potential to help your family and help others. So if you are interested in cutting your grocery budget in half or more, read yesterday’s edition and stay tuned for the next edition!