Over at Faith and Family I’m writing about houses filled with books and writing thank you notes and also the importance of encouraging other women.
In real life, I’ve got a new hobby: I’m couponing (Nerd Alert! Nerd Alert!).
I have always been very much opposed to using coupons, all that work to save 35 cents here and 50 cents there. But then I caught on to the concept of uber-couponing (I coined that phrase), which is shopping things that are on sale and clipping coupons — and using those two things together! (I did not coin this concept.)
The savings are pretty impressive. It’s also helped me streamline my shopping because I shop the sales and put together a menu after that. And we all know that menu planning and cooking, those two things together aren’t exactly my forte.
So, the real Nerd issue is that I used my precious little free time yesterday to research, ahem, “the best way to organize coupons.” Um, yeah. I googled that phrase and then spent time envisioning how I want my Coupon Binder to look. Because I want to look cool and organized as I lug that thing around the grocers.
The challenge is a system that easily stores the coupons I need for general items, versus coupons for things I will only buy because they are on sale. There are websites that list a store’s sales along with what coupons are out in circulation. So you save those coupon booklets that come with the paper and have everything right there.
But it’s not convenient to flip through those for random items, so I’m working on a system that includes a space for everyday items (mustard, yogurt, hot dogs) and a space for all the other coupons I’ll hold until a sale rolls around.
To Elliott’s great dismay, part of my brilliant new plan involves using his discarded trading card sheets, those clear pages with slots for various basketball/baseball/Lord of the Ring cards. He had some extras in his room and I found them and put them to good use. He felt iffy about this arrangement.
Couponing isn’t for everyone, I totally get that. But I am enjoying it immensely, even though it takes extra time. Right now it is a fun outlet for me and it keeps me out of the bars, mostly because I don’t have any B1G1 coupons for the Fishbowl Lounge at this point in time.
FINALLY, those who have ordered books from me: I am SO SORRY for the delay. The books will go out Friday. Thank you to all those who have ordered; I do appreciate your support!
Right. The Fishbowl. I'd love to see that.
I love Nerdy Organizational things. I made an Excel worksheet to calculate all the gifts I received for our new baby's layette. It worked like a charm.
If you're planning your menus around sale items (rather than vice versa) you really need this website: http://www.supercook.com .
I've always felt inferior to all those women who plan out meals a month in advance and budget and shop accordingly, but in the last year or so I've embraced the simplicity of merely shopping to my budget and then cooking creatively with what I get. Supercook lets you keep a record of your pantry and add particular ingredients you want to cook with, then it shows you recipes gleaned from a dozen different websites that use only the ingredients you have on hand. VERY comprehensive, and a lot easier than it sounds to use.
I hear you!!!
I'm still working out my system…slowly. New babies slow me down lol. But, my friend Jamie actually just started a little business around coupons. She creates a great organizer:
http://theorganizedshopper.wordpress.com/ultimateorganizers/
And she posts here on her blog her "system" – she also has great links other readers here could use (I do!):
http://theorganizedshopper.wordpress.com/coupons/
And, keep posting on this – I need all the help I can get. Thanks for sharing!! Please let me know what works. Have you heard of Groupon.com? I just did today from a friend.
Hope you are well! thinking of you!
I've started this as well – but I'm still using a small accordion file, mostly because I'm too cheap to go out and buy the clear plastic holders!
There are lots of good websites that track coupons – http://www.couponmom.com/ is a good one – it lets you search the database for a specific coupon.
Other people blog about the savings and coupons they find. I like http://freebies4mom.com/ and http://hip2save.com/ personally.
I haven't used the sale then shop method yet – my preferred grocery store doesn't do a weekly sale catalog.
Have you been able to "stack" any coupons yet? I love it when I can use both a manufacturers coupon and a store coupon for the same item!
You are probably going to get a million comments on this one
My husband mocked me until he saw the box of free diapers I brought in after coupons! http://www.moneysavingmom.com is my fav. Good luck! The Sunday paper was never as fun as when I started couponing!! I feel like a total nerd too but there are only so many activities one can do at my size!
I too unorganized to be a uber couponer. I found a website of such a person – thecoupongoddess.com. She takes couponing to amazing levels but has been unbelievably generous to food pantries and schools in my town and she sponsors different military units. There seem to always be coupons for things I dont' want or need but that our men and women overseas would be grateful for.
Wow, you are my hero! I really despise doing the coupon thing becayse it seems to take up so much time and brain power. For me, I just go in and buy what is on sale, no preference for brand or make. And here you are, with a gazzilion things to do, and you can do this coupon thing. Sigh.
I started using coupons about 3 months ago. I never thought you could really save money … but, wow!!! Every week I go to the store and buy name item household brands for just dollars. last week I bought $120 worth of goods for $20. This happens on a weekly basis. My husband tells me it is an instant raise. The small amount of time it takes me makes me feel like i am helping the family so much and I so love getting those circulars in the mail now!
Good Luck. I agree it is a super fun outlet!
Hey! Good to see another couponer! I got started a few years ago and set up my binder http://chezouiz.blogspot.com/2008/10/still-saving-money.html and it's still working great!
Since you are sort of in my area, I hope you've found http://www.southernsavers.com. She makes it soooooooooo easy to set up your grocery list for each store!!
Congratulations again! You're blessing your family!
Hi! I really enjoy reading your blog. Just wanted to share with you an awesome couponers binder that is great for the "uber couponer." The blog is http://www.qponqutie.com. I can't wait to read your book!
http://www.qponqutie.com/products/qpon-binder/
Thanks!!
Jen