How To: {Coupons)

 I've had a lot of people ask me HOW I organize and do my couponing....Granted I am NOT an extreme couponer, like you see on TV, I do use coupons to feed my family of 6 for about $50 a week, and have built upa little stockpile on FREE stuff! Here's my steps to success:

• Get the Sunday paper - I buy 6 because theye have at least two coupon inserts and I use a lot of their couons (**Note: I usually do not buy on a holiday weekend bc they don't usually have new inserts)

•  Get Organized! I like the binder system - I use trading card sleeves to organize my coupons and have them categorized in groups like "baby", "frozen", etc. I am a visual person, so i like to actually look at them. Some people prefer to not cut them, but file by date, and others like to put them in a box....

•  Make your list (and stick to it!) - I use The Grocery Game to help me stay on toip of things since I also have four important kiddos to take care of and teaching. It doesn't leave a ton of time to spend matching in-store deals with coupons... PLUS, it shows you your expected total and percent savings. :)

•  Go shopping! - I like to go on Tuesday's or Monday evenings because there aren't as many people there. I buy ONLY what's on my list - sticking to it has allowed us to buy more expensive items that we normally would NOT buy because of the price - things like organics. If you look on your coupons too, it doesn't state you have to purchase the pictured product, so buy the smallest size for maximum savings. :) Here's some pictures of what we've been able to stock up on. All items were either FREE or cost less than a dollar to purchase....
   

The pantry

Baby supplies

Closet supply of Excedine, toothpast, toothbrushes, bandaids, shampoo/conditioner, and body wash

Remember to stay organized

Laundry Room - 14 bottles of ALL & Wisk; 6 bottles of Snuggle; 4 bottles of Febreeze

It makes me wonder why I never did this before! I went yesterday to the store because my dad and Sherrie were coming over for dinner. I glanced at the list and walked out with 14 free Country Time lemonaides, 8 boxes of free pasta, and 5 free pizzas in addition to what we went there for. Retail value was $141.... I paid $42... That's a 67% savings.... I could get used to that! :)