"Yeah, but you really don't use that!"

The number one mistake, in my humble opinion, is buying something you don't use just because you have a coupon.

It's not saving you money if you are spending money on an item that you don't use!

Your real savings come when you use a coupon on an item that you do use in your household!

Example:
You get a coupon for Fruit Roll Ups. You don't buy them because you prefer your kids to have a real piece of fruit with their lunches, not a pre packaged (etc) snack. But, you have a 50 cents off coupon, and they are on sale this week for $1.47. You get the box for 93 cents. Are you really getting a good deal if you are compromising your shopping list and nutrition of your kids, if you purchase this item? Would you be better off buying the fruit that you normally purchase (and it happens to cost more this week because you are comparing the sale of the Fruit Roll Ups versus the fresh apples during the mid-winter)... it's tempting. But don't give in. You'll feel better in the end knowing that you stuck through and sent the kids with something you feel good about.

(Nothing against Fruit Roll Ups, it was just an example!)
The same could be said of sugary cereals, pre packaged meals, meal starters, etc.

Coupons Unite!

Organizing coupons to find what you need efficiently is really important when you are looking to save both time and money shopping.



Early on in coupon collecting a baggie, an envelope or even a buck-store accordion style coupon holder may suffice however the more coupons that are collected and the more involved in swapping a trader becomes, organization is the major key to sanity and shopping trips which run smoothly.

List for organizing:

• sleeves for inserting coupons into (I used CD/DVD sheets, other coupon collectors use hockey trading card sleeves) I went with what I had.
• binder
• scissors
• high lighter
• pen
  

Alternatives to organizing your coupon binder:

Arrange coupons:

• according to the store you shop most regularly (aisle by aisle)
• by their food group (bread/cereal, dairy, meat/alternatives, veg/fruit, snacks, etc)
• by alphabetically order
• with expiration dates (order of first expiry)
  

Click on the photograph to see it larger:

Freezer section holds ice cream, frozen treats, fruits, fries, fish, etc.





Pantry section shown: cereal, juice, flour, soup, etc.

Coupons are folded to fit more easily into pockets, with picture of product facing outwards in most situations.

In the grocery cart, place your purse under your binder in the upper seat (if not being used by a child) and your binder should lay flat near your hands, easy for flipping from page to page.

Each time you find an item in store that you have a coupon for on your grocery list, remove it from it's section and place it in the front of your binder in a pocket, extra sleeve compartment, an envelope taped to the inside of your binder cover, etc. This way, when you are at the check out, you will have all the coupons ready to hand the cashier and you can be watching the scanner as they ring in your purchases (this is important to ensure price accuracy and for picking up on the occasional "SCOP" (Voluntary Scanning Code of Practice).

As you are touring the store, you will probably find more coupons to add to your binder.

Unless you are using the coupon on 'that' shopping trip, don't get into filing your coupons right then. That wastes your time in the store and can get you side tracked.

Your focus is shopping, picking up sales, cashing in on good deals and clearance bins, finding coupons and getting the savings at the checkout. Save organizing for when you're at home, until then place any coupons you find in a baggie or pocket in your binder.