Extreme Couponing (Part 2)

Money was never a big motivation for me, except as a way to keep score. The real excitement is playing the game.

-Donald Trump

Truth be told money was a big motivator when I decided to begin clipping coupons, but like Mr. Trump the real excitement comes from playing the game!!! 

So I've been collecting coupons now for about 3+ months, forcing me to finally order the baseball card sheets and binder.  Believe me, I wish I had done this from the beginning.  Learn from my mistake, saving them in a pile was the worst idea I've had in a long time it made it twice as hard.

Here is what my NOW organized binder looks like:

Here are tips as you create your binder:

1.  Do not be afraid to fold, just make sure that the amount of saving, product description or picture and expiration date shows.
2. Do not double insert, meaning don't have more than one type of coupon per insert
3. Organize by sections:

• Food: break down into breakfast foods, lunch meats, canned foods, juices, ect
• Pet stuff
• Baby Stuff
• Beauty Products : here you can include . soaps,shampoos/conditioners and female orientated items
• Cleaning products: dish washing soaps, detergents, sprays, etc.
• Paper products
• I think you get my point!!

The goal is to not become a hoarder, so realistically I search every week for items that are on sale and try to macth it up to my coupons for items that I need or that are too good to pass up and I can stock up without worries.

Don't get frustrated when you realize that you will be only using about 1/3 of the coupons you collect, but that is how we keep ourselves from becoming hoarders and really save $$$.

Now, I would like to tell you about my first experience at the supermarket!  I made a list (well my nanny did, she is the one that has been teaching me) and off to the store I went.  This is a must, since you can make sure you pull the coupons you actually only need for the trip, how many items you will need and how much it should cost.

I then went shopping which was great!  I proceeded to scope out the checkout lanes and did some clerk profiling, the younger people tend to be more patient and guys are better than girls.  I pulled up to the lane and told the clerk that I had coupons for all my items and asked if she wanted them at the end, as she rang them up or would she like them on top of the items on the belt.  This is where getting organized before pulling up helps, when placing the items in the belt make sure they are in order of your coupons.

Also, it is best to do the shopping super early or super late in the day, this helps with people not getting annoyed with  you. First set of items get scanned, we give her the coupons and she says they will not work!!  Here is the thing, my coupon was for any Nabisco product that was cookie OR cracker, it had about 10 items picture, but none of the items I had selected.  This is a mistake cashiers/clerks make all the time, they think your coupon has to match the coupon.  (make sure that it doesn't)  She asked another cashier who agreed with her but we stayed polite and informed her that it did not have to match the picture to please consult with a supervisor, she did just that. 

The supervisor walked over and told her we were correct (the clerk still looked like there was something wrong with us; secretly I think she was jealous of our deals).  Small hiccup but no big deal, it was smooth up until the last items I scanned where I gave the clerk the wrong coupons and had to go back and pull the right ones.  No big deal, but this is important of why you need to be looking at the screen during check out to make sure everything rings up correctly.

All in all, it helps to know the store policies and to be ready and prepared.  Another quick tip, is to know your stores competitor coupons that they are willing to accept (the vary from store to store), this is a great way to save big!!

Here is my round up:

These four items were FREE!!! Stain removers for clothes, before the wash, are things that you can keep and use often (at least with a husband and baby I do)

These items were $13.49 total, saving me $41 dollars.  It included: 4 male deodorant, 2 containers of gum, 6 bags of chips, 2 hand soaps, and 4 V8 juices!

I know some of you may ask, why get so many chips and that can't be healthy; but you be wrong!  These are "healthy" chips.  27 pieces for 140 calories, they are yummy and a great baked snack.  I will bring some to keep at the office and the rest for the house, because they last a while I don't need to worry about going bad.  Hey there's a rumor of a hurricane coming my way this week, so this may be our only substanance!

I hope that this inspires you to save a little and guide you in many future savings.  From my slightly fuller wallet to yours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!